Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposed phasing out direct U.S. military aid to Israel over the next decade.


Netanyahu seeks to phase out US military aid over next decade

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that he has no plans to go for a preemptive strike against Iran before the October 27 elections in the country but strictly warned Tehran and its proxies against ‌striking Israel. Israel and Iran have not traded fire since June.&nbsp;“It is not convenient for us, it’s no good,” Netanyahu said in an interview on Israel’s Army Radio when asked about the possibility of a preemptive strike and allegations by his political rivals that he was seeking a military confrontation ahead of the election.&nbsp;“They will blame me even if Iran fires missiles at us,” Netanyahu said, but he again warned Iran, ⁠saying Israel would respond forcefully if attacked.&nbsp;Netanyahu did not elaborate on the possibility of a preemptive strike after the election. He also did not share details of his recent discussions with Washington about Iran.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rise-up-young-patriots-american-singer-mary-millben-says-us-donors-funding-cjp-backs-modi-govt-1791978203856">‘Rise up, young patriots!’: American singer Mary Millben says US donors funding CJP, backs Modi govt</a>&nbsp;The United States and Iran have been at war since February 28, when the US and Israel attacked Iran, and Tehran responded with its own strikes on Israel and Gulf states.&nbsp;<h2>‘Many countries in the Middle East are turning to us following…’</h2>&nbsp;On being asked whether Israel was assisting Saudi Arabia against attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis, Netanyahu said, “I can only tell you that many countries in the Middle East are turning to us following our massive ‌success ⁠and tremendous achievements.”Saudi Arabia is witnessing escalation in Houthi strikes over the past week, including an attack on Riyadh airport on Saturday that killed 13 people.Netanyahu said Iran’s proxies were also looking to launch attacks on Israel before the election.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-not-a-middle-power-but-a-power-in-the-middle-says-eam-jaishankar-cites-pm-modi-s-definition-1791974178456">India not a ‘middle power’ but a power in the middle, says EAM Jaishankar, cites PM Modi’s definition</a><h2>Defence Minister Katz warns ⁠Hezbollah against attacking Israel</h2>&nbsp;Meanwhile, Defence Minister Israel Katz warned Iran-backed Lebanese group ⁠Hezbollah against attacking Israel.“Hezbollah will suffer a severe blow and lose additional territories in southern Lebanon within the Nabatieh and Litani regions, which will become part of Israel’s permanent security zone,” he said.Katz added that a million Shi’ites would be displaced and that Hezbollah's stronghold in Beirut would not be spared.Israel launched air strikes and a ground invasion in southern Lebanon this year ⁠in parallel with the war in Iran, after Hezbollah fired into Israel in revenge for the attacks against Tehran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied allegations by his political rivals that he was seeking a military confrontation ahead of the election and said he has no plans to go for a preemptive strike against Iran before the October 27 elections.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that he has no plans to go for a preemptive strike against Iran before the October 27 elections in the country but strictly warned Tehran and its proxies against ‌striking Israel. Israel and Iran have not traded fire since June. “It is not convenient for us, it’s no good,” Netanyahu said in an interview on Israel’s Army Radio when asked about the possibility of a preemptive strike and allegations by his political rivals that he was seeking a military confrontation ahead of the election. “They will blame me even if Iran fires missiles at us,” Netanyahu said, but he again warned Iran, ⁠saying Israel would respond forcefully if attacked. Netanyahu did not elaborate on the possibility of a preemptive strike after the election. He also did not share details of his recent discussions with Washington about Iran. Also Read: ‘Rise up, young patriots!’: American singer Mary Millben says US donors funding CJP, backs Modi govt The United States and Iran have been at war since February 28, when the US and Israel attacked Iran, and Tehran responded with its own strikes on Israel and Gulf states. ‘Many countries in the Middle East are turning to us following…’ On being asked whether Israel was assisting Saudi Arabia against attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis, Netanyahu said, “I can only tell you that many countries in the Middle East are turning to us following our massive ‌success ⁠and tremendous achievements.” Saudi Arabia is witnessing escalation in Houthi strikes over the past week, including an attack on Riyadh airport on Saturday that killed 13 people. Netanyahu said Iran’s proxies were also looking to launch attacks on Israel before the election. Also Read: India not a ‘middle power’ but a power in the middle, says EAM Jaishankar, cites PM Modi’s definition Defence Minister Katz warns ⁠Hezbollah against attacking Israel Meanwhile, Defence Minister Israel Katz warned Iran-backed Lebanese group ⁠Hezbollah against attacking Israel. “Hezbollah will suffer a severe blow and lose additional territories in southern Lebanon within the Nabatieh and Litani regions, which will become part of Israel’s permanent security zone,” he said. Katz added that a million Shi’ites would be displaced and that Hezbollah's stronghold in Beirut would not be spared. Israel launched air strikes and a ground invasion in southern Lebanon this year ⁠in parallel with the war in Iran, after Hezbollah fired into Israel in revenge for the attacks against Tehran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied allegations by his political rivals that he was seeking a military confrontation ahead of the election and said he has no plans to go for a preemptive strike against Iran before the October 27 elections.

‘Not seeking to attack Iran again before Israel elections,’ says Benjamin Netanyahu

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi strongly condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, labelling him a “wanted war criminal” who is desperately trying to save himself “like a degenerate gambler” at the cost of &nbsp;“Arab, American &amp; Iranian blood” and US money. He claimed that Netanyahu has little regard for his own people.“Netanyahu is a wanted war criminal with Arab, American &amp; Iranian blood on his hands. To escape justice, he has no regard for his own people either. Like a degenerate gambler, he's desperately seeking to save himself with more US blood and treasure. Even U.S. Senators want out,” Araghchi said in a post on X.Araghchi made the post while sharing an interview with an Israeli general, Avi Gil, regarding the events of October 7, 2023, and internal criticisms of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-renaming-atlantic-pacific-ocean-trump-ocean-1791713921124">Trump floats renaming Atlantic or Pacific Ocean ‘Trump Ocean’ or ‘Ocean of the Americas’</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Netanyahu is a wanted war criminal with Arab, American &amp;amp; Iranian blood on his hands. To escape justice, he has no regard for his own people either.

Like a degenerate gambler, he's desperately seeking to save himself with more U.S. blood and treasure. Even U.S. Senators want out.&mdash; Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) <a href="https://x.com/araghchi/status/2108882506997026856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Avi Gil served as the Military Secretary to the Prime Minister from July 2021 to May 2024. In this role, he was the primary defence liaison for Prime Ministers Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid, and Benjamin Netanyahu, sitting in on security cabinet meetings and handling crucial top-secret communications.&nbsp;Gil became the centre of significant political attention in Israel due to a bombshell interview broadcast on Channel 12 News. Gil asserted that Netanyahu actively passed up clear-cut opportunities to execute a deal to bring Israeli hostages home from Gaza alive. He also claimed that all heads of Israel's security services had continuously warned Netanyahu that deep societal divisions over his government’s judicial policies were severely eroding Israel's military deterrence. He also accused Netanyahu's office of attempting to cover up a delayed response by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the opening minutes of the October 7 attack.

Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi accuses Benjamin Netanyahu of risking Arab, American and Iranian lives, citing an Israeli general's criticism.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi strongly condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, labelling him a “wanted war criminal” who is desperately trying to save himself “like a degenerate gambler” at the cost of “Arab, American & Iranian blood” and US money. He claimed that Netanyahu has little regard for his own people. “Netanyahu is a wanted war criminal with Arab, American & Iranian blood on his hands. To escape justice, he has no regard for his own people either. Like a degenerate gambler, he's desperately seeking to save himself with more US blood and treasure. Even U.S. Senators want out,” Araghchi said in a post on X. Araghchi made the post while sharing an interview with an Israeli general, Avi Gil, regarding the events of October 7, 2023, and internal criticisms of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Also Read: Trump floats renaming Atlantic or Pacific Ocean ‘Trump Ocean’ or ‘Ocean of the Americas’

Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi accuses Benjamin Netanyahu of risking Arab, American and Iranian lives, citing an Israeli general's criticism.

Araghchi calls Netanyahu ‘degenerate gambler’, cites Israeli general’s explosive claims on October 7

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is leading a caretaker government ahead of the October 27 elections, with his nationalist coalition becoming the first Israeli government in over half a century to complete its full four-year term without collapse or dissolution. The only Israeli PM since Golda Meir to successfully see out a full parliamentary term in office, Netanyahu has steered the Jewish state through one of the most tumultuous periods in its history, which started with internal political instability and worsened with the October 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack, which cascaded into the Gaza war and the Iran-Israel-US conflict. The 25th Knesset completed its full scheduled duration and was dissolved on 17 July, &nbsp;the first time the Israeli parliament had completed its regular term on schedule since 1988. But will Netanyahu make a comeback as Israeli PM for the seventh term? What are the opinion polls and prediction markets saying?<h2>Gadi Eisenkot is the frontrunner in prediction markets</h2>Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, who started his new centrist Zionist party Yashar just a year ago, &nbsp;is ahead of Netanyahu in the top prediction markets. Polymarket put Eisenkot at approximately 48 per cent, compared with 35–36 per cent for Netanyahu. Naftali Bennett is at nearly 10 per cent, while Avigdor Lieberman is at under 2 per cent. On Kalshi prediction market, the odds are in favour of Eizenkot at 49 per cent, while Netanyahu is at 34 per cent and Bennett at 8 per cent. A longer-term Kalshi market question on 'Who will succeed Netanyahu as Prime Minister of Israel' shows Eisenkot favoured higher, at around 60 per cent.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-ll-settle-score-with-everyone-involved-in-oct-7-attack-says-netanyahu-at-memorial-1791209583749">‘We’ll settle score with everyone involved in Oct. 7 attack,’ says Netanyahu at memorial</a><h2>Opinion polls paint a tighter picture</h2>In opinion polls, Yashar and Netanyahu's Likud are tied as the two largest parties, with both averaging 21–23 seats. Bennett's party averages 11 seats, Yair Golan's The Democrats 9–10, Lieberman's Yisrael Beytenu 8–9, and the right-wing Otzma Yehudit, led by firebrand Ben-Gvir, around 8. Recent polls by Kan, N12 and Channel 13 show Eisenkot leading or tied with Netanyahu, while Bennett trails Netanyahu more clearly.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/netanyahu-denounces-enemies-allies-in-un-speech-1790334334623/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/netanyahu-denounces-enemies-allies-in-un-speech-1790334334623/embed</a><h2>How is the Knesset going to look?</h2>The next government is also likely to be a coalition, given how the 120 seats in the Knesset are currently projected to be distributed. Netanyahu's outgoing coalition parties, which include Likud, Religious Zionism, Otzma Yehudit, Shas and United Torah Judaism (UTJ), average 51–54 seats across recent aggregates. &nbsp;Only some right-leaning pollsters, such as Channel 14, have projected a majority for Likud and its allies. The Zionist opposition parties combined are in the low-to-mid 50s. Arab parties are averaging around 13 seats.But no bloc has consistently cleared the 61-seat threshold required to form a government. This indicates that once again, coalition arithmetic will kick in after the elections. Whether Netanyahu will still emerge as PM will depend on Likud's electoral performance as well as post-election negotiations. On that count, this is not Netanyahu's first rodeo.

Israel’s October 27 election pits Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against top contender for premiership Gadi Eisenkot, with polls showing a tight race. Neither bloc appears near the 61-seat majority, making coalition arithmetic and post-election negotiations inevitable

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is leading a caretaker government ahead of the October 27 elections, with his nationalist coalition becoming the first Israeli government in over half a century to complete its full four-year term without collapse or dissolution. The only Israeli PM since Golda Meir to successfully see out a full parliamentary term in office, Netanyahu has steered the Jewish state through one of the most tumultuous periods in its history, which started with internal political instability and worsened with the October 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack, which cascaded into the Gaza war and the Iran-Israel-US conflict. The 25th Knesset completed its full scheduled duration and was dissolved on 17 July, the first time the Israeli parliament had completed its regular term on schedule since 1988. But will Netanyahu make a comeback as Israeli PM for the seventh term? What are the opinion polls and prediction markets saying? Gadi Eisenkot is the frontrunner in prediction markets Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, who started his new centrist Zionist party Yashar just a year ago, is ahead of Netanyahu in the top prediction markets. Polymarket put Eisenkot at approximately 48 per cent, compared with 35–36 per cent for Netanyahu. Naftali Bennett is at nearly 10 per cent, while Avigdor Lieberman is at under 2 per cent. On Kalshi prediction market, the odds are in favour of Eizenkot at 49 per cent, while Netanyahu is at 34 per cent and Bennett at 8 per cent. A longer-term Kalshi market question on 'Who will succeed Netanyahu as Prime Minister of Israel' shows Eisenkot favoured higher, at around 60 per cent. Also read: ‘We’ll settle score with everyone involved in Oct. 7 attack,’ says Netanyahu at memorial Opinion polls paint a tighter picture In opinion polls, Yashar and Netanyahu's Likud are tied as the two largest parties, with both averaging 21–23 seats. Bennett's party averages 11 seats, Yair Golan's The Democrats 9–10, Lieberman's Yisrael Beytenu 8–9, and the right-wing Otzma Yehudit, led by firebrand Ben-Gvir, around 8. Recent polls by Kan, N12 and Channel 13 show Eisenkot leading or tied with Netanyahu, while Bennett trails Netanyahu more clearly. https://www.wionews.com/videos/netanyahu-denounces-enemies-allies-in-un-speech-1790334334623/embed How is the Knesset going to look? The next government is also likely to be a coalition, given how the 120 seats in the Knesset are currently projected to be distributed. Netanyahu's outgoing coalition parties, which include Likud, Religious Zionism, Otzma Yehudit, Shas and United Torah Judaism (UTJ), average 51–54 seats across recent aggregates. Only some right-leaning pollsters, such as Channel 14, have projected a majority for Likud and its allies. The Zionist opposition parties combined are in the low-to-mid 50s. Arab parties are averaging around 13 seats. But no bloc has consistently cleared the 61-seat threshold required to form a government. This indicates that once again, coalition arithmetic will kick in after the elections. Whether Netanyahu will still emerge as PM will depend on Likud's electoral performance as well as post-election negotiations. On that count, this is not Netanyahu's first rodeo.

Israel’s October 27 election pits Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against top contender for premiership Gadi Eisenkot, with polls showing a tight race. Neither bloc appears near the 61-seat majority, making coalition arithmetic and post-election negotiations inevitable

Will Netanyahu lose premiership? How prediction markets and opinion poll numbers stack up ahead of Israeli elections

Israel will continue to pursue everyone involved in the October 7, 2023, attacks against Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at a state ceremony commemorating the soldiers and security forces who have fallen in the three years since the Hamas invasion.&nbsp;“Everyone who was involved in the attack against us, everyone who held our hostages, is living on borrowed time.”“We will reach them, as we reached the others,” Netanyahu warned, adding that Israel is settling scores with Hamas terrorists every day.&nbsp;Netanyahu further stressed that Israel still has more missions before it — “and we intend to complete them.”&nbsp;In Lebanon, Israel will continue striking Hezbollah, said Netanyahu, adding, “and we will create a chance for peace with a country in which the overwhelming majority wants peace with us.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bjp-drops-union-minister-hardeep-singh-puri-and-7-other-sitting-mps-from-up-rajya-sabha-poll-list-1791203054532">BJP drops Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and 7 other sitting MPs from UP Rajya Sabha poll list</a><h2>‘Will not allow Iran to threaten Israel’s existence’</h2>&nbsp;Netanyahu also vowed that Israel will not allow Iran to threaten Israel’s existence. The Iranian regime, “is the weakest that it has been since its founding,” he said.“It is fighting for its life, and in the end, it will pass from the world,” he claimed.Iran had a three-part plan to destroy Israel, he argued.“Terrorist proxies around us who were designed to bleed us; thousands of lethal missiles aimed at our territory, aimed at our cities; and most importantly, nuclear bombs that were designed to destroy our country, to erase it from the face of the earth,” he said.&nbsp;Israeli soldiers cut off Iran’s terror arms and pushed enemies back from the country’s borders to create buffer zones, the Israeli PM said.“We struck the ballistic missile stores in Iran itself. Ee hit its nuclear programme hard — scientists, sites, infrastructure,” said Netanyahu.&nbsp;<h2>‘There will be no Hamas rule in Gaza,’ says PM</h2>&nbsp;Prime Minister Netanyahu also vowed that Hamas would not govern the Gaza Strip. “In Gaza there will not be any Hamas rule,” he promised.President Isaac Herzog also warned that Israel cannot ignore internal or external signs of trouble, regardless of division within the state.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/not-afraid-of-death-flydubai-co-pilot-tells-probe-team-confesses-he-wanted-to-crash-jet-1791125529918">‘Not afraid of death': Flydubai co-pilot tells probe team, 'planned to crash into Tel Aviv tower, Ben Gurion'</a>&nbsp;“Over the past three years, Michal and I have tried, every single day, to listen, to learn, to honor and to remember all your loved ones,” he said, while addressing the bereaved families.“We ask to share your pain, to shed tears with you, to bow our heads in their memory and, together with all of Israel, to remember and remind ourselves of what we have lost, all of us, and what we can never bring back.”&nbsp;<h2>‘We will build a future in which Israel’s citizens live securely,’ says IDF chief</h2>&nbsp;IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said it is Israel’s “duty” to fully investigate the Hamas-led massacre of October 7, 2023 in order to ensure its lessons are learned.&nbsp;Marking three years since the deadly attack, Zamir said, “An entire nation bows its head in mourning. We remember the civilians murdered in their homes, the young people who went out to dance and never returned, those who were abducted and murdered in captivity, the male and female combat soldiers and all the soldiers who fell, the members of the security forces, and the emergency and rescue teams who rushed into the inferno and fell in battle.”&nbsp;“It is our duty to investigate and ensure that the lessons are implemented so that we may be more worthy of the trust the people have placed in us,” Zamir added.&nbsp;“We will build a future in which Israel’s citizens live securely in their homeland…. This is our duty to the fallen, our responsibility to the citizens of Israel, and our oath to future generations,” he added.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Israel will not allow Iran to threaten Israel’s existence. He said the Iranian regime is at its weakest since its founding. Netanyahu also stressed that Israel will continue striking Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Israel will continue to pursue everyone involved in the October 7, 2023, attacks against Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at a state ceremony commemorating the soldiers and security forces who have fallen in the three years since the Hamas invasion. “Everyone who was involved in the attack against us, everyone who held our hostages, is living on borrowed time.” “We will reach them, as we reached the others,” Netanyahu warned, adding that Israel is settling scores with Hamas terrorists every day. Netanyahu further stressed that Israel still has more missions before it — “and we intend to complete them.” In Lebanon, Israel will continue striking Hezbollah, said Netanyahu, adding, “and we will create a chance for peace with a country in which the overwhelming majority wants peace with us.” Also Read: BJP drops Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and 7 other sitting MPs from UP Rajya Sabha poll list ‘Will not allow Iran to threaten Israel’s existence’ Netanyahu also vowed that Israel will not allow Iran to threaten Israel’s existence. The Iranian regime, “is the weakest that it has been since its founding,” he said. “It is fighting for its life, and in the end, it will pass from the world,” he claimed. Iran had a three-part plan to destroy Israel, he argued. “Terrorist proxies around us who were designed to bleed us; thousands of lethal missiles aimed at our territory, aimed at our cities; and most importantly, nuclear bombs that were designed to destroy our country, to erase it from the face of the earth,” he said. Israeli soldiers cut off Iran’s terror arms and pushed enemies back from the country’s borders to create buffer zones, the Israeli PM said. “We struck the ballistic missile stores in Iran itself. Ee hit its nuclear programme hard — scientists, sites, infrastructure,” said Netanyahu. ‘There will be no Hamas rule in Gaza,’ says PM Prime Minister Netanyahu also vowed that Hamas would not govern the Gaza Strip. “In Gaza there will not be any Hamas rule,” he promised. President Isaac Herzog also warned that Israel cannot ignore internal or external signs of trouble, regardless of division within the state. Also Read: ‘Not afraid of death': Flydubai co-pilot tells probe team, 'planned to crash into Tel Aviv tower, Ben Gurion' “Over the past three years, Michal and I have tried, every single day, to listen, to learn, to honor and to remember all your loved ones,” he said, while addressing the bereaved families. “We ask to share your pain, to shed tears with you, to bow our heads in their memory and, together with all of Israel, to remember and remind ourselves of what we have lost, all of us, and what we can never bring back.” ‘We will build a future in which Israel’s citizens live securely,’ says IDF chief IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said it is Israel’s “duty” to fully investigate the Hamas-led massacre of October 7, 2023 in order to ensure its lessons are learned. Marking three years since the deadly attack, Zamir said, “An entire nation bows its head in mourning. We remember the civilians murdered in their homes, the young people who went out to dance and never returned, those who were abducted and murdered in captivity, the male and female combat soldiers and all the soldiers who fell, the members of the security forces, and the emergency and rescue teams who rushed into the inferno and fell in battle.” “It is our duty to investigate and ensure that the lessons are implemented so that we may be more worthy of the trust the people have placed in us,” Zamir added. “We will build a future in which Israel’s citizens live securely in their homeland…. This is our duty to the fallen, our responsibility to the citizens of Israel, and our oath to future generations,” he added.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Israel will not allow Iran to threaten Israel’s existence. He said the Iranian regime is at its weakest since its founding. Netanyahu also stressed that Israel will continue striking Hezbollah in Lebanon.

‘We’ll settle score with everyone involved in Oct. 7 attack,’ says Netanyahu at memorial

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a telephonic conversation with Capt. Smit Machchhar, the flydubai aircraft pilot, on Saturday (October 3). During the conversation, Capt. Smit Machchhar recounted the incident, describing that before the attack, the co-pilot wanted to pray and, out of respect, he turned away. He added that after a while, he felt a blow to the back of his head, and then the blows kept coming.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&#39;&#39;He (Co-Pilot) was about to kill me and crash the plane. I gathered all the courage and stood up. My vision was blurred. But I somehow opened the door.&#39;&#39; Capt Smit Machchhar recalling those critical moments when he was attacked and how he opened the door of the FlyDubai… <a href="https://t.co/VAC7y4U6f0">pic.twitter.com/VAC7y4U6f0</a>&mdash; Sunil Jha (@SunilBNJha) <a href="https://x.com/SunilBNJha/status/2106606099059311056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

In response, Netanyahu hailed his effort and told Machchhar that he was amazed at his courage and his ability to stay calm under impossible conditions. “You saved so many souls … You saved the spirit of the world,” he said. "You are a hero for Israel, India, and the entire world. I invite you to light a torch on Israeli Independence Day," Netanyahu added.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/flydubai-attack-israel-s-security-system-under-scrutiny-as-ministry-admits-no-pilot-background-checks-1791101354602">Flydubai attack: Israel’s security system under scrutiny as ministry admits no pilot background checks</a><h3>Aircraft emergency landing in Saudi Arabia</h3>The aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after a dangerously steep descent that tore away part of its rudder, leaving aviation experts stunned that it avoided crashing altogether. FlyDubai confirmed that off-duty crew members travelling as passengers stepped in to help regain control and bring the plane down safely, though their identities have not been made public. The captain and co-pilot were subsequently flown to the UAE, while the remaining passengers, the majority of them Israeli, boarded a different flight home later that Wednesday, greeted with applause upon departure. One passenger seated near the front offered a particularly vivid account to The Associated Press, shedding light on the previously unidentified men who intervened. “This is one of the miracles,” said Daniel Schlichter, who was seated in the second row. “That not in every flight they bring two extra pilots. In this case, they brought them because they should have brought the plane back from Tel Aviv to Dubai, and this is the only reason they were there.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

FlyDubai confirmed that off-duty crew members travelling as passengers stepped in to help regain control and bring the plane down safely, though their identities have not been made public. 

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a telephonic conversation with Capt. Smit Machchhar, the flydubai aircraft pilot, on Saturday (October 3). During the conversation, Capt. Smit Machchhar recounted the incident, describing that before the attack, the co-pilot wanted to pray and, out of respect, he turned away. He added that after a while, he felt a blow to the back of his head, and then the blows kept coming.

FlyDubai confirmed that off-duty crew members travelling as passengers stepped in to help regain control and bring the plane down safely, though their identities have not been made public.&nbsp;

'You saved spirit of world': Netanyahu praises Flydubai aircraft pilot in call

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to speak shortly with Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar, who helped save Flydubai flight FZ1073 after he was stabbed by his co-pilot.&nbsp;Captain Machchhar opened the cockpit door during the incident, an action credited with helping to save the flight. He has already spoken by video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who praised his courage, presence of mind and composure. The Indian PM said the entire country was praying for him.&nbsp;Captain Machchhar became quite emotional during the call. He said it was a very special moment for him to speak with the prime minister, and told the Indian PM that he was his biggest idol.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/was-flydubai-omani-co-pilot-planning-a-9-11-like-terrorist-act-in-israel-uae-probe-reveals-1791038126847">Was Flydubai Omani co-pilot planning a 9/11-like ‘terrorist act’ in Israel? UAE probe reveals...</a>&nbsp;PM Modi said the country could proudly say that Indians were not those who take lives, but those who are willing to risk their lives to save others. The Indian pilot, who is currently recovering in a UAE hospital, told the prime minister that whenever he is in difficulty, he recites the Hanuman Chalisa, and that he had been reciting it during the incident as well.&nbsp;Top UAE leader met the pilot today. Dubai’s Crown Prince, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, visited Captain Smit Machchhar in hospital and praised his courage after a mid-air cockpit attack. The Crown Prince said Captain Machchhar had shown the “highest degrees of courage, responsibility and care for human life,” and that the UAE was proud he was part of its team.

Netanyahu is expected to speak with Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar, who helped save Flydubai flight FZ1073 after being stabbed by his co-pilot and was praised by PM Modi and Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan for his courage.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to speak shortly with Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar, who helped save Flydubai flight FZ1073 after he was stabbed by his co-pilot. Captain Machchhar opened the cockpit door during the incident, an action credited with helping to save the flight. He has already spoken by video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who praised his courage, presence of mind and composure. The Indian PM said the entire country was praying for him. Captain Machchhar became quite emotional during the call. He said it was a very special moment for him to speak with the prime minister, and told the Indian PM that he was his biggest idol. Also Read: Was Flydubai Omani co-pilot planning a 9/11-like ‘terrorist act’ in Israel? UAE probe reveals... PM Modi said the country could proudly say that Indians were not those who take lives, but those who are willing to risk their lives to save others. The Indian pilot, who is currently recovering in a UAE hospital, told the prime minister that whenever he is in difficulty, he recites the Hanuman Chalisa, and that he had been reciting it during the incident as well. Top UAE leader met the pilot today. Dubai’s Crown Prince, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, visited Captain Smit Machchhar in hospital and praised his courage after a mid-air cockpit attack. The Crown Prince said Captain Machchhar had shown the “highest degrees of courage, responsibility and care for human life,” and that the UAE was proud he was part of its team.

Netanyahu is expected to speak with Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar, who helped save Flydubai flight FZ1073 after being stabbed by his co-pilot and was praised by PM Modi and Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan for his courage.

Netanyahu expected to speak to stabbed Indian pilot Smit Machchhar

The incident aboard a flydubai plane on Wednesday is a disaster averted. A heroic Indian pilot fought back after being stabbed by his co-pilot on a flight en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv.&nbsp;Captain Smit was grievously injured but still found a way to open the cockpit door and let others in.&nbsp;Eventually, passengers and other crew managed to overpower the attacking pilot. Despite a dangerous momentary loss of altitude, the plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;The investigation is underway, the motive is still unknown, but Israel suspects it to be a hijack and crash disaster that has been averted.&nbsp;The plane tragedy took place just a day after Benjamin Netanyahu had released a video, claiming that there are enemies who may try to attack Israel ahead of elections.&nbsp;The video was released on September 29th, from Israel's Tel Nof airbase.&nbsp;&nbsp;The plane incident unfolded on September 30, and Israel views it as a major security threat.&nbsp;But even before it happened, a political tussle over fear-mongering had already broken out in the country.&nbsp;Opposition leader Yair Lapid lashed out at Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing the prime minister of 'fear mongering' through his comments on Tuesday.&nbsp;Lapid's comments come after a security briefing was held at the highest level.&nbsp;Even after the plane incident, Lapid accused the government of playing cheap politics at the expense of Israel’s security.&nbsp;Lapid said in an earlier statement on social media, “Netanyahu ignored every warning before October 7, and now, 28 days before the election, he’s suddenly busy fear-mongering. I, of course, will not violate the confidentiality of the security briefing but it must be said: security threats must be handled professionally and responsibly.”&nbsp;The latest flurry of accusations comes amid a close contest between the ruling coalition and opposition bloc, if the pre-election popularity polls are anything to go by.&nbsp;This will also be Israel's first election following the October 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack and Israel's blanket bombing of Gaza thereafter.&nbsp;The elections take place on October 27th this month.&nbsp;Netanyahu and the leaders contesting against him are staring at a high-stakes race.&nbsp;And for Netanyahu, the gamble is even bigger, because it decides the course of his political career.&nbsp;The question now is this — will the Israeli prime minister leverage the latest incident just weeks before elections to reverse his unpopularity? Or was Bibi's warning of attack amid elections a genuine one?

The plane tragedy took place just a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had released a video, claiming that there are enemies who may try to attack Israel ahead of elections. The video was released on September 29th and the flydubai incident unfolded on September 30.

The incident aboard a flydubai plane on Wednesday is a disaster averted. A heroic Indian pilot fought back after being stabbed by his co-pilot on a flight en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Captain Smit was grievously injured but still found a way to open the cockpit door and let others in. Eventually, passengers and other crew managed to overpower the attacking pilot. Despite a dangerous momentary loss of altitude, the plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia. The investigation is underway, the motive is still unknown, but Israel suspects it to be a hijack and crash disaster that has been averted. The plane tragedy took place just a day after Benjamin Netanyahu had released a video, claiming that there are enemies who may try to attack Israel ahead of elections. The video was released on September 29th, from Israel's Tel Nof airbase. The plane incident unfolded on September 30, and Israel views it as a major security threat. But even before it happened, a political tussle over fear-mongering had already broken out in the country. Opposition leader Yair Lapid lashed out at Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing the prime minister of 'fear mongering' through his comments on Tuesday. Lapid's comments come after a security briefing was held at the highest level. Even after the plane incident, Lapid accused the government of playing cheap politics at the expense of Israel’s security. Lapid said in an earlier statement on social media, “Netanyahu ignored every warning before October 7, and now, 28 days before the election, he’s suddenly busy fear-mongering. I, of course, will not violate the confidentiality of the security briefing but it must be said: security threats must be handled professionally and responsibly.” The latest flurry of accusations comes amid a close contest between the ruling coalition and opposition bloc, if the pre-election popularity polls are anything to go by. This will also be Israel's first election following the October 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack and Israel's blanket bombing of Gaza thereafter. The elections take place on October 27th this month. Netanyahu and the leaders contesting against him are staring at a high-stakes race. And for Netanyahu, the gamble is even bigger, because it decides the course of his political career. The question now is this — will the Israeli prime minister leverage the latest incident just weeks before elections to reverse his unpopularity? Or was Bibi's warning of attack amid elections a genuine one?

The plane tragedy took place just a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had released a video, claiming that there are enemies who may try to attack Israel ahead of elections. The video was released on September 29th and the flydubai incident unfolded on September 30.

Race To Power | Flydubai attack puts Israel security warnings under new scrutiny ahead of polls

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that the Omani copilot who stabbed the pilot on flydubai flight in an attempt to crash the plane carrying many Israelis “underwent Islamist radical indoctrination,” and was suicidal as he yelled, “Kill me, kill me,” after being overpowered.&nbsp;In an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu said that the copilot is being interrogated in Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We know that he underwent Islamist radical indoctrination,” Netanyahu said, adding that investigators would examine in the coming days whether there was any “Iran link” to the incident.&nbsp;During the incident, the attacker called out to the aircrew, ‘Kill me, kill me,’ making it clear that he was “suicidal,” he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Netanyahu: We know that the attacker pilot underwent “Islamist radical indoctrination.” <a href="https://t.co/KZ1VLpbYTE">pic.twitter.com/KZ1VLpbYTE</a>&mdash; Open Source Intel (@Osint613) <a href="https://x.com/Osint613/status/2105636313785639238?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>‘We’ll join interrogation and find out what happened’</h2> Netanyahu said Saudi Arabia is currently holding the copilot and will, “I assume, very quickly” transfer him to Dubai for interrogation. “He’s an Omani national… We’ll join the interrogation and find out what happened there exactly.”“I think it’s too early to say whether there was Iranian collusion,” the Israeli PM said, but added that he anticipates more definitive findings soon.Netanyahu said within the coming days, Israel will be able to conclusively say whether the copilot had any links to Iran. Referring to the thinking when the initial “hijacking alert” came and fighter jets were reportedly scrambled, Netanyahu said, “This may be the toughest situation that we can be in… where an unidentified passenger plane is heading towards Israel.” <h2>‘There were signs from Iran-backed groups…’</h2> Netanyahu also said there were “signs” from Iran-backed groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah of plans to carry out attacks in Israel but stressed that it was not yet known whether the flydubai incident was linked to those plans. The incident involved flydubai flight FZ 1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, when the Omani copilot allegedly stabbed Indian captain Smit Machchhar and seriously wounded him during the flight. Despite his injuries, Machchhar reportedly managed to alert authorities and open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to overpower and pin down the attacker while foiling his dastardly plans. The attack put the lives of 180 passengers, mostly Israelis, at risk. Two off-duty flydubai pilots travelling as passengers then helped take control of the aircraft, which made an emergency landing at Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk airport. The passengers were later flown to Tel Aviv on another aircraft, while Machchhar was initially treated in Saudi Arabia and later airlifted to Abu Dhabi. <h2>Investigators still working to establish real motive behind attack</h2> Investigators are still working to establish the real and full motive behind the attack and determine how the co-pilot was able to carry it out aboard the flight. While authorities have not yet disclosed the co-pilot’s identity, he is reportedly an Omani national who was arrested after flydubai flight FZ1073 made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Revealing that Israel would question the co-pilot and probe any possible Iran angle, Netanyahu told Fox News, “We’ll get to the root of this attacker, whether he had accomplices and whether Iran was behind it. I think we’ll find out very soon.”“We’ll be following and possibly also participating in this investigation,” he added.Netanyahu joined other members of the Israeli administration in describing the incident as a jihadist terror attack. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz was among the first to call it “an attempted jihadist terror attack”.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were “signs” from Iran-backed groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah of plans to carry out attacks in Israel but stressed that it was not yet known whether the flydubai incident was linked to those plans.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that the Omani copilot who stabbed the pilot on flydubai flight in an attempt to crash the plane carrying many Israelis “underwent Islamist radical indoctrination,” and was suicidal as he yelled, “Kill me, kill me,” after being overpowered. In an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu said that the copilot is being interrogated in Saudi Arabia. “We know that he underwent Islamist radical indoctrination,” Netanyahu said, adding that investigators would examine in the coming days whether there was any “Iran link” to the incident. During the incident, the attacker called out to the aircrew, ‘Kill me, kill me,’ making it clear that he was “suicidal,” he added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were “signs” from Iran-backed groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah of plans to carry out attacks in Israel but stressed that it was not yet known whether the flydubai incident was linked to those plans.

Netanyahu says Omani flydubai copilot ‘underwent Islamist radical indoctrination’, was suicidal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian national and the pilot who was attacked mid-flight, and called Machchhar a “true hero” of “extraordinary bravery”.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker—preventing a catastrophic mid-air disaster,” Netanyahu wrote on X.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">My salute to the Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery. Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker — preventing a catastrophic mid-air…&mdash; Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) <a href="https://x.com/netanyahu/status/2105367389428646054?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;‘Today, our hearts are with him and his family,” Israel's parliament speaker Amir Ohana said in a post on X.&nbsp;<h2>‘We are a nation of lions,’ says Israeli who held attacker pilot in chokehold</h2>&nbsp;Netanyahu also met passengers at Ben Gurion airport after they got off their repatriation flight and hailed the man who broke into the cockpit, held the attacker pilot in a chokehold and then dragged him out.A video on Netanyahu’s official social media account shows him hugging and greeting passengers. One of them was a man with a blood-stained t-shirt.“Met Yaniv, who broke into the cockpit on the flight from Dubai to Israel,” the post said.&nbsp;Netanyahu greeted Yaniv, saying he sees “a great hero”, and asked him how he did it.“We are a nation of lions, aren’t we?” Yaniv replied.&nbsp;Netanyahu then pointed to the bloodstain on Yaniv’s t-shirt and asked, “Wow, is that from him?”Yaniv replied, “It’s from him, yes.”“It’s simply unbelievable what you did,” Netanyahu said in admiration.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">יניב, אתה גיבור אמיתי. אנחנו עם של אריות! <a href="https://t.co/55AgmAvzIG">pic.twitter.com/55AgmAvzIG</a>&mdash; Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) <a href="https://x.com/netanyahu/status/2105339034700841393?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Explaining how he broke through the door, Yaniv said, “The pilot who was stabbed was very close to the door, so it was hard for us to open it.”“But before he (the stabbed pilot) collapsed, he managed to open the door.”&nbsp;<h2>‘Attacker was trying to destroy aircraft systems, crash the plane’</h2>&nbsp;“When I entered, I saw the attacker on the instruments, between the two seats... there were no pilots in the seats,” Yaniv recalled.“One was down, one was on the instruments. And another guy came in with me. I grabbed the attacker, put him in a chokehold, and pulled him—first and foremost—outside.”&nbsp;He said the attacker was “trying to destroy the instruments in order to disable the plane.” The attacker was trying to destroy the aircraft systems and crash the plane.Yaniv said that he then called out “to the Israeli guys with us on the plane, and together they pinned him down.”&nbsp;Yaniv then rushed back to the controls. “I pulled the controls up and stopped the plane’s dive.”&nbsp;“You pulled the controls?” Netanyahu asked in an elated tone.“I watch Air Crash Investigation, Mr Prime Minister,” Yaniv replied. “And the plane started to level out, a bit more, and then the pilot told me he was taking control from there.”&nbsp;Meanwhile, in a video shot on the flight after the attacker pilot was overpowered, an Israeli passenger said, “We’re on the flight from Dubai. We took control of the situation here. There was an attacker with a knife who stabbed one of the pilots.”“A few of us just jumped in and pulled him out of the cockpit. Everything is OK now. The terrorist has been neutralized.”&nbsp;

<h2>President Herzog thanks ‘immense courage’ of heroes</h2>Israeli President Isaac Herzog also thanked the “heroes who acted with immense courage” on the flight to Tel Aviv that was diverted to Saudi Arabia.“Hours of worry ended in a great miracle and exceptional heroism,” Herzog wrote on X.“I thank from the depths of my heart the heroes who acted with immense courage in these critical moments,” he added.“We will continue to act together with our Emirati partners to learn from the event and fight terrorism.”<h2>Celebrations at Ben Gurion airport</h2>&nbsp;As passengers disembarked the repatriation flight from Saudi Arabia, they were greeted with crowds playing music, singing, dancing and waving Israeli flags.The initial flight, from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was diverted to Tubak, in Saudi Arabia, for an emergency landing following the stabbing of a pilot onboard.&nbsp;The passengers, including 27 children and Israelis who helped overpower the suspected attacker, returned after an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia; some initially refused another Flydubai flight but boarded after Riyadh rejected an Israeli rescue aircraft.&nbsp;The rescue flight departed Tabuk after the Mossad completed background checks on the Flydubai crew and cleared the aircraft for departure.&nbsp;<h2>‘Five minutes felt like hell,’ says passenger</h2>&nbsp;Another passenger told journalists outside the airport that the incident on board lasted maybe five minutes but felt “like hell".Oran Choen said he heard a shout of “Allahu Akbar” before the plane started to dive, about an hour before the flight was due to land, but could not specify who had shouted.“I can’t tell you the feelings I felt in that moment... I am 18 years old... it was a very tough moment. Maybe it was five minutes but it feels like hell,” he added.&nbsp;⁠Israeli PM ⁠Benjamin Netanyahu ⁠has ordered authorities ⁠to “ramp up” ⁠security on ‌both on ‌Israeli carriers ‌and non-Israeli carriers.The order was confirmed by a spokesperson for the prime ⁠minister’s office after the flydubai flight ‌incident.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Some Israeli passengers initially refused another Flydubai flight but boarded after Riyadh rejected demand for an Israeli rescue aircraft. The repatriation flight departed Tabuk after the Mossad completed background checks on the Flydubai crew and cleared the aircraft for departure.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian national and the pilot who was attacked mid-flight, and called Machchhar a “true hero” of “extraordinary bravery”. “Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker—preventing a catastrophic mid-air disaster,” Netanyahu wrote on X.

Some Israeli passengers initially refused another Flydubai flight but boarded after Riyadh rejected demand for an Israeli rescue aircraft. The repatriation flight departed Tabuk after the Mossad completed background checks on the Flydubai crew and cleared the aircraft for departure.

‘A true hero of extraordinary bravery,’ Netanyahu praises attacked Indian pilot

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video statement on Wednesday that the evidence indicates that the flydubai pilot who stabbed his fellow pilot intended to crash the plane and called the development an “extremely serious security incident”.“This morning there was an extremely serious security incident. Almost all of the passengers on the flight were Israelis,” said Netanyahu in his first public response to the emergency landing.&nbsp;&nbsp;Netanyahu added that as the plane drew close to Israel, “one of the pilots stabbed the other pilot, and all indications show that he tried to crash the plane along with its passengers.”&nbsp;The PM said that he spoke to an Israeli passenger. “He told me that the plane went into a dive. He told me that somehow, he managed to break into the cockpit with one of the crew members, and together they managed to stop the pilot while he was attempting to damage the plane’s systems.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">עדכון חשוב בעקבות האירוע הביטחוני החמור היום &gt;&gt; <a href="https://t.co/Hw2mxTDPjM">pic.twitter.com/Hw2mxTDPjM</a>&mdash; Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) <a href="https://x.com/netanyahu/status/2105297989992648960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“All passengers are out of danger. The pilot who stabbed has been arrested and is currently being questioned by the Saudi authorities. We are in close contact with the relevant authorities to ensure the continued safety of the passengers and their safe return to Israel,” he said. “We are in continuous contact with the relevant authorities to guarantee the continued safety of the passengers and their safe return home,” says Netanyahu, adding that Israel is also carrying out regular situational assessments. The Saudis are interrogating the suspect, he said, while adding that he instructed Israel’s security services to take measures to prevent similar attempts in the future. <h2>‘Israel preparing for more possible security threats’</h2> Netanyahu said that Israel is “preparing for more possible security threats” after a pilot on a flydubai flight from the United Arab Emirates to Israel may have purposefully attempted to crash the plane. Incidentally, Netanyahu had on Tuesday warned that “enemies” could try to attack before the October 27 election. Netanyahu also praised the Israeli passengers who intervened proactively and helped salvage the situation, saying he “salutes the heroes” who “saved many lives and displayed great bravery and prevented a serious tragedy.” The prime minister said that one of the Israeli passengers broke into the cockpit along with a crewmember and managed to neutralise the threat of the attacking pilot while another crewmember stabilised the plane.“I salute these heroes who showed extraordinary resourcefulness and courage,” Netanyahu said. “They saved many lives; they averted a major disaster. The plane landed safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.” <h2>A ‘jihadist terror attack', says Defence Minister </h2> Defence Minister Israel Katz also issued a statement on Wednesday, calling the flydubai incident a terror attack. “The incident on the flydubai plane was an attempted jihadist attack which was only foiled thanks to the heroism of a number of Israeli passengers,” Katz said. He said the Israelis eliminated the threat and handed the cockpit over to an alternate team of pilots on the plane. “According to the initial information we have, the terrorist had one intention: to crash the plane,” Katz said.

PM Benjamin Netanyahu praised the Israeli passengers who intervened and helped salvage the situation. He said one of the Israeli passengers broke into the cockpit along with a crewmember and managed to neutralise the threat of the attacking pilot.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video statement on Wednesday that the evidence indicates that the flydubai pilot who stabbed his fellow pilot intended to crash the plane and called the development an “extremely serious security incident”. “This morning there was an extremely serious security incident. Almost all of the passengers on the flight were Israelis,” said Netanyahu in his first public response to the emergency landing. Netanyahu added that as the plane drew close to Israel, “one of the pilots stabbed the other pilot, and all indications show that he tried to crash the plane along with its passengers.” The PM said that he spoke to an Israeli passenger. “He told me that the plane went into a dive. He told me that somehow, he managed to break into the cockpit with one of the crew members, and together they managed to stop the pilot while he was attempting to damage the plane’s systems.”

PM Benjamin Netanyahu praised the Israeli passengers who intervened and helped salvage the situation. He said one of the Israeli passengers broke into the cockpit along with a crewmember and managed to neutralise the threat of the attacking pilot.

Netanyahu: Saudis questioning flydubai suspect involved in ‘extremely serious security incident’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday (Sept. 29) warned that Israel's enemies could attempt an attack ahead of the country's elections scheduled for October 27.&nbsp;Speaking during a visit to the Tel Nof air base, Netanyahu said Israel had received indications of a possible attack but did not identify who could be behind it.&nbsp;"We have indications that ahead of the elections our enemies will try to attack us. So... I am sending you a message: Don't mess with us, not now and not ever. Our long arm will reach you anywhere, anytime," Netanyahu said in a video released by his office.&nbsp;Netanyahu also warned that Israel would respond to any attack and could target those responsible beyond the country's borders.<h2>Opposition seeks security briefing</h2>Netanyahu's remarks prompted concern from opposition leader Yair Lapid, who contacted the prime minister's office and asked for an "urgent security update".&nbsp;"I am seeking to understand whether the threats are real, and if so, how the Prime Minister is preparing this time to ensure that the elections will take place without disruptions," Lapid wrote on X.&nbsp;Netanyahu's office later said the prime minister had "instructed his military secretary to update the opposition leader today on the latest developments".&nbsp;The warning came shortly before Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened to target Hamas leaders based outside the Gaza Strip.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-external-party-has-any-locus-standi-india-rejects-turkish-president-erdogan-s-kashmir-remarks-at-unga-1790692921670">'No external party has any locus standi': India rejects Turkish President Erdogan's Kashmir remarks at UNGA</a><h2>Katz threatens Hamas leaders abroad</h2>Katz issued his warning after the Israeli military said it had killed a Hamas commander in northern Gaza overnight.&nbsp;"Hamas leaders abroad are also in the crosshairs. None of these despicable murderers, who played a central role in the October 7 massacre, should die peacefully in their beds," Katz said, referring to the 2023 attack that triggered the war in Gaza.&nbsp;"Once, they were spared because of a mishap -- but the next time will come, and they too will be sent to the depths of hell," he added.&nbsp;His remarks appeared to refer to an Israeli airstrike targeting a gathering of senior Hamas leaders in Qatar in September 2025.&nbsp;In recent weeks, Netanyahu and Katz have issued repeated warnings to Iran, Hezbollah and the Palestinian Authority, threatening retaliation if Israel comes under attack.Israelis are due to vote on October 27, with Netanyahu facing a tight race for another term.

Netanyahu warned that Israel's enemies could attempt an attack before the October 27 elections, while opposition leader Yair Lapid sought an urgent security briefing.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday (Sept. 29) warned that Israel's enemies could attempt an attack ahead of the country's elections scheduled for October 27. Speaking during a visit to the Tel Nof air base, Netanyahu said Israel had received indications of a possible attack but did not identify who could be behind it. "We have indications that ahead of the elections our enemies will try to attack us. So... I am sending you a message: Don't mess with us, not now and not ever. Our long arm will reach you anywhere, anytime," Netanyahu said in a video released by his office. Netanyahu also warned that Israel would respond to any attack and could target those responsible beyond the country's borders. Opposition seeks security briefing Netanyahu's remarks prompted concern from opposition leader Yair Lapid, who contacted the prime minister's office and asked for an "urgent security update". "I am seeking to understand whether the threats are real, and if so, how the Prime Minister is preparing this time to ensure that the elections will take place without disruptions," Lapid wrote on X. Netanyahu's office later said the prime minister had "instructed his military secretary to update the opposition leader today on the latest developments". The warning came shortly before Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened to target Hamas leaders based outside the Gaza Strip. Also Read: 'No external party has any locus standi': India rejects Turkish President Erdogan's Kashmir remarks at UNGA Katz threatens Hamas leaders abroad Katz issued his warning after the Israeli military said it had killed a Hamas commander in northern Gaza overnight. "Hamas leaders abroad are also in the crosshairs. None of these despicable murderers, who played a central role in the October 7 massacre, should die peacefully in their beds," Katz said, referring to the 2023 attack that triggered the war in Gaza. "Once, they were spared because of a mishap -- but the next time will come, and they too will be sent to the depths of hell," he added. His remarks appeared to refer to an Israeli airstrike targeting a gathering of senior Hamas leaders in Qatar in September 2025. In recent weeks, Netanyahu and Katz have issued repeated warnings to Iran, Hezbollah and the Palestinian Authority, threatening retaliation if Israel comes under attack. Israelis are due to vote on October 27, with Netanyahu facing a tight race for another term.

Netanyahu warned that Israel's enemies could attempt an attack before the October 27 elections, while opposition leader Yair Lapid sought an urgent security briefing.

'Don't mess with us': Netanyahu warns of possible attack ahead of Israel polls

The United Arab Emirates on Monday (Sep 28) confirmed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Gulf country on Sunday. The UAE said that the meeting with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan focused on bilateral relations. But it comes at the backdrop of Haaretz report alleging that Sheikh Mohamed had warned Israel about a looming Hamas attack shortly before the October 7, 2023, assault. Haaretz also stated that Netanyahu asked the Emirati president to deny the report. Netanyahu’s office had previously denied the Haaretz report. The visit was first reported by Israel’s Channel 12 television station.&nbsp;The confirmation came after the UAE’s state news agency WAM reported that Sheikh Mohamed and Netanyahu discussed bilateral relations during the visit. However, Israeli officials said that the talks also focused on Iran. Netanyahu’s office said the prime minister had travelled to the UAE at the invitation of Sheikh Mohamed. The visit “focused on strengthening relations between the two countries and on regional challenges”, his office said. The meeting reportedly lasted six hours and focused on Iran.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/egypt-warned-netanyahu-about-oct-7-hamas-attack-but-he-ignored-report-1790565510309">Egypt warned Netanyahu thrice about Oct 7 Hamas attack but he ignored: Report</a>&nbsp;The UAE had earlier denied a meeting between the two leaders after Netanyahu’s office said in May that he had “secretly visited” the country. A source familiar with that meeting said at the time that Netanyahu and Sheikh Mohamed met in Al-Ain on March 26. Late Monday, the UAE said the latest meeting covered bilateral relations “and ways to strengthen and develop them”.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/race-to-power/netanyahu-secret-uae-visit-october-7-warning-mbz-1790615950546">Netanyahu’s secret UAE visit: Was it linked to reports of Oct 7 warning</a><h2>What the new report said?</h2>The Wall Street Journal claimed that Egyptian officials first warned Israel in June 2023 about the general volatility of the situation with Gaza, advising the Jewish state to resume negotiations with the Palestinian terror group for a hostage-prisoner deal. In September, Kamel flew to Israel and warned that “the situation in Gaza was dire and could blow up in everyone’s faces,” the report claimed, citing unnamed officials in Arab government. But Israeli officials dismissed the warnings, telling Kamel the situation was under control. Kamel then made a call to Netanyahu’s office, and said that that “the Egyptians continued to warn Israel up until 48 hours before the attack.” Netanyahu has previously denied ever speaking to Kamel in the months before the attack.&nbsp;Both UAE and Egypt's message allegedly did not reach Israel's security leadership as Netanyahu did not take action based on the warning. The claims about UAE was made in a new book, “Kidnapped: 843 Days of Abandonment,” written by journalists Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval. The authors based the book on conversations with dozens of people, including senior officials from Israel and other countries.

The UAE confirmed Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu met President Sheikh Mohamed on Sunday, with bilateral ties and regional challenges discussed. Israeli officials said Iran was a key focus, while reports also linked the talks to claims about warnings before the October 7 Hamas attack.

The United Arab Emirates on Monday (Sep 28) confirmed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Gulf country on Sunday. The UAE said that the meeting with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan focused on bilateral relations. But it comes at the backdrop of Haaretz report alleging that Sheikh Mohamed had warned Israel about a looming Hamas attack shortly before the October 7, 2023, assault. Haaretz also stated that Netanyahu asked the Emirati president to deny the report. Netanyahu’s office had previously denied the Haaretz report. The visit was first reported by Israel’s Channel 12 television station. The confirmation came after the UAE’s state news agency WAM reported that Sheikh Mohamed and Netanyahu discussed bilateral relations during the visit. However, Israeli officials said that the talks also focused on Iran. Netanyahu’s office said the prime minister had travelled to the UAE at the invitation of Sheikh Mohamed. The visit “focused on strengthening relations between the two countries and on regional challenges”, his office said. The meeting reportedly lasted six hours and focused on Iran. Also Read: Egypt warned Netanyahu thrice about Oct 7 Hamas attack but he ignored: Report The UAE had earlier denied a meeting between the two leaders after Netanyahu’s office said in May that he had “secretly visited” the country. A source familiar with that meeting said at the time that Netanyahu and Sheikh Mohamed met in Al-Ain on March 26. Late Monday, the UAE said the latest meeting covered bilateral relations “and ways to strengthen and develop them”. Also Read: Netanyahu’s secret UAE visit: Was it linked to reports of Oct 7 warning What the new report said? The Wall Street Journal claimed that Egyptian officials first warned Israel in June 2023 about the general volatility of the situation with Gaza, advising the Jewish state to resume negotiations with the Palestinian terror group for a hostage-prisoner deal. In September, Kamel flew to Israel and warned that “the situation in Gaza was dire and could blow up in everyone’s faces,” the report claimed, citing unnamed officials in Arab government. But Israeli officials dismissed the warnings, telling Kamel the situation was under control. Kamel then made a call to Netanyahu’s office, and said that that “the Egyptians continued to warn Israel up until 48 hours before the attack.” Netanyahu has previously denied ever speaking to Kamel in the months before the attack. Both UAE and Egypt's message allegedly did not reach Israel's security leadership as Netanyahu did not take action based on the warning. The claims about UAE was made in a new book, “Kidnapped: 843 Days of Abandonment,” written by journalists Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval. The authors based the book on conversations with dozens of people, including senior officials from Israel and other countries.

The UAE confirmed Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu met President Sheikh Mohamed on Sunday, with bilateral ties and regional challenges discussed. Israeli officials said Iran was a key focus, while reports also linked the talks to claims about warnings before the October 7 Hamas attack.

UAE confirms Netanyahu's visit: Six-hour talks amid Oct 7 Hamas attack report

Election season is upon Israel.The country is scheduled to vote in less than one month, in a poll that is extremely pivotal to incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's career.But Bibi is not in the news for an election-related development. Rather, it is a so-called secret visit to the UAE over the weekend that is grabbing eyeballs.There has been no government announcement from either country, but as more and more reports emerge, the reason for this sudden visit is raising several questions.On Sunday, reports first surfaced in the Israeli media saying that Netanyahu had made a short, unannounced visit to meet with Emirati leader Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.The visit reportedly lasted just a few hours.However, no other details emerged until a few hours ago.Before we get into that development, the context and timeline are important here.Just a few days ago, reports emerged of the UAE allegedly warning Israel about Hamas' plan to carry out an attack.Reports, citing a book written by two investigative journalists, detailed how MBZ himself allegedly warned Bibi about the now-slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar's intent and plan to carry out an attack.Netanyahu has denied receiving any such intelligence ahead of the October 7 attacks, while the UAE has declined to directly address the reports.Now, there is a report by The Times of Israel which claims that Israel's prime minister flew to the UAE on Sunday to ask Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to deny the reports about the alleged intelligence sharing, which have come under renewed scrutiny.Sources cited by The Times of Israel and the Associated Press say the meeting focused on the reports that bin Zayed had warned Netanyahu about a looming Hamas attack ahead of October 7. The UAE's Foreign Ministry has declined to comment directly on the reported meeting. However, it has said that the country maintains “open and direct lines of communication” with Israel and shares relevant intelligence.Remember, the UAE and Israel normalised relations in 2020 under the Abraham Accords.The developments also overlap with separate reports of Egypt sharing intelligence with Israel.According to The Wall Street Journal, Egypt conveyed at least three separate warnings to Israel about signs of an impending attack from Gaza. These reportedly included a secret visit by Egypt's intelligence chief Abbas Kamel and a phone call to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just days before the attack.According to officials cited by the newspaper, Kamel secretly travelled to Israel around two weeks before October 7 and warned that Hamas appeared to be preparing for a major attack.But the Egyptian warning reportedly did not include a specific date, targets or detailed information about the scale of the planned operation.And The Wall Street Journal says the warnings continued.In the days before October 7, Kamel reportedly called Netanyahu again, warning of signs of an impending attack.These fresh reports are also raising new questions over what Israel knew in the weeks before the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.Netanyahu has repeatedly denied personally receiving advance warnings of the October 7 attack. He has also blamed Israeli security officials for failing to adequately alert him to the threat. On Monday, Netanyahu again denied reports that he had personally spoken with Abbas Kamel or received an Egyptian warning.The Israeli government has faced continued scrutiny over the intelligence and security failures surrounding the Hamas assault, which killed about 1,200 people in Israel and saw around 250 people taken hostage during the attack.The latest reports are particularly significant because they come amid renewed political debate in Israel over the government's handling of the events leading up to October 7.

Netanyahu reportedly flew to the UAE to seek a denial over claims that MBZ warned him about a Hamas attack before October 7. Netanyahu denies receiving the warning.

Election season is upon Israel. The country is scheduled to vote in less than one month, in a poll that is extremely pivotal to incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's career. But Bibi is not in the news for an election-related development. Rather, it is a so-called secret visit to the UAE over the weekend that is grabbing eyeballs. There has been no government announcement from either country, but as more and more reports emerge, the reason for this sudden visit is raising several questions. On Sunday, reports first surfaced in the Israeli media saying that Netanyahu had made a short, unannounced visit to meet with Emirati leader Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The visit reportedly lasted just a few hours. However, no other details emerged until a few hours ago. Before we get into that development, the context and timeline are important here. Just a few days ago, reports emerged of the UAE allegedly warning Israel about Hamas' plan to carry out an attack. Reports, citing a book written by two investigative journalists, detailed how MBZ himself allegedly warned Bibi about the now-slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar's intent and plan to carry out an attack. Netanyahu has denied receiving any such intelligence ahead of the October 7 attacks, while the UAE has declined to directly address the reports. Now, there is a report by The Times of Israel which claims that Israel's prime minister flew to the UAE on Sunday to ask Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to deny the reports about the alleged intelligence sharing, which have come under renewed scrutiny. Sources cited by The Times of Israel and the Associated Press say the meeting focused on the reports that bin Zayed had warned Netanyahu about a looming Hamas attack ahead of October 7. The UAE's Foreign Ministry has declined to comment directly on the reported meeting. However, it has said that the country maintains “open and direct lines of communication” with Israel and shares relevant intelligence. Remember, the UAE and Israel normalised relations in 2020 under the Abraham Accords. The developments also overlap with separate reports of Egypt sharing intelligence with Israel. According to The Wall Street Journal, Egypt conveyed at least three separate warnings to Israel about signs of an impending attack from Gaza. These reportedly included a secret visit by Egypt's intelligence chief Abbas Kamel and a phone call to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just days before the attack. According to officials cited by the newspaper, Kamel secretly travelled to Israel around two weeks before October 7 and warned that Hamas appeared to be preparing for a major attack. But the Egyptian warning reportedly did not include a specific date, targets or detailed information about the scale of the planned operation. And The Wall Street Journal says the warnings continued. In the days before October 7, Kamel reportedly called Netanyahu again, warning of signs of an impending attack. These fresh reports are also raising new questions over what Israel knew in the weeks before the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Netanyahu has repeatedly denied personally receiving advance warnings of the October 7 attack. He has also blamed Israeli security officials for failing to adequately alert him to the threat. On Monday, Netanyahu again denied reports that he had personally spoken with Abbas Kamel or received an Egyptian warning. The Israeli government has faced continued scrutiny over the intelligence and security failures surrounding the Hamas assault, which killed about 1,200 people in Israel and saw around 250 people taken hostage during the attack. The latest reports are particularly significant because they come amid renewed political debate in Israel over the government's handling of the events leading up to October 7.

Netanyahu reportedly flew to the UAE to seek a denial of claims that MBZ warned him about a Hamas attack before October 7. Netanyahu denies receiving the warning.

Netanyahu’s secret UAE visit: Was it linked to reports of Oct 7 warning | Race To Power

Netanyahu’s fiery UN speech sparks a mass walkout as he attacks Mamdani, Iran, Turkey, Britain and France. See the key moments in photos

Benjamin Netanyahu’s fiery UN speech sparks a mass walkout as he attacks Mamdani, Iran, Turkey, Britain and France, while protesters gather outside the UN in New York

Netanyahu at UN: Mass walkout, attack on Mamdani and Iran threats | In Pics

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets outside the United Nations in New York on Thursday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepared to address the General Assembly, with several people arrested as demonstrations disrupted traffic near the UN headquarters. The protest drew Jewish, Palestinian, Iranian and Lebanese New Yorkers, along with elected officials, political candidates and celebrities. Demonstrators wore shirts reading “Fund people not bombs” and chanted “Let Gaza live” and “the whole world is watching.”&nbsp;Protesters sat in the middle of the street for more than an hour, forcing official vehicles heading toward the UN to divert. Demonstrators also carried banners calling to “end the genocide” and flew a kite bearing the words “Free Palestine,” according to organizers. A separate demonstration was also planned for later Thursday afternoon, with organizers expecting another large turnout in Midtown Manhattan before a march toward the UN.&nbsp;On Wednesday, members of the Democratic Socialists of America’s New York City chapter also held a demonstration at John F. Kennedy International Airport over weapons and explosive materials destined for the Israeli military being transported on commercial aircraft. “What we made clear today is that New Yorkers, including Jewish New Yorkers, do not want war criminals and the architects of genocide coming to our city,” said Beth Miller, political director of Jewish Voice for Peace Action, which coordinated the first protest outside the UN. “This is something that we have been saying for years, especially over the last three years during which Israel has killed over 75,000 Palestinians in this genocide, and to be clear that is a severe undercount.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-would-all-be-dead-netanyahu-defends-decision-to-strike-iran-s-nuclear-facilities-in-his-un-speech-1790273216773">'We would all be dead': Netanyahu defends decision to strike Iran's nuclear facilities in his UN speech</a>&nbsp;Protests have frequently accompanied Netanyahu’s appearances at the UN. This year’s demonstrations have taken place amid continuing debate in the United States over the Gaza war and US support for Israel. Actors Susan Sarandon and Caleb Hearon, along with whistleblower Chelsea Manning, were also among those detained by the NYPD, according to the report. The protests also drew several candidates and elected officials who have publicly criticized US policy toward Israel, including New York’s Darializa Avila Chevalier and Brad Lander, Pennsylvania’s Chris Rabb, New Jersey’s Adam Hamawy and Colorado’s Melat Kiros.&nbsp;The NYPD did not immediately confirm the number of arrests. Organizers estimated that more than 100 people had been detained. The demonstrations also placed renewed attention on Mamdani, who had previously pledged to seek Netanyahu’s arrest if he came to New York but later acknowledged that the city does not have the legal authority to carry out such an arrest. He has continued to say that protesters have the right to demonstrate in the city.&nbsp;“To New Yorkers, I have never encouraged them to protest, what I have always told them is that they have the right to do so in this city,” he said. “We respect that right and this is a city that is proud of the constitution and proud of the first amendment.” Mamdani’s relationship with Netanyahu has become a prominent part of the political debate surrounding the Israeli prime minister’s visit to New York. Netanyahu had said before the UN address that he would respond to Mamdani’s criticism and defend Israel’s actions.

Hundreds protest outside the UN as Netanyahu addresses the General Assembly, with arrests, blocked streets and demonstrations over the Gaza war

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets outside the United Nations in New York on Thursday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepared to address the General Assembly, with several people arrested as demonstrations disrupted traffic near the UN headquarters. The protest drew Jewish, Palestinian, Iranian and Lebanese New Yorkers, along with elected officials, political candidates and celebrities. Demonstrators wore shirts reading “Fund people not bombs” and chanted “Let Gaza live” and “the whole world is watching.” Protesters sat in the middle of the street for more than an hour, forcing official vehicles heading toward the UN to divert. Demonstrators also carried banners calling to “end the genocide” and flew a kite bearing the words “Free Palestine,” according to organizers. A separate demonstration was also planned for later Thursday afternoon, with organizers expecting another large turnout in Midtown Manhattan before a march toward the UN. On Wednesday, members of the Democratic Socialists of America’s New York City chapter also held a demonstration at John F. Kennedy International Airport over weapons and explosive materials destined for the Israeli military being transported on commercial aircraft. “What we made clear today is that New Yorkers, including Jewish New Yorkers, do not want war criminals and the architects of genocide coming to our city,” said Beth Miller, political director of Jewish Voice for Peace Action, which coordinated the first protest outside the UN. “This is something that we have been saying for years, especially over the last three years during which Israel has killed over 75,000 Palestinians in this genocide, and to be clear that is a severe undercount.” Also Read: 'We would all be dead': Netanyahu defends decision to strike Iran's nuclear facilities in his UN speech Protests have frequently accompanied Netanyahu’s appearances at the UN. This year’s demonstrations have taken place amid continuing debate in the United States over the Gaza war and US support for Israel. Actors Susan Sarandon and Caleb Hearon, along with whistleblower Chelsea Manning, were also among those detained by the NYPD, according to the report. The protests also drew several candidates and elected officials who have publicly criticized US policy toward Israel, including New York’s Darializa Avila Chevalier and Brad Lander, Pennsylvania’s Chris Rabb, New Jersey’s Adam Hamawy and Colorado’s Melat Kiros. The NYPD did not immediately confirm the number of arrests. Organizers estimated that more than 100 people had been detained. The demonstrations also placed renewed attention on Mamdani, who had previously pledged to seek Netanyahu’s arrest if he came to New York but later acknowledged that the city does not have the legal authority to carry out such an arrest. He has continued to say that protesters have the right to demonstrate in the city. “To New Yorkers, I have never encouraged them to protest, what I have always told them is that they have the right to do so in this city,” he said. “We respect that right and this is a city that is proud of the constitution and proud of the first amendment.” Mamdani’s relationship with Netanyahu has become a prominent part of the political debate surrounding the Israeli prime minister’s visit to New York. Netanyahu had said before the UN address that he would respond to Mamdani’s criticism and defend Israel’s actions.

Hundreds protest Benjamin Netanyahu’s UN speech in New York, blocking streets as police make arrests amid demonstrations over Israel’s war in Gaza

'Fund people, not bombs': Hundreds take to New York streets as Netanyahu delivers speech at UN; dozens arrested

Dozens of envoys from around the world walked out of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech at the United Nations on Thursday in protest against the Israeli leader. Delegates jeered and booed as Netanyahu addressed the assembly, while members of his own team stood and applauded. "If there are any other moral cowards who haven't left this hall, please do so now," Netanyahu said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu further said, “Devastating Iran’s nuclear facilities was hard. It was very hard to do. But for me, it was one of the easiest decisions I’ve ever had to make as prime minister, because if we hadn’t done it, we’d all be dead."&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-s-on-the-menu-inside-trump-s-lavish-white-house-state-dinner-for-xiwhat-s-on-the-menu-inside-trump-s-lavish-white-house-state-dinner-for-xi-1790272198108">What’s on the menu? Inside Trump’s lavish White House state dinner for Xi</a><h2>Dozens of envoys walking out of Netanyahu's speech at UNGA</h2>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">WATCH: Netanyahu is booed as he begins his UNGA speech, with many delegations walking out of the General Assembly hall. <a href="https://t.co/ldaiBQ0KFk">pic.twitter.com/ldaiBQ0KFk</a>&mdash; Clash Report (@clashreport) <a href="https://x.com/clashreport/status/2103184064752816303?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Netanyahu in his speech also described Israeli youths who target Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank as 'juvenile delinquents' during his address to the United Nations. "What (the media) cover is a handful of young juvenile delinquents, about 150 in number, who go or throw stones, who chop down olive trees," Netanyahu said. “I can't stand that. I won't stand for vigilantism.”&nbsp;<h2>Many Jews feel unsafe in NY since Mamdani election: Bibi</h2>Netanyahu also claimed that ‘many Jews’ no longer feel safe in New York following the election of Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Addressing Mamdani, Netanyahu said, "Since you were elected mayor of this city, many Jews no longer feel safe in New York," he said. Netanyahu also accused Mamdani of repeatedly making what he described as a false allegation against Israel. "You falsely, repeatedly accuse Israel of genocide," he said.<h2>Netanyahu attacks Britain, France for past colonialism</h2>The Israel PM also attacked Britain and France for their past colonial empires during his speech at the United Nations. "They accuse Israel, tiny Israel, of colonialism, some colonialism. And who's accusing us? Among them are people in Britain and in France. For God's sakes, they invented the term," he said.<h2>Netanyahu calls Turkey's Erdogan ‘tyrant’</h2>Netanyahu called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a ‘tyrant’ during his speech at the United Nations, accusing Turkey of hosting Hamas leaders. "The latest country to become a super spreader of antisemitic lies (is Turkey)... Erdogan is a tyrant. He also hosts the Hamas terror chiefs," he said.

Dozens of envoys walk out of Netanyahu’s UN speech as delegates jeer and boo, while his team applauds and the Palestinian delegation backs the protest

Dozens of envoys from around the world walked out of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech at the United Nations on Thursday in protest against the Israeli leader. Delegates jeered and booed as Netanyahu addressed the assembly, while members of his own team stood and applauded. "If there are any other moral cowards who haven't left this hall, please do so now," Netanyahu said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu further said, “Devastating Iran’s nuclear facilities was hard. It was very hard to do. But for me, it was one of the easiest decisions I’ve ever had to make as prime minister, because if we hadn’t done it, we’d all be dead." Also Read: What’s on the menu? Inside Trump’s lavish White House state dinner for Xi Dozens of envoys walking out of Netanyahu's speech at UNGA

Dozens of envoys walked out of Netanyahu’s UN speech as delegates jeered and booed, while his team applauded and the session speaker called for order

'We would all be dead': Netanyahu defends decision to strike Iran's nuclear facilities in his UN speech

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday (September 22) said he would use his upcoming United Nations General Assembly address to "tell the truth" about New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.&nbsp;Netanyahu made the remarks a day before travelling to New York for the UN General Assembly, where he is scheduled to deliver a speech.&nbsp;“Shame on you, Mr Mamdani,” Netanyahu said in a video message.&nbsp;“Shame on you for supporting the Hamas terrorist monsters who butchered our people. Shame on you for inciting riots against New York Jews,” Netanyahu said.&nbsp;“I'm coming to the UN. I'm going to tell the truth about our heroic soldiers, and I'm going to tell the truth about you,” he added.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">ממדאני - אני בא לאו״ם כדי להילחם על האמת של החיילים הגיבורים שלנו - וכדי לחשוף את האמת עליך! <a href="https://t.co/141PPbSFHm">pic.twitter.com/141PPbSFHm</a>&mdash; Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) <a href="https://x.com/netanyahu/status/2102355556111433840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h3>Mamdani backs Netanyahu's arrest</h3>Netanyahu is expected to reach New York on Thursday morning and address the UN General Assembly at 2 pm before returning to Israel shortly afterwards.&nbsp;His latest remarks came after Mamdani again spoke about the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Netanyahu during a CNN interview on Monday.&nbsp;Mamdani said he believes Netanyahu to be “a war criminal and an architect of a horrific genocide of the Palestinian people.”&nbsp;In July, Mamdani had examined whether he could arrest Netanyahu under the ICC warrant. He later concluded that he did not have the legal authority to do so, while maintaining that Netanyahu was "not welcome" in New York City.&nbsp;“I do believe that that is something that should be honoured," he told CNN, "because what we want to see, and we’ve been talking about this today, is a faith in our politics, a faith in accountability.”&nbsp;"If the International Criminal Court deems someone worthy of an arrest because of a violation of those laws, then who are we to say that anyone should be above that? And I think very clearly that everyone should be held accountable to it," he added&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-slams-us-sanctions-on-iranian-airlines-as-illegal-ahead-of-trump-xi-summit-1790074895704">China slams US sanctions on Iranian airlines as ‘illegal’ ahead of Trump-Xi summit</a><h3>Israeli envoy backs Netanyahu</h3>Israeli Consul-General in New York Ofir Akunis also criticised Mamdani in a post on X, accusing the mayor of spreading antisemitism.&nbsp;"Mamdani continues doing the only thing he knows how to do: incitement and the spreading of lies and blood libels against the State of Israel: classic antisemitism," Akunis wrote. "Once again, not a single word about the savage and monstrous massacre of October 7 committed by the barbaric people who invaded Israel from Gaza."&nbsp;"The Prime Minister of Israel will arrive in New York City, address the UN, and tell the entire world who the Ayatollahs, Hezbollah, and Hamas truly are: enemies of the United States and the West."&nbsp;The exchange between Netanyahu and Mamdani comes as the Israeli prime minister prepares for his UN address in New York, with their opposing positions on the ICC warrant adding to the dispute ahead of his visit.

Benjamin Netanyahu has criticised New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani over his support for the ICC arrest warrant, as the Israeli Prime Minister prepares to address the UN General Assembly in New York.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday (September 22) said he would use his upcoming United Nations General Assembly address to "tell the truth" about New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Netanyahu made the remarks a day before travelling to New York for the UN General Assembly, where he is scheduled to deliver a speech. “Shame on you, Mr Mamdani,” Netanyahu said in a video message. “Shame on you for supporting the Hamas terrorist monsters who butchered our people. Shame on you for inciting riots against New York Jews,” Netanyahu said. “I'm coming to the UN. I'm going to tell the truth about our heroic soldiers, and I'm going to tell the truth about you,” he added.

Benjamin Netanyahu has criticised New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani over his support for the ICC arrest warrant, as the Israeli Prime Minister prepares to address the UN General Assembly in New York.

‘Shame on you’: Netanyahu vows to ‘tell the truth’ about Mamdani at UN ahead of New York visit

As Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu seeks a record seventh term in office in the upcoming elections, he continues to advocate a hardline approach when it comes to Palestinians. However, a recent survey has reflected how this stance may not be resonating with many voters any longer.The survey, conducted by the Jewish Public Policy Institute from September 1 to 3, focused on a recent incident in the West Bank's Qusra village.In late August, dozens of masked Israelis arrived in pickup trucks, threw stones at residents and barricaded themselves inside a house. While several Palestinians were wounded, the rioters fled when security forces arrived.According to this survey, one-third of Israelis described these rioters as "Israeli terrorists", whereas another 18 per cent termed them "nationalist criminals". Only 13 per cent of them had a lenient view, calling them young people who sometimes go too far.Crucially, merely 5 per cent of respondents expressed support for the Jewish settlers.Now, the poll also showed a clear political divide. Sixty-three per cent of left-wing respondents described the rioters as "Israeli terrorists". That figure fell to 49 per cent among those leaning towards the centre, and just 3 per cent among right-wing respondents.However, 27 per cent of Jewish Israelis also used the term "Israeli terrorists" for the settlers.This comes at a time when criticism of the Benjamin Netanyahu-led government has been mounting globally over its policies in the West Bank.For instance, the UK accused Israel of turning a blind eye to the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians and announced a ban on imports of all goods produced in Israeli settlements in the West Bank.Eleven other countries, including France and Canada, also announced similar plans. This drew a fierce retaliation from Israel, which announced the closure of Britain's consulate in Jerusalem.Palestinians continue to suffer, though.Rescuers were scrambling to recover bodies from a six-storey building in Gaza City after it collapsed overnight following damage sustained in Israeli strikes.According to the local authorities, at least 12 people, including five children, have died, and over 100 people remain missing.With Israel's growing isolation, it remains to be seen whether this will translate into an electoral setback for Netanyahu.

The poll also showed a clear political divide. Sixty-three per cent of left-wing respondents described the rioters as "Israeli terrorists". That figure fell to 49 per cent among those leaning towards the centre, and just 3 per cent among right-wing respondents.

As Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu seeks a record seventh term in office in the upcoming elections, he continues to advocate a hardline approach when it comes to Palestinians. However, a recent survey has reflected how this stance may not be resonating with many voters any longer. The survey, conducted by the Jewish Public Policy Institute from September 1 to 3, focused on a recent incident in the West Bank's Qusra village. In late August, dozens of masked Israelis arrived in pickup trucks, threw stones at residents and barricaded themselves inside a house. While several Palestinians were wounded, the rioters fled when security forces arrived. According to this survey, one-third of Israelis described these rioters as "Israeli terrorists", whereas another 18 per cent termed them "nationalist criminals". Only 13 per cent of them had a lenient view, calling them young people who sometimes go too far. Crucially, merely 5 per cent of respondents expressed support for the Jewish settlers. Now, the poll also showed a clear political divide. Sixty-three per cent of left-wing respondents described the rioters as "Israeli terrorists". That figure fell to 49 per cent among those leaning towards the centre, and just 3 per cent among right-wing respondents. However, 27 per cent of Jewish Israelis also used the term "Israeli terrorists" for the settlers. This comes at a time when criticism of the Benjamin Netanyahu-led government has been mounting globally over its policies in the West Bank. For instance, the UK accused Israel of turning a blind eye to the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians and announced a ban on imports of all goods produced in Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Eleven other countries, including France and Canada, also announced similar plans. This drew a fierce retaliation from Israel, which announced the closure of Britain's consulate in Jerusalem. Palestinians continue to suffer, though. Rescuers were scrambling to recover bodies from a six-storey building in Gaza City after it collapsed overnight following damage sustained in Israeli strikes. According to the local authorities, at least 12 people, including five children, have died, and over 100 people remain missing. With Israel's growing isolation, it remains to be seen whether this will translate into an electoral setback for Netanyahu.

The poll also showed a clear political divide. Sixty-three per cent of left-wing respondents described the rioters as "Israeli terrorists". That figure fell to 49 per cent among those leaning towards the centre, and just 3 per cent among right-wing respondents.

Netanyahu faces heat over settler violence in West Bank ahead of polls | Gravitas

Whether it is the brutal war in Gaza, killing over 73,000 Palestinians, or growing settler violence in West Bank, the Benjamin Netanyahu-led government's actions have led to mounting criticism across the world.&nbsp;A key US official has now nailed the extent to which Israel has been cornered.&nbsp;Addressing a conference, Trump's son-in-law and special envoy for peace Jared Kushner asserted that Israel became globally isolated in September last year when it conducted air strikes on Qatar.&nbsp;He said, “We used that dynamic to push them into a deal.”&nbsp;Essentially, Kushner claimed that US leveraged the international pressure following the strikes to push a reluctant Netanyahu to accept a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal.&nbsp;While Netanyahu initially justified the air strike on Doha in which five Hamas operatives and one Qatari security personnel were killed, Trump made his displeasure clear.&nbsp;Back then, the US president stressed that the strike did not advance either Israel or America's goals.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/strong-brics-resolution-on-palestine-isolates-israel-after-american-snub-1789404634601/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/strong-brics-resolution-on-palestine-isolates-israel-after-american-snub-1789404634601/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;Subsequently, the Israeli PM apologised for the air strike and affirmed that IDF will not conduct such an attack again in the future.&nbsp;This is not all.&nbsp;Israel was also at the receiving end of stinging criticism by BRICS during its summit held in New Delhi over the weekend.&nbsp;In its New Delhi declaration, the forum supported the creation of an independent state of Palestine, comprising the Gaza Strip and West Bank, with east Jerusalem as its capital.&nbsp;It also expressed deep concern over continued violence in Gaza despite the ceasefire and called for halting policies aimed at forced displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.&nbsp;Additionally, BRICS nations rejected any unilateral measures to alter the legal and historical status of Jerusalem.&nbsp;The bloc also urged Israel to withdraw its troops from Lebanon.&nbsp;The Netanyahu-led government is facing criticism for its policies in West Bank as well.&nbsp;Accusing Israel of turning a blind eye to ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, UK announced a ban on import of all goods produced in Israeli settlements in West Bank.&nbsp;Eleven other countries including France and Canada also announced similar plans.&nbsp;This drew a fierce retaliation from Israel which announced the closure of Britain's consulate in Jerusalem.&nbsp;Despite facing pressure on all fronts, any course correction by Israel seems elusive.&nbsp;Instead, it is now seeking to strip two Oscar-winning filmmakers of their citizenship.&nbsp;This latest controversy pertains to the documentary titled ‘Naza’ directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Shor, which recently won a special jury prize at the Venice Film Festival.&nbsp;Based on conversations with 24 Israeli military and intelligence whistle-blowers, the documentary shows how IDF used AI-powered systems to systematically kill civilians in Gaza.&nbsp;Israel's culture minister Miki Zohar accused these filmmakers of harming the country just to get applause from anti-Semites around the world.&nbsp;He said, “Anyone who acts against the state of Israel during wartime cannot continue to hold Israeli citizenship.”&nbsp;He added that freedom of expression is not a license to betray the state.&nbsp;Meanwhile, IDF refuted the alleged claim in the documentary that an approval was given for an air strike in Gaza anticipating 500 civilian casualties.&nbsp;Meanwhile, an Israeli human rights group accused the Netanyahu-led government of carrying out a systematic and accelerated project aimed at dismantling the foundations of Palestinian existence in West Bank.&nbsp;Facing a backlash from multiple quarters, it is apparent that Netanyahu faces a tough ask with Israeli general elections due in just over a month...

Trump's son-in-law and special envoy for peace Jared Kushner said Israel became globally isolated in September last year when it conducted air strikes on Qatar. Kushner claimed that US leveraged the pressure following the strikes to push a reluctant Netanyahu to accept a Gaza ceasefire.

Whether it is the brutal war in Gaza, killing over 73,000 Palestinians, or growing settler violence in West Bank, the Benjamin Netanyahu-led government's actions have led to mounting criticism across the world. A key US official has now nailed the extent to which Israel has been cornered. Addressing a conference, Trump's son-in-law and special envoy for peace Jared Kushner asserted that Israel became globally isolated in September last year when it conducted air strikes on Qatar. He said, “We used that dynamic to push them into a deal.” Essentially, Kushner claimed that US leveraged the international pressure following the strikes to push a reluctant Netanyahu to accept a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal. While Netanyahu initially justified the air strike on Doha in which five Hamas operatives and one Qatari security personnel were killed, Trump made his displeasure clear. Back then, the US president stressed that the strike did not advance either Israel or America's goals. https://www.wionews.com/videos/strong-brics-resolution-on-palestine-isolates-israel-after-american-snub-1789404634601/embed Subsequently, the Israeli PM apologised for the air strike and affirmed that IDF will not conduct such an attack again in the future. This is not all. Israel was also at the receiving end of stinging criticism by BRICS during its summit held in New Delhi over the weekend. In its New Delhi declaration, the forum supported the creation of an independent state of Palestine, comprising the Gaza Strip and West Bank, with east Jerusalem as its capital. It also expressed deep concern over continued violence in Gaza despite the ceasefire and called for halting policies aimed at forced displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. Additionally, BRICS nations rejected any unilateral measures to alter the legal and historical status of Jerusalem. The bloc also urged Israel to withdraw its troops from Lebanon. The Netanyahu-led government is facing criticism for its policies in West Bank as well. Accusing Israel of turning a blind eye to ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, UK announced a ban on import of all goods produced in Israeli settlements in West Bank. Eleven other countries including France and Canada also announced similar plans. This drew a fierce retaliation from Israel which announced the closure of Britain's consulate in Jerusalem. Despite facing pressure on all fronts, any course correction by Israel seems elusive. Instead, it is now seeking to strip two Oscar-winning filmmakers of their citizenship. This latest controversy pertains to the documentary titled ‘Naza’ directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Shor, which recently won a special jury prize at the Venice Film Festival. Based on conversations with 24 Israeli military and intelligence whistle-blowers, the documentary shows how IDF used AI-powered systems to systematically kill civilians in Gaza. Israel's culture minister Miki Zohar accused these filmmakers of harming the country just to get applause from anti-Semites around the world. He said, “Anyone who acts against the state of Israel during wartime cannot continue to hold Israeli citizenship.” He added that freedom of expression is not a license to betray the state. Meanwhile, IDF refuted the alleged claim in the documentary that an approval was given for an air strike in Gaza anticipating 500 civilian casualties. Meanwhile, an Israeli human rights group accused the Netanyahu-led government of carrying out a systematic and accelerated project aimed at dismantling the foundations of Palestinian existence in West Bank. Facing a backlash from multiple quarters, it is apparent that Netanyahu faces a tough ask with Israeli general elections due in just over a month...

Trump's son-in-law and special envoy for peace Jared Kushner said Israel became globally isolated in September last year when it conducted air strikes on Qatar. Kushner claimed that US leveraged the pressure following the strikes to push a reluctant Netanyahu to accept a Gaza ceasefire.

Strong BRICS resolution on Palestine isolates Israel after American snub | Gravitas

US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and special adviser, Jared Kushner, said that the international pressure fallout from Israel’s strike in Doha last year allowed the US to push Israel towards a Gaza agreement. In a video appearance at a conference in Kyiv over the weekend, Kushner stated that Washington utilised the situation created by the strike to increase pressure on Israel and move it towards a deal. Kushner's statements were in connection to the September 2025 military strike in Doha, Qatar, where Israeli warplanes targeted senior Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar. However, the strike failed to eliminate the top leadership, resulting instead in the deaths of lower-ranking members and a Qatari security officer. “We used that dynamic in order to push them into a deal that now today they’re quite happy with,” he said. “At the time, they were a little uncomfortable with kind of what we were pushing them to do," Kushner said, adding that the attack, however, proved beneficial for Israel as well as the people of Gaza with the formation of new government. “Ultimately, it turned out to be great for them,” he said of Israel. “And it turned out to be great for the people of Gaza, because now we have a new government there.” Kushner did not hold back in his assessment of Israel's operation in Doha. “Israel did the strike in Doha, which was a terrible thing,” Kushner said. “And obviously, it was unsuccessful as a military operation. And that led to Israel being globally isolated.” He indicated that the new governing structure in Gaza was expected to step in as progress is made on demilitarisation efforts, stating that this new setup is set to take over soon once headway is made on that front.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-discovers-110-million-tonnes-of-uranium-rich-ore-in-madinah-region-1789389443625">Saudi Arabia discovers 110 million tonnes of Uranium-rich ore in Madinah region</a><h3>What is BRICS statement targeting Israel?</h3>The 140-point document of the BRICS Summit mostly deals with broad global issues, trade between countries, rules around AI, fighting terrorism, and reforming the United Nations, In the document, paragraphs 30 through 35 highlights a rare and unequivocal rebuke of Israel's interests under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in West Asia. When it comes to Israel the declaration is far more explicit. On the Gaza issue, BRICS voiced alarm over the ongoing violence, rejected any forced displacement of Palestinians, and reaffirmed its backing for a sovereign Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem serving as its capital. The bloc also pointed to the case South Africa has filed against Israel at the International Court of Justice, noting Israel's “legal obligation to ensure the provision of humanitarian aid in Gaza."

Jared Kushner's statements were in connection with the September 2025 military strike in Doha, Qatar, where Israeli warplanes targeted senior Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar. 

US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and special adviser, Jared Kushner, said that the international pressure fallout from Israel’s strike in Doha last year allowed the US to push Israel towards a Gaza agreement. In a video appearance at a conference in Kyiv over the weekend, Kushner stated that Washington utilised the situation created by the strike to increase pressure on Israel and move it towards a deal. Kushner's statements were in connection to the September 2025 military strike in Doha, Qatar, where Israeli warplanes targeted senior Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar. However, the strike failed to eliminate the top leadership, resulting instead in the deaths of lower-ranking members and a Qatari security officer. “We used that dynamic in order to push them into a deal that now today they’re quite happy with,” he said. “At the time, they were a little uncomfortable with kind of what we were pushing them to do," Kushner said, adding that the attack, however, proved beneficial for Israel as well as the people of Gaza with the formation of new government. “Ultimately, it turned out to be great for them,” he said of Israel. “And it turned out to be great for the people of Gaza, because now we have a new government there.” Kushner did not hold back in his assessment of Israel's operation in Doha. “Israel did the strike in Doha, which was a terrible thing,” Kushner said. “And obviously, it was unsuccessful as a military operation. And that led to Israel being globally isolated.” He indicated that the new governing structure in Gaza was expected to step in as progress is made on demilitarisation efforts, stating that this new setup is set to take over soon once headway is made on that front. Also read: Saudi Arabia discovers 110 million tonnes of Uranium-rich ore in Madinah region What is BRICS statement targeting Israel? The 140-point document of the BRICS Summit mostly deals with broad global issues, trade between countries, rules around AI, fighting terrorism, and reforming the United Nations, In the document, paragraphs 30 through 35 highlights a rare and unequivocal rebuke of Israel's interests under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in West Asia. When it comes to Israel the declaration is far more explicit. On the Gaza issue, BRICS voiced alarm over the ongoing violence, rejected any forced displacement of Palestinians, and reaffirmed its backing for a sovereign Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem serving as its capital. The bloc also pointed to the case South Africa has filed against Israel at the International Court of Justice, noting Israel's “legal obligation to ensure the provision of humanitarian aid in Gaza."

Jared Kushner's statements were in connection with the September 2025 military strike in Doha, Qatar, where Israeli warplanes targeted senior Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar.&nbsp;

From BRICS rebuke to Kushner's Doha strike statement: Is Israel being isolated globally?

From 2019 to August 2026, Israel has spent nearly $470,000 on hair styling, makeup, and official representation expenses for its prime ministers both domestically and abroad. The data were revealed by the 'Israeli' Prime Minister's Office after a Freedom of Information request was filed in December 2025 by attorney Yaara Winkler-Shalit.&nbsp;The report indicated that Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara were responsible for approximately 90 per cent of the total hair and makeup expenditures. In multiple documents, specific details, including the prime minister's personal hairstylists' and makeup artists' names, were redacted on grounds of alleged "state security". The data gave specific monthly breakdowns, along with the period surrounding the outbreak of war in late 2023. It revealed that the state paid nearly $2,600 for the prime minister's hair styling and $1,580 for makeup services between September and November in 2023.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/25-years-after-9-11-how-america-and-world-remembered-nearly-3-000-lives-lost-in-pics-1789187059061">25 years after 9/11: How America and world remembered nearly 3,000 lives lost - IN PICS</a> Records show that in October 2023 alone, $810 was spent specifically on the prime minister's hair styling. Overall spending varied widely by administration; total costs reached about $103,000 in 2023, compared to just $27,600 in 2022 under Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid. Spending peaked in 2025 at roughly $111,000, driven largely by overseas trips, including a February 2025 Washington visit costing $13,500 in makeup and styling, and a July 2024 Washington trip costing $11,500. Separately, official representation allowances, covering clothing and hosting costs, were broken down by leader: Netanyahu ($134,000), Bennett ($19,000), and Lapid ($2,600). Meanwhile, the government did not disclose data on jewellery, clothing, or image consulting, despite a request from the Movement for Freedom of Information.

Data indicates that the state paid nearly $2,600 for the prime minister's hair styling and $1,580 for makeup services between September and November in 2023.

From 2019 to August 2026, Israel has spent nearly $470,000 on hair styling, makeup, and official representation expenses for its prime ministers both domestically and abroad. The data were revealed by the 'Israeli' Prime Minister's Office after a Freedom of Information request was filed in December 2025 by attorney Yaara Winkler-Shalit. The report indicated that Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara were responsible for approximately 90 per cent of the total hair and makeup expenditures. In multiple documents, specific details, including the prime minister's personal hairstylists' and makeup artists' names, were redacted on grounds of alleged "state security". The data gave specific monthly breakdowns, along with the period surrounding the outbreak of war in late 2023. It revealed that the state paid nearly $2,600 for the prime minister's hair styling and $1,580 for makeup services between September and November in 2023. Also read: 25 years after 9/11: How America and world remembered nearly 3,000 lives lost - IN PICS Records show that in October 2023 alone, $810 was spent specifically on the prime minister's hair styling. Overall spending varied widely by administration; total costs reached about $103,000 in 2023, compared to just $27,600 in 2022 under Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid. Spending peaked in 2025 at roughly $111,000, driven largely by overseas trips, including a February 2025 Washington visit costing $13,500 in makeup and styling, and a July 2024 Washington trip costing $11,500. Separately, official representation allowances, covering clothing and hosting costs, were broken down by leader: Netanyahu ($134,000), Bennett ($19,000), and Lapid ($2,600). Meanwhile, the government did not disclose data on jewellery, clothing, or image consulting, despite a request from the Movement for Freedom of Information.

Data indicates that the state paid nearly $2,600 for the prime minister's hair styling and $1,580 for makeup services between September and November in 2023.

Israel spent nearly $470,000 on PM's hair, makeup since 2019, data shows

A month ahead of general elections, a fresh political row has erupted in Israel, over a report by Haaretz. This Israeli newspaper claimed that UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed alerted Netanyahu about a terrifying operation by Hamas on Israel's soil a week before the October 7 attacks, but he chose to ignore this input.Netanyahu has rubbished this claim and decided to sue this newspaper. The Israeli PM cited call records to assert that no conversation took place between the UAE President and him, from the beginning of September till October 7. Terming the story as 'fabricated', Netanyahu alleged this was a part of the opposition's election campaign.At the same time, he pinned the blame on ex-Army Chief Herzi Halevi and former Shin Bet head Ronen Bar for not alerting him in advance, about their inputs on a possible Hamas attack.Interestingly though, UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not outrightly deny the story, but stated that it has maintained direct lines of communication with Israeli government entities since five years. It added that all relevant intelligence continues to be shared between the two countries whenever necessary.Now, why is this such a politically significant issue? During its terror attack on October 7, 2023, Hamas killed over one thousand two hundred Israelis and took another 251 people hostage. Subsequently, Israel commenced a brutal retaliatory offensive, reducing most of Gaza to ruins. In the last three years, IDF has killed over 73,000 Palestinians.Despite issuing a denial, the Israeli PM faced a fierce backlash from the opposition. For instance, Yashar Party leader Gadi Eisenkot announced that a state commission of inquiry will be formed, after the formation of a new government to ascertain Netanyahu's role.Former PM Naftali Bennett also lashed out at Netanyahu. He said and I am quoting him, "Netanyahu bears personal &amp; direct responsibility for, the failure that LED to the deaths of thousands of Israelis on his watch".Even if we keep this report aside, criticism of the Israeli government has been mounting, over the lack of accountability regarding the failure, to prevent the October 7 attack. So far, Netanyahu has refused to launch, an in-depth independent investigation into this.In April 2024, the then Military Intelligence Chief Aharon Haliva became the first senior figure to resign from his post, in the aftermath of the October 7 attack, citing his department's failure to provide a warning. In January 2025, the then Army Chief Herzi Halevi also quit, accepting that IDF had failed in its mission to protect citizens of Israel.Listen in to what he said back then...This was followed by the resignation of Israel military's Southern Command head Yaron Finkelman.In November last year, Israel's Army Chief Eyal Zamir dismissed senior military personnel and reprimanded others over the October 7 attack. Those released from reserve duty included the former heads of the Intelligence Directorate, Operations Directorate and the Southern Command.Now, the Netanyahu-led government is also facing criticism for its policies in West Bank. A day earlier, UK, France, Canada and nine other countries announced plans to block imports from Israeli settlements in West Bank.Taking strong offence to UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband who accused Israel of turning a blind eye to, ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, the Netanyahu-led government announced the closure of Britain's consulate in East Jerusalem.With growing global criticism of Israel's unending wars and rising domestic resentment, it seems that Netanyahu is facing a tough bid for re-election.

Netanyahu faces growing opposition criticism over October 7 accountability, Gaza war and West Bank policies ahead of Israel's general elections.

A month ahead of general elections, a fresh political row has erupted in Israel, over a report by Haaretz. This Israeli newspaper claimed that UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed alerted Netanyahu about a terrifying operation by Hamas on Israel's soil a week before the October 7 attacks, but he chose to ignore this input. Netanyahu has rubbished this claim and decided to sue this newspaper. The Israeli PM cited call records to assert that no conversation took place between the UAE President and him, from the beginning of September till October 7. Terming the story as 'fabricated', Netanyahu alleged this was a part of the opposition's election campaign. At the same time, he pinned the blame on ex-Army Chief Herzi Halevi and former Shin Bet head Ronen Bar for not alerting him in advance, about their inputs on a possible Hamas attack. Interestingly though, UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not outrightly deny the story, but stated that it has maintained direct lines of communication with Israeli government entities since five years. It added that all relevant intelligence continues to be shared between the two countries whenever necessary. Now, why is this such a politically significant issue? During its terror attack on October 7, 2023, Hamas killed over one thousand two hundred Israelis and took another 251 people hostage. Subsequently, Israel commenced a brutal retaliatory offensive, reducing most of Gaza to ruins. In the last three years, IDF has killed over 73,000 Palestinians. Despite issuing a denial, the Israeli PM faced a fierce backlash from the opposition. For instance, Yashar Party leader Gadi Eisenkot announced that a state commission of inquiry will be formed, after the formation of a new government to ascertain Netanyahu's role. Former PM Naftali Bennett also lashed out at Netanyahu. He said and I am quoting him, "Netanyahu bears personal & direct responsibility for, the failure that LED to the deaths of thousands of Israelis on his watch". Even if we keep this report aside, criticism of the Israeli government has been mounting, over the lack of accountability regarding the failure, to prevent the October 7 attack. So far, Netanyahu has refused to launch, an in-depth independent investigation into this. In April 2024, the then Military Intelligence Chief Aharon Haliva became the first senior figure to resign from his post, in the aftermath of the October 7 attack, citing his department's failure to provide a warning. In January 2025, the then Army Chief Herzi Halevi also quit, accepting that IDF had failed in its mission to protect citizens of Israel. Listen in to what he said back then... This was followed by the resignation of Israel military's Southern Command head Yaron Finkelman. In November last year, Israel's Army Chief Eyal Zamir dismissed senior military personnel and reprimanded others over the October 7 attack. Those released from reserve duty included the former heads of the Intelligence Directorate, Operations Directorate and the Southern Command. Now, the Netanyahu-led government is also facing criticism for its policies in West Bank. A day earlier, UK, France, Canada and nine other countries announced plans to block imports from Israeli settlements in West Bank. Taking strong offence to UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband who accused Israel of turning a blind eye to, ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, the Netanyahu-led government announced the closure of Britain's consulate in East Jerusalem. With growing global criticism of Israel's unending wars and rising domestic resentment, it seems that Netanyahu is facing a tough bid for re-election.

Netanyahu faces growing opposition criticism over October 7 accountability, Gaza war and West Bank policies ahead of Israel's general elections.

Gravitas | Netanyahu under fire, denies getting UAE's warning before Oct 7 terror attack

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during his visit to Israeli troops stationed in Jabal al-Sheikh (Mount Hermon) in Syria that the leadership of the Islamic Republic is “very close” to being toppled. He was accompanied by the Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz."There is still work to be done -- the main task is to bring down the terror regime in Iran. We are very close to that. We know that the entire axis will ultimately collapse," said Netanyahu.Israeli forces have been stationed in a “security zone” since the fall of long-time leader Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. They have crossed deeper into Syria beyond the armistice line established in 1974, which was previously a buffer zone patrolled by the United Nations army. Israel has occupied the Golan Heights in Syria since the Six-Day War in 1967. The United Nations and most of the member states consider the Golan Heights to be Syrian territory.“We will not allow any terrorist army to establish itself on our border,” said Netanyahu.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-police-investigate-reform-uk-donations-1788964051763">UK police launch criminal investigation into Reform UK donations</a><h2>Israel to maintain its position within Syria</h2>Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz sent a message to Syrian President Ahmed Al Shara during the visit to Mount Hermon that Israel will maintain its position within Syria. He also said that Israel is prepared to strike Iran a third time.“We are here sending a very strong and clear message to the President of Syria, who sits 35 kilometres away down there in his palace in Damascus: we are here on Mount Hermon, we are in the security zone, and we are not moving from here,” said Katz.&nbsp;

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran's leadership is “very close” to being toppled during a visit to Israeli troops stationed at Mount Hermon in Syria.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during his visit to Israeli troops stationed in Jabal al-Sheikh (Mount Hermon) in Syria that the leadership of the Islamic Republic is “very close” to being toppled. He was accompanied by the Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz. "There is still work to be done -- the main task is to bring down the terror regime in Iran. We are very close to that. We know that the entire axis will ultimately collapse," said Netanyahu. Israeli forces have been stationed in a “security zone” since the fall of long-time leader Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. They have crossed deeper into Syria beyond the armistice line established in 1974, which was previously a buffer zone patrolled by the United Nations army. Israel has occupied the Golan Heights in Syria since the Six-Day War in 1967. The United Nations and most of the member states consider the Golan Heights to be Syrian territory. “We will not allow any terrorist army to establish itself on our border,” said Netanyahu. Also Read: UK police launch criminal investigation into Reform UK donations Israel to maintain its position within Syria Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz sent a message to Syrian President Ahmed Al Shara during the visit to Mount Hermon that Israel will maintain its position within Syria. He also said that Israel is prepared to strike Iran a third time. “We are here sending a very strong and clear message to the President of Syria, who sits 35 kilometres away down there in his palace in Damascus: we are here on Mount Hermon, we are in the security zone, and we are not moving from here,” said Katz.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran's leadership is “very close” to being toppled during a visit to Israeli troops stationed at Mount Hermon in Syria.

Netanyahu says Iran's leadership is 'very close' to being toppled

Around 10 days before Hamas launched its October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed reportedly spoke to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and warned him about a major operation being planned by Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.&nbsp;The information, however, allegedly did not reach Israel's security leadership and Netanyahu did not take action based on the warning, according to a Haaretz report published on Tuesday.&nbsp;The report drew on a new book, “Kidnapped: 843 Days of Abandonment,” written by journalists Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval. The authors based the book on conversations with dozens of people, including senior officials from Israel and other countries.<h3>UAE leader reportedly warned Netanyahu</h3>The report said three senior foreign officials later learned about the details of a 45-minute conversation between Netanyahu and bin Zayed, which took place in late September 2023.&nbsp;Haaretz also cited a Palestinian adviser to the Emirati president who had previously moved from Gaza to the UAE. The adviser claimed to have direct knowledge of the conversation.&nbsp;According to the adviser, bin Zayed told Netanyahu that Sinwar was preparing a major operation against Israel. He warned that the move could result in bloodshed, create instability across the region and put the Abraham Accords at risk.&nbsp;"The emir explained that, in his assessment, Sinwar was preparing for a major event," the adviser says. "He told Netanyahu that Israel should be ready. Concurrently, he recommended trying to find an economic solution for the Strip and calming the West Bank to prevent escalation," Haaretz quoted MBZ advisor on Palestine.&nbsp;The report said bin Zayed found Netanyahu's reaction unexpected. During the conversation, the Israeli prime minister reportedly appeared unconcerned and told the Emirati leader that Israel was closely monitoring developments in Gaza.&nbsp;Netanyahu reportedly said Hamas was more likely to launch an operation in the West Bank and assured bin Zayed that Israel was ready to deal with any situation.&nbsp;Hamas-led terrorists launched their cross-border attack on October 7, 2023. The assault killed 1,200 people in southern Israeli communities, most of them civilians, and resulted in 251 hostages being taken to Gaza. The attack triggered a wider conflict that spread to several parts of the Middle East.<h3>Warnings about Sinwar's plans</h3>The Haaretz report said the information available to bin Zayed originated from Sinwar. It said the Hamas leader had become frustrated in mid 2023 after negotiations over a possible Palestinian prisoner release deal with Israel failed to make progress.&nbsp;Earlier that year, Israel's Shin Bet and Hamas had opened a secret direct line for negotiations. According to the report, the talks came close to producing a major prisoner exchange agreement.The proposed deal still required approval from an Israeli ministerial committee before authorities could release the prisoners.&nbsp;Haaretz reported that Netanyahu repeatedly delayed calling the committee together. It suggested that the delay may have resulted "out of fear of reaching an agreement with Hamas, or perhaps out of fear of the reaction from his extremist partners in his new government."&nbsp;Officials from Shin Bet who were involved in the secret channel told the publication that Netanyahu had previously cited concerns that details of the talks could reach the media.&nbsp;"And so it got stuck week after week," the source said.&nbsp;As the delays continued, Sinwar reportedly issued increasingly serious warnings. In September 2023, he sent a message through an intermediary saying he was preparing a "zilzal," or earthquake.&nbsp;He later referred to his planned operation as "the mother of all surprises" and "a terrifying operation."&nbsp;The direct communication channel between Shin Bet and Hamas was also shut down around this period. According to the report, officials restored full activity on the channel in September 2024 as they tried to revive negotiations over the stalled hostage agreement.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/mumbai-security-scare-fake-pmo-official-detained-at-nmacc-ahead-of-pm-modi-event-gun-recovered-1788867039783">Mumbai security scare: Fake PMO official detained at NMACC ahead of PM Modi event, gun recovered</a><h3>Security officials also issued warnings</h3>The warning from Sinwar reached Shin Bet on September 15, according to the report. Then Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar briefed Netanyahu about the information.&nbsp;Two days later, senior defence officials met to discuss the situation. Bar reportedly told them that Israel was "on a collision course" and urged the government to either launch a major offensive action or strengthen defensive measures in Gaza and the West Bank before the Jewish holidays.&nbsp;The meeting ended without a decision, according to the report.&nbsp;The UAE leadership later concluded that Israel had failed to respond adequately to the information, prompting bin Zayed to contact Netanyahu himself, the report claimed.&nbsp;The report also said Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel received similar information and called Netanyahu. Kamel reportedly warned the Israeli prime minister about "something unusual, a terrifying operation" being planned by Hamas.&nbsp;Netanyahu reportedly responded that Israel remained in control of the situation in Gaza. He also said Israel was directing its attention and troop deployments towards the West Bank.According to the report, Netanyahu did not disclose either of the warning calls during another security meeting held on October 1.<h3>Netanyahu's office rejects report</h3>Netanyahu's office strongly rejected the allegations made in the report and described them as an "absolute lie."&nbsp;"Prime Minister Netanyahu didn't speak to the president of the UAE during the period in question and received no warning from him," the Prime Minister's Office said in response to Haaretz.&nbsp;The Emirati president did not respond to Haaretz's request for comment.

The UAE president reportedly warned Netanyahu about Hamas' planned attack days before October 7, but Netanyahu allegedly failed to act on the warning or alert Israeli security chiefs.

Around 10 days before Hamas launched its October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed reportedly spoke to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and warned him about a major operation being planned by Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. The information, however, allegedly did not reach Israel's security leadership and Netanyahu did not take action based on the warning, according to a Haaretz report published on Tuesday. The report drew on a new book, “Kidnapped: 843 Days of Abandonment,” written by journalists Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval. The authors based the book on conversations with dozens of people, including senior officials from Israel and other countries. UAE leader reportedly warned Netanyahu The report said three senior foreign officials later learned about the details of a 45-minute conversation between Netanyahu and bin Zayed, which took place in late September 2023. Haaretz also cited a Palestinian adviser to the Emirati president who had previously moved from Gaza to the UAE. The adviser claimed to have direct knowledge of the conversation. According to the adviser, bin Zayed told Netanyahu that Sinwar was preparing a major operation against Israel. He warned that the move could result in bloodshed, create instability across the region and put the Abraham Accords at risk. "The emir explained that, in his assessment, Sinwar was preparing for a major event," the adviser says. "He told Netanyahu that Israel should be ready. Concurrently, he recommended trying to find an economic solution for the Strip and calming the West Bank to prevent escalation," Haaretz quoted MBZ advisor on Palestine. The report said bin Zayed found Netanyahu's reaction unexpected. During the conversation, the Israeli prime minister reportedly appeared unconcerned and told the Emirati leader that Israel was closely monitoring developments in Gaza. Netanyahu reportedly said Hamas was more likely to launch an operation in the West Bank and assured bin Zayed that Israel was ready to deal with any situation. Hamas-led terrorists launched their cross-border attack on October 7, 2023. The assault killed 1,200 people in southern Israeli communities, most of them civilians, and resulted in 251 hostages being taken to Gaza. The attack triggered a wider conflict that spread to several parts of the Middle East. Warnings about Sinwar's plans The Haaretz report said the information available to bin Zayed originated from Sinwar. It said the Hamas leader had become frustrated in mid 2023 after negotiations over a possible Palestinian prisoner release deal with Israel failed to make progress. Earlier that year, Israel's Shin Bet and Hamas had opened a secret direct line for negotiations. According to the report, the talks came close to producing a major prisoner exchange agreement. The proposed deal still required approval from an Israeli ministerial committee before authorities could release the prisoners. Haaretz reported that Netanyahu repeatedly delayed calling the committee together. It suggested that the delay may have resulted "out of fear of reaching an agreement with Hamas, or perhaps out of fear of the reaction from his extremist partners in his new government." Officials from Shin Bet who were involved in the secret channel told the publication that Netanyahu had previously cited concerns that details of the talks could reach the media. "And so it got stuck week after week," the source said. As the delays continued, Sinwar reportedly issued increasingly serious warnings. In September 2023, he sent a message through an intermediary saying he was preparing a "zilzal," or earthquake. He later referred to his planned operation as "the mother of all surprises" and "a terrifying operation." The direct communication channel between Shin Bet and Hamas was also shut down around this period. According to the report, officials restored full activity on the channel in September 2024 as they tried to revive negotiations over the stalled hostage agreement. Also Read: Mumbai security scare: Fake PMO official detained at NMACC ahead of PM Modi event, gun recovered Security officials also issued warnings The warning from Sinwar reached Shin Bet on September 15, according to the report. Then Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar briefed Netanyahu about the information. Two days later, senior defence officials met to discuss the situation. Bar reportedly told them that Israel was "on a collision course" and urged the government to either launch a major offensive action or strengthen defensive measures in Gaza and the West Bank before the Jewish holidays. The meeting ended without a decision, according to the report. The UAE leadership later concluded that Israel had failed to respond adequately to the information, prompting bin Zayed to contact Netanyahu himself, the report claimed. The report also said Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel received similar information and called Netanyahu. Kamel reportedly warned the Israeli prime minister about "something unusual, a terrifying operation" being planned by Hamas. Netanyahu reportedly responded that Israel remained in control of the situation in Gaza. He also said Israel was directing its attention and troop deployments towards the West Bank. According to the report, Netanyahu did not disclose either of the warning calls during another security meeting held on October 1. Netanyahu's office rejects report Netanyahu's office strongly rejected the allegations made in the report and described them as an "absolute lie." "Prime Minister Netanyahu didn't speak to the president of the UAE during the period in question and received no warning from him," the Prime Minister's Office said in response to Haaretz. The Emirati president did not respond to Haaretz's request for comment.

The UAE president reportedly warned Netanyahu about Hamas' planned attack days before October 7, but Netanyahu allegedly failed to act on the warning or alert Israeli security chiefs.

UAE warned Netanyahu of Hamas operation days before October 7 attack: Report

Amid the ongoing election campaign, scheduled for October 27, Israeli political strategist Moshe Klughaft claimed that the real story of the campaign isn't just what candidates say, but what actually dominates public conversation. His remarks followed after Sara Netanyahu, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife, claimed that Yair Golan, leader of The Democrats party, had prior knowledge of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack in which more than 1,200 Israelis were slaughtered, resulting in to launched the war that still continues to this day. The development followed with Golan's defamation suit against Sara Netanyahu for spreading conspiracy theories and her counter-defamation suit against him. Golan is a former deputy IDF chief of staff, who donned his IDF uniform during the Hamas attack on October 7 and drove to the Supernova music festival in the South to help. Sara's statement against Golan did not appear scripted, but it came after she was shown a clip of Golan cheering on protesters who demonstrated with noise outside the Tel Aviv hair salon where she was sitting in March 2023, during the judicial reform protests. This comes with another clip in which he denied as disingenuous her subsequent statement that threatened her. In response, Sara stated that Golan should be embarrassed "by a situation in which you are throwing your weight around against a woman in a hair salon." She later contrasted the picture of a senior military man confronting a woman in a salon on that day. "When you are a military officer of such high rank and claim that you fought on October 7, you were already there early in the morning, already dressed and prepared; at a very early hour, when others did not know, such as the prime minister," she said. Later she questioned, "In general, who is the prime minister who needs to know that a war is breaking out? Why inform him?" She left the thought unfinished, yet its meaning was hard to overlook, particularly given that her husband has repeatedly stated in various forums over recent days that the outcome would have been drastically different had he been woken at 3 a.m., when senior security officials were reviewing indications of a potential attack. This is precisely where matters get complicated, as multiple distinct claims are being lumped together under the emotionally loaded terms "betrayal" and "conspiracy." Sara was asked directly: "What do you say about the betrayal theory?" "I don't want to discuss it," she replied. "I don't subscribe to any theories, and I don't know. I support a genuine commission of inquiry."<h3>Sara claims Golan chose not to alert Netanyahu</h3>A more extreme interpretation of the conspiracy theory doesn't suggest that anyone actively colluded with Hamas, but rather that certain figures within the country's security establishment, Golan among them, were aware an attack was imminent and intentionally chose not to alert Netanyahu, driven by a desire to weaken or topple his government. No evidence has surfaced to back this claim. After Sara's statement in the interview prompting the prime minister to release a short video clip stating that he has repeatedly been questioned whether there was a betrayal and has continuously answered that there was not. "I don't think there was a betrayal," he said. "I think there was a failure - a major failure - reflected in what happened during the night and morning before the attack." In another video, he elaborated that there were multiple warning signs prior to the October 7 attack that were known to IDF chief of staff Herzi Halevi, Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) head Ronen Bar, and Military Intelligence chief Aharon Haliva. A meeting among top security officials took place around 3 a.m., hours before the assault began at 6:29 a.m., yet Netanyahu was not roused from sleep. He is now pushing this very question, why he wasn't woken, to the forefront of public debate. According to Netanyahu, the explanation lies in a protocol that was submitted to the High Court of Justice. He claims that Bar pushed for sustaining a moderate, low-profile level of alertness to avoid triggering a "miscalculation," while steering clear of larger-scale action that could ignite an avoidable clash. "This group believed that Hamas was deterred," Netanyahu said. “They did not believe Hamas would attack. So they were concerned that if they woke the prime minister - excuse me, 'that madman,' me, right? - they knew exactly what I would do. They knew I would deploy the air force there, mobilise the entire IDF, and not allow anyone to approach the fences - they would be killed immediately. So they said that this would lead to an attack or to an exchange of fire with Hamas, and that had to be prevented. If they had awakened me, everything would have looked different. That is the story of October 7. That is the story.”

Yair Golan is a former deputy IDF chief of staff who donned his IDF uniform during the Hamas attack on October 7 and drove to the Supernova music festival in the South to help.

Amid the ongoing election campaign, scheduled for October 27, Israeli political strategist Moshe Klughaft claimed that the real story of the campaign isn't just what candidates say, but what actually dominates public conversation. His remarks followed after Sara Netanyahu, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife, claimed that Yair Golan, leader of The Democrats party, had prior knowledge of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack in which more than 1,200 Israelis were slaughtered, resulting in to launched the war that still continues to this day. The development followed with Golan's defamation suit against Sara Netanyahu for spreading conspiracy theories and her counter-defamation suit against him. Golan is a former deputy IDF chief of staff, who donned his IDF uniform during the Hamas attack on October 7 and drove to the Supernova music festival in the South to help. Sara's statement against Golan did not appear scripted, but it came after she was shown a clip of Golan cheering on protesters who demonstrated with noise outside the Tel Aviv hair salon where she was sitting in March 2023, during the judicial reform protests. This comes with another clip in which he denied as disingenuous her subsequent statement that threatened her. In response, Sara stated that Golan should be embarrassed "by a situation in which you are throwing your weight around against a woman in a hair salon." She later contrasted the picture of a senior military man confronting a woman in a salon on that day. "When you are a military officer of such high rank and claim that you fought on October 7, you were already there early in the morning, already dressed and prepared; at a very early hour, when others did not know, such as the prime minister," she said. Later she questioned, "In general, who is the prime minister who needs to know that a war is breaking out? Why inform him?" She left the thought unfinished, yet its meaning was hard to overlook, particularly given that her husband has repeatedly stated in various forums over recent days that the outcome would have been drastically different had he been woken at 3 a.m., when senior security officials were reviewing indications of a potential attack. This is precisely where matters get complicated, as multiple distinct claims are being lumped together under the emotionally loaded terms "betrayal" and "conspiracy." Sara was asked directly: "What do you say about the betrayal theory?" "I don't want to discuss it," she replied. "I don't subscribe to any theories, and I don't know. I support a genuine commission of inquiry." Sara claims Golan chose not to alert Netanyahu A more extreme interpretation of the conspiracy theory doesn't suggest that anyone actively colluded with Hamas, but rather that certain figures within the country's security establishment, Golan among them, were aware an attack was imminent and intentionally chose not to alert Netanyahu, driven by a desire to weaken or topple his government. No evidence has surfaced to back this claim. After Sara's statement in the interview prompting the prime minister to release a short video clip stating that he has repeatedly been questioned whether there was a betrayal and has continuously answered that there was not. "I don't think there was a betrayal," he said. "I think there was a failure - a major failure - reflected in what happened during the night and morning before the attack." In another video, he elaborated that there were multiple warning signs prior to the October 7 attack that were known to IDF chief of staff Herzi Halevi, Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) head Ronen Bar, and Military Intelligence chief Aharon Haliva. A meeting among top security officials took place around 3 a.m., hours before the assault began at 6:29 a.m., yet Netanyahu was not roused from sleep. He is now pushing this very question, why he wasn't woken, to the forefront of public debate. According to Netanyahu, the explanation lies in a protocol that was submitted to the High Court of Justice. He claims that Bar pushed for sustaining a moderate, low-profile level of alertness to avoid triggering a "miscalculation," while steering clear of larger-scale action that could ignite an avoidable clash. "This group believed that Hamas was deterred," Netanyahu said. “They did not believe Hamas would attack. So they were concerned that if they woke the prime minister - excuse me, 'that madman,' me, right? - they knew exactly what I would do. They knew I would deploy the air force there, mobilise the entire IDF, and not allow anyone to approach the fences - they would be killed immediately. So they said that this would lead to an attack or to an exchange of fire with Hamas, and that had to be prevented. If they had awakened me, everything would have looked different. That is the story of October 7. That is the story.”

Yair Golan is a former deputy IDF chief of staff who donned his IDF uniform during the Hamas attack on October 7 and drove to the Supernova music festival in the South to help.

Sara Netanyahu's October 7 remark sparks defamation battle with former IDF officers; hijacked Israeli election agenda

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday (September 02) and vowed that Israel would not withdraw its forces despite renewed efforts by mediators to push forward a US-backed ceasefire plan.&nbsp;Netanyahu made the remarks near the so-called Yellow Line, which separates areas controlled by Hamas from those under Israeli military control.&nbsp;"We control the area. We are not retreating. We are staying on this line," Netanyahu said near the so-called Yellow Line, which demarcates the areas under Hamas and Israeli military control.&nbsp;"We control 60 per cent of the Strip, and we are not stopping, because we are eliminating the terrorists who threaten us, day in and day out," he added.<h3>Netanyahu rejects Gaza troop withdrawal</h3>Israel has continued military operations in Gaza despite the ceasefire that came into effect in October 2025. Israeli forces have also expanded their presence in parts of the territory, with the government maintaining that it must remove threats posed by Hamas.&nbsp;Hamas carried out the unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack against Israel, which triggered the war in Gaza.&nbsp;International calls for the next stages of the US-led peace plan have so far failed to stop Israeli operations against Palestinians whom Israel identifies as militants.&nbsp;Netanyahu rejected a proposal last month to move ahead with the next stage of the plan after Hamas said it had agreed to hand over its weapons.&nbsp;The visit marked Netanyahu's first trip to the war-torn Gaza Strip since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began in October 2025.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/defence-pulse/japan-rearms-drone-40-offers-a-glimpse-into-tokyo-s-new-military-1788360137143">Japan rearms: 'Drone 40' offers a glimpse into Tokyo’s new military</a><h3>Israel considers removing Palestinians from Gaza</h3>Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday that Israel had plans to remove Palestinians from the Gaza Strip but was waiting for the United States to determine where they could be taken.&nbsp;"There is no real solution for Gaza in the end without this migration," Katz told a conference hosted by Israeli news site Ynet and newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.&nbsp;The Israeli government "is organised and prepared to get them out--by sea, by air, by every way possible", he said.&nbsp;Earlier suggestions that Palestinians could be displaced from Gaza have faced international outrage and condemnation from Palestinians.&nbsp;When US President Donald Trump announced the Gaza ceasefire in October, his 20-point plan for the territory included a provision against forced displacement.&nbsp;Israeli military operations in Gaza have killed at least 1,334 people since the ceasefire began, according to the Palestinian territory's health ministry. The ministry operates under Hamas authority, but the United Nations considers its casualty figures reliable.&nbsp;The Israeli army has reported five deaths among its forces during the same period. It has also reported the death of one civilian contractor.

Netanyahu vowed during his Gaza visit that Israel would not withdraw its troops, citing the continuing threat from Hamas, while Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israel was prepared to remove Palestinians from the territory but needs US approval.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday (September 02) and vowed that Israel would not withdraw its forces despite renewed efforts by mediators to push forward a US-backed ceasefire plan. Netanyahu made the remarks near the so-called Yellow Line, which separates areas controlled by Hamas from those under Israeli military control. "We control the area. We are not retreating. We are staying on this line," Netanyahu said near the so-called Yellow Line, which demarcates the areas under Hamas and Israeli military control. "We control 60 per cent of the Strip, and we are not stopping, because we are eliminating the terrorists who threaten us, day in and day out," he added. Netanyahu rejects Gaza troop withdrawal Israel has continued military operations in Gaza despite the ceasefire that came into effect in October 2025. Israeli forces have also expanded their presence in parts of the territory, with the government maintaining that it must remove threats posed by Hamas. Hamas carried out the unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack against Israel, which triggered the war in Gaza. International calls for the next stages of the US-led peace plan have so far failed to stop Israeli operations against Palestinians whom Israel identifies as militants. Netanyahu rejected a proposal last month to move ahead with the next stage of the plan after Hamas said it had agreed to hand over its weapons. The visit marked Netanyahu's first trip to the war-torn Gaza Strip since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began in October 2025. Also Read: Japan rearms: 'Drone 40' offers a glimpse into Tokyo’s new military Israel considers removing Palestinians from Gaza Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday that Israel had plans to remove Palestinians from the Gaza Strip but was waiting for the United States to determine where they could be taken. "There is no real solution for Gaza in the end without this migration," Katz told a conference hosted by Israeli news site Ynet and newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. The Israeli government "is organised and prepared to get them out--by sea, by air, by every way possible", he said. Earlier suggestions that Palestinians could be displaced from Gaza have faced international outrage and condemnation from Palestinians. When US President Donald Trump announced the Gaza ceasefire in October, his 20-point plan for the territory included a provision against forced displacement. Israeli military operations in Gaza have killed at least 1,334 people since the ceasefire began, according to the Palestinian territory's health ministry. The ministry operates under Hamas authority, but the United Nations considers its casualty figures reliable. The Israeli army has reported five deaths among its forces during the same period. It has also reported the death of one civilian contractor.

Netanyahu vowed during his Gaza visit that Israel would not withdraw its troops, citing the continuing threat from Hamas, while Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israel was prepared to remove Palestinians from the territory but needs US approval.

'We are not retreating from Gaza': Netanyahu rules out troop pullback, cites terror threat

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's eldest son, Yair Netanyahu, was flown out of Miami, United States, to Israel following an alleged threat to his life, according to Israel's domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet. The threat was deemed so severe that he was ordered to leave immediately, leaving his personal belongings behind.In a statement carried on Saturday evening, the Shin Bet confirmed that “there was a significant threat to harm Yair Netanyahu, and in light of this and after an assessment, a decision was made to urgently extract him along with his security team and return him to Israel.” The agency did not specify the source or nature of the threat.&nbsp;The agency's comments came after a report by US broadcaster Newsmax earlier this week claiming that Yair Netanyahu was part of an Iranian assassination plot in December 2025, while he was living in Florida. Soon, Benjamin Netanyahu told a pro-government channel, “Iran targeted one of my sons. Iran tried to kill, to murder one of my sons.”Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-strikes-gaza-kill-three-year-old-ben-gvir-prison-video-1788091638487">Israeli strikes kill 2 Palestinians in Gaza, including 3-year-old child; Ben Gvir posts video berating female inmates</a>According to Israeli broadcaster Channel 12, some Shin Bet agents were moved from New York to carry out the extraction operation, where they were attached to President Isaac Herzog, who was visiting at the time.&nbsp;Yair Netanyahu had spent several years living in Miami “where his reportedly luxurious lifestyle and the state-funded security provided to him repeatedly drew public attention in Israel”. This further drew criticism in Israel following the outbreak of the war sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, with critics questioning why the prime minister’s son remained overseas while hundreds of thousands of Israelis were serving in the military reserves.Yair Netanyahu performs as a conservative podcaster and social media activist. He has on occasion attacked the political opponents of his father, associated with far-right European and American politicians and public figures. &nbsp;

Yair Netanyahu was urgently flown from Miami to Israel after Shin Bet assessed a “significant threat” to his life, according to the Israeli agency.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's eldest son, Yair Netanyahu, was flown out of Miami, United States, to Israel following an alleged threat to his life, according to Israel's domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet. The threat was deemed so severe that he was ordered to leave immediately, leaving his personal belongings behind. In a statement carried on Saturday evening, the Shin Bet confirmed that “there was a significant threat to harm Yair Netanyahu, and in light of this and after an assessment, a decision was made to urgently extract him along with his security team and return him to Israel.” The agency did not specify the source or nature of the threat. The agency's comments came after a report by US broadcaster Newsmax earlier this week claiming that Yair Netanyahu was part of an Iranian assassination plot in December 2025, while he was living in Florida. Soon, Benjamin Netanyahu told a pro-government channel, “Iran targeted one of my sons. Iran tried to kill, to murder one of my sons.” Also Read: Israeli strikes kill 2 Palestinians in Gaza, including 3-year-old child; Ben Gvir posts video berating female inmates According to Israeli broadcaster Channel 12, some Shin Bet agents were moved from New York to carry out the extraction operation, where they were attached to President Isaac Herzog, who was visiting at the time. Yair Netanyahu had spent several years living in Miami “where his reportedly luxurious lifestyle and the state-funded security provided to him repeatedly drew public attention in Israel”. This further drew criticism in Israel following the outbreak of the war sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, with critics questioning why the prime minister’s son remained overseas while hundreds of thousands of Israelis were serving in the military reserves. Yair Netanyahu performs as a conservative podcaster and social media activist. He has on occasion attacked the political opponents of his father, associated with far-right European and American politicians and public figures.

Yair Netanyahu was urgently flown from Miami to Israel after Shin Bet assessed a “significant threat” to his life, according to the Israeli agency.

Yair Netanyahu flown from Miami to Israel after ‘significant’ threat to his life

Relations between Turkey and Israel have deteriorated sharply in recent years, with leaders on both sides exchanging increasingly hostile accusations and warnings. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has described Israel as a ‘terror state’, compared Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Hitler and even raised the possibility of Turkish military intervention in Israel. Netanyahu has responded by calling Erdogan an ‘antisemitic dictator’, while Israeli officials have accused Turkey of backing terrorism and behaving like ‘an enemy state’.&nbsp;The increasingly bitter rhetoric reflects a broader strategic rivalry that is spreading across the Middle East, the Horn of Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean. Analysts and officials warn that the confrontation could add another layer of instability to a region already dealing with the consequences of wars in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza and Iran. Although Turkey and Israel are both closely connected to the United States, their regional ambitions are increasingly colliding. Both possess powerful militaries and have demonstrated a growing willingness to project their influence beyond their borders.<h2>Syria emerges as the main flashpoint</h2>The danger became more apparent recently when Israel carried out a strike against a defunct air base in northern Syria. Israeli officials said the operation was designed to prevent the possible deployment of Turkish forces to the facility. Both Turkey and Syria denied that such a troop deployment was planned. The strike did not result in any reported deaths. Tom Barrack, the US ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria and Iraq, criticised the Israeli operation on social media, describing it as an ‘unnecessary escalation’. He urged Turkey and Israel to 'prioritize logical discourse over further military incidents'.&nbsp;Syria has become particularly important to the rivalry because it sits between the two countries and is central to their competing security strategies. Turkey has sought to support Syria's new government following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in late 2024. The new administration, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, has received Turkish diplomatic and military backing as it attempts to stabilize the country. Israel, meanwhile, has taken a much more cautious approach toward the new Syrian leadership.&nbsp;&nbsp;Following Assad's removal, Israeli forces destroyed large quantities of Syria's military equipment, citing concerns about the country's future security. Israel has also maintained control over territory in southern Syria, saying the move is intended to prevent threats from Islamic militants. The two countries therefore have fundamentally different visions for Syria.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-and-uzbekistan-put-infrastructure-at-centre-of-modi-mirziyoyev-talks-1788070605582">India and Uzbekistan put infrastructure at centre of Modi-Mirziyoyev talks</a><h2>Gaza changed the relationship</h2>The war in Gaza has been another major source of tension. Israel launched its military campaign following the Hamas-led attack of Oct. 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people in Israel. Turkey strongly criticized Israel's military response and repeatedly accused Israeli forces of genocide. Erdogan also expressed support for Hamas, which Israel, the United States and several other governments classify as a terrorist organization. The increasingly hostile rhetoric has been accompanied by a fundamental shift in Israel's perception of Turkey. Israel now sees Turkey as an increasingly capable regional military power. Turkey has expanded its domestic defense industry, maintains troops or military operations in several countries and has increasingly used its armed forces outside its own borders.<h2>Competing regional ambitions</h2>The rivalry extends well beyond Syria and Gaza. In the Horn of Africa, Turkey maintains close relations with Somalia, including a significant diplomatic and military presence. Israel's decision to recognize Somaliland has therefore become another point of disagreement. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, although its independence has not been broadly recognized internationally. Israel's recognition made it the first country to formally take that step, prompting strong opposition from Erdogan.&nbsp;The Turkish president called Israel's recognition of Somaliland 'illegal and unacceptable'. The Eastern Mediterranean is another area where strategic competition is intensifying. Israel has strengthened military and energy cooperation with Greece and Cyprus, two countries that have longstanding disputes with Turkey. Erdogan sought to minimize the significance of the agreements between Israel, Greece and Cyprus, dismissing them as ‘a rattling tin can’. Turkey has also sought to strengthen its own regional partnerships. Its recent mutual defense agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan has been viewed by analysts as an effort to build greater strategic weight and counterbalance Israeli influence.<h2>A rivalry that may not become war</h2>Despite the increasingly aggressive rhetoric, analysts do not expect Turkey and Israel to enter a direct military conflict in the immediate future. The United States has strong relationships with both countries and has an interest in preventing their rivalry from escalating into an open confrontation.&nbsp;The recent Israeli strike on the Syrian air base in Abu al-Duhur, roughly 40 miles south of the Turkish border, represented a rare instance in which the rivalry moved beyond diplomatic statements and political pressure into direct military action affecting the other's strategic interests. The strike was followed by a renewed exchange of threats. On Aug. 19, the day after the attack, Netanyahu said Israel would not accept a Turkish military presence in Syria that descends south because it threatens us.&nbsp;Two days later, Turkey announced that it would seek Netanyahu's arrest through Interpol over allegations including genocide and torture in connection with a domestic Turkish case concerning Israel's treatment of pro-Palestinian activists intercepted at sea while attempting to reach Gaza. US officials have since attempted to restore communication between Ankara and Jerusalem.<h2>Political rhetoric adds to the risk</h2>Domestic politics may further complicate efforts to reduce tensions. Public opinion in both Turkey and Israel has become increasingly negative toward the other country, giving political leaders an opportunity to gain domestic support by taking a tougher position against their rival. Yet analysts caution against dismissing the rhetoric as merely political theater. The disagreements between Ankara and Jerusalem reflect genuine differences over Syria, Gaza, Iran, regional alliances and the future balance of power in the Middle East. At the same time, the presence of the United States as a powerful intermediary could help prevent the rivalry from turning into a direct war.&nbsp;For now, the central danger is therefore less the prospect of a deliberate Turkey-Israel war than the possibility of an unintended escalation. With both countries increasingly willing to use military force and defend competing visions of the region, even a limited action in Syria or elsewhere could trigger consequences neither side intended.

Turkey-Israel tensions are rising over Syria, Gaza and regional influence as Erdogan and Netanyahu clash, raising concerns about a wider Middle East crisis

Relations between Turkey and Israel have deteriorated sharply in recent years, with leaders on both sides exchanging increasingly hostile accusations and warnings. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has described Israel as a ‘terror state’, compared Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Hitler and even raised the possibility of Turkish military intervention in Israel. Netanyahu has responded by calling Erdogan an ‘antisemitic dictator’, while Israeli officials have accused Turkey of backing terrorism and behaving like ‘an enemy state’. The increasingly bitter rhetoric reflects a broader strategic rivalry that is spreading across the Middle East, the Horn of Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean. Analysts and officials warn that the confrontation could add another layer of instability to a region already dealing with the consequences of wars in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza and Iran. Although Turkey and Israel are both closely connected to the United States, their regional ambitions are increasingly colliding. Both possess powerful militaries and have demonstrated a growing willingness to project their influence beyond their borders. Syria emerges as the main flashpoint The danger became more apparent recently when Israel carried out a strike against a defunct air base in northern Syria. Israeli officials said the operation was designed to prevent the possible deployment of Turkish forces to the facility. Both Turkey and Syria denied that such a troop deployment was planned. The strike did not result in any reported deaths. Tom Barrack, the US ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria and Iraq, criticised the Israeli operation on social media, describing it as an ‘unnecessary escalation’. He urged Turkey and Israel to 'prioritize logical discourse over further military incidents'. Syria has become particularly important to the rivalry because it sits between the two countries and is central to their competing security strategies. Turkey has sought to support Syria's new government following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in late 2024. The new administration, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, has received Turkish diplomatic and military backing as it attempts to stabilize the country. Israel, meanwhile, has taken a much more cautious approach toward the new Syrian leadership. Following Assad's removal, Israeli forces destroyed large quantities of Syria's military equipment, citing concerns about the country's future security. Israel has also maintained control over territory in southern Syria, saying the move is intended to prevent threats from Islamic militants. The two countries therefore have fundamentally different visions for Syria. Also Read: India and Uzbekistan put infrastructure at centre of Modi-Mirziyoyev talks Gaza changed the relationship The war in Gaza has been another major source of tension. Israel launched its military campaign following the Hamas-led attack of Oct. 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people in Israel. Turkey strongly criticized Israel's military response and repeatedly accused Israeli forces of genocide. Erdogan also expressed support for Hamas, which Israel, the United States and several other governments classify as a terrorist organization. The increasingly hostile rhetoric has been accompanied by a fundamental shift in Israel's perception of Turkey. Israel now sees Turkey as an increasingly capable regional military power. Turkey has expanded its domestic defense industry, maintains troops or military operations in several countries and has increasingly used its armed forces outside its own borders. Competing regional ambitions The rivalry extends well beyond Syria and Gaza. In the Horn of Africa, Turkey maintains close relations with Somalia, including a significant diplomatic and military presence. Israel's decision to recognize Somaliland has therefore become another point of disagreement. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, although its independence has not been broadly recognized internationally. Israel's recognition made it the first country to formally take that step, prompting strong opposition from Erdogan. The Turkish president called Israel's recognition of Somaliland 'illegal and unacceptable'. The Eastern Mediterranean is another area where strategic competition is intensifying. Israel has strengthened military and energy cooperation with Greece and Cyprus, two countries that have longstanding disputes with Turkey. Erdogan sought to minimize the significance of the agreements between Israel, Greece and Cyprus, dismissing them as ‘a rattling tin can’. Turkey has also sought to strengthen its own regional partnerships. Its recent mutual defense agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan has been viewed by analysts as an effort to build greater strategic weight and counterbalance Israeli influence. A rivalry that may not become war Despite the increasingly aggressive rhetoric, analysts do not expect Turkey and Israel to enter a direct military conflict in the immediate future. The United States has strong relationships with both countries and has an interest in preventing their rivalry from escalating into an open confrontation. The recent Israeli strike on the Syrian air base in Abu al-Duhur, roughly 40 miles south of the Turkish border, represented a rare instance in which the rivalry moved beyond diplomatic statements and political pressure into direct military action affecting the other's strategic interests. The strike was followed by a renewed exchange of threats. On Aug. 19, the day after the attack, Netanyahu said Israel would not accept a Turkish military presence in Syria that descends south because it threatens us. Two days later, Turkey announced that it would seek Netanyahu's arrest through Interpol over allegations including genocide and torture in connection with a domestic Turkish case concerning Israel's treatment of pro-Palestinian activists intercepted at sea while attempting to reach Gaza. US officials have since attempted to restore communication between Ankara and Jerusalem. Political rhetoric adds to the risk Domestic politics may further complicate efforts to reduce tensions. Public opinion in both Turkey and Israel has become increasingly negative toward the other country, giving political leaders an opportunity to gain domestic support by taking a tougher position against their rival. Yet analysts caution against dismissing the rhetoric as merely political theater. The disagreements between Ankara and Jerusalem reflect genuine differences over Syria, Gaza, Iran, regional alliances and the future balance of power in the Middle East. At the same time, the presence of the United States as a powerful intermediary could help prevent the rivalry from turning into a direct war. For now, the central danger is therefore less the prospect of a deliberate Turkey-Israel war than the possibility of an unintended escalation. With both countries increasingly willing to use military force and defend competing visions of the region, even a limited action in Syria or elsewhere could trigger consequences neither side intended.

Turkey and Israel face growing strategic tensions over Gaza, Syria and regional influence, raising fears of miscalculation despite US ties

Turkey vs Israel: Are Erdogan and Netanyahu preparing for a bigger confrontation?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly condemned violence by Israeli settlers in the Palestinian villages of Qusra and Jalud in the occupied West Bank.&nbsp;In a rare criticism of Israeli settlers, Netanyahu called the attacks criminal acts and said they were harming Israel's image and interfering with the military.&nbsp;"I strongly condemn the criminal acts of violence committed in the villages of Qusra and Jalud by a handful of rioters who are violating the law, causing a grave injustice to the law-abiding Jewish community, interfering with the IDF in carrying out its missions, and harming Israel's standing in the world," Netanyahu said in a statement.&nbsp;His statement came after dozens of Israeli settlers attacked the Palestinian village of Qusra on Saturday following nearly three weeks of tension in the area.<h2>Settlers attack Palestinian villages</h2>Qusra residents and the Israeli military said dozens of settlers entered the village on Saturday. The settlers allegedly threw stones at residents and barricaded themselves inside a house while Palestinian residents were inside.&nbsp;The Israeli military said soldiers and border police were sent to the area after reports of violence involving Israeli settlers and Palestinians.&nbsp;"Following reports that Israeli rioters had arrived in the area and that violent clashes had occurred, including stone-hurling toward Palestinians and additional civilians".&nbsp;Security forces removed the settlers from the house and separated the two groups. They also confiscated vehicles that were suspected of being used to reach the area.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-strike-kills-27-in-kyiv-zelensky-says-military-weapons-stored-at-site-1788016021992">Russian strike kills 27 in Kyiv, Zelensky says military weapons stored at site</a><h2>Police investigation opened</h2>The Israeli military said the confiscated vehicles would be used as evidence in a police investigation that has been opened.&nbsp;It added that security forces were continuing to operate in the area to prevent further violence and restore order.&nbsp;"The security forces strongly condemn all forms of violence," it said.&nbsp;Tensions in Qusra had already been rising for several weeks. Earlier in August, a group of settlers began blocking supplies from reaching Palestinian homes on the outskirts of the village near Nablus.The move trapped residents inside their homes and drew unusually strong criticism from the US ambassador.&nbsp;Israeli forces continued to operate in the area in the following weeks, while settlers remained in the surrounding hills.&nbsp;Violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank has continued for years, often with little or no legal consequence. The attacks have increased in recent months.&nbsp;More than 500,000 Israelis live in settlements in the Palestinian territory, alongside around three million Palestinians. The settlements are illegal under international law. Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967.

Netanyahu has condemned settler violence in Qusra and Jalud, calling the attacks criminal acts that violate the law, interfere with the IDF and harm Israel’s standing in the world.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly condemned violence by Israeli settlers in the Palestinian villages of Qusra and Jalud in the occupied West Bank. In a rare criticism of Israeli settlers, Netanyahu called the attacks criminal acts and said they were harming Israel's image and interfering with the military. "I strongly condemn the criminal acts of violence committed in the villages of Qusra and Jalud by a handful of rioters who are violating the law, causing a grave injustice to the law-abiding Jewish community, interfering with the IDF in carrying out its missions, and harming Israel's standing in the world," Netanyahu said in a statement. His statement came after dozens of Israeli settlers attacked the Palestinian village of Qusra on Saturday following nearly three weeks of tension in the area. Settlers attack Palestinian villages Qusra residents and the Israeli military said dozens of settlers entered the village on Saturday. The settlers allegedly threw stones at residents and barricaded themselves inside a house while Palestinian residents were inside. The Israeli military said soldiers and border police were sent to the area after reports of violence involving Israeli settlers and Palestinians. "Following reports that Israeli rioters had arrived in the area and that violent clashes had occurred, including stone-hurling toward Palestinians and additional civilians". Security forces removed the settlers from the house and separated the two groups. They also confiscated vehicles that were suspected of being used to reach the area. Also Read: Russian strike kills 27 in Kyiv, Zelensky says military weapons stored at site Police investigation opened The Israeli military said the confiscated vehicles would be used as evidence in a police investigation that has been opened. It added that security forces were continuing to operate in the area to prevent further violence and restore order. "The security forces strongly condemn all forms of violence," it said. Tensions in Qusra had already been rising for several weeks. Earlier in August, a group of settlers began blocking supplies from reaching Palestinian homes on the outskirts of the village near Nablus. The move trapped residents inside their homes and drew unusually strong criticism from the US ambassador. Israeli forces continued to operate in the area in the following weeks, while settlers remained in the surrounding hills. Violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank has continued for years, often with little or no legal consequence. The attacks have increased in recent months. More than 500,000 Israelis live in settlements in the Palestinian territory, alongside around three million Palestinians. The settlements are illegal under international law. Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967.

Netanyahu has condemned settler violence in Qusra and Jalud, calling the attacks criminal acts that violate the law, interfere with the IDF and harm Israel’s standing in the world.

‘I strongly condemn’: Netanyahu slams Israeli settler violence in West Bank villages

Iran's Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Major General Mohsen Rezaei, has warned that continued US pressure on Tehran could trigger a much more serious confrontation, while issuing fresh threats against Israel and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.In an interview with Al-Manar, reported by Iran's state news agency IRIB, Rezaei said Tehran would respond forcefully if the blockade remained in place. He also claimed that any renewed conflict with Israel would be different from previous rounds of fighting.<h2>Rezaei threatens Netanyahu</h2>Rezaei made a direct threat against Netanyahu during the interview. "We will send Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of the Zionist regime, to hell," he said, according to IRIB.He also claimed that Netanyahu had spread false reports about an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate US President Donald Trump's son. Rezaei alleged that the reports had alarmed Trump and affected his decision-making."Netanyahu has panicked Trump and disrupted his decision-making by spreading false news about an 'Iranian plot to assassinate Trump,'" he said.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/glorifies-terrorism-israeli-far-right-mp-zvi-sukkot-smashes-palestinian-memorial-with-sledgehammer-watch-video-1787810944014">'Glorifies terrorism': Israeli far-right MP Zvi Sukkot smashes Palestinian memorial with sledgehammer | WATCH</a><h2>Warning over Lebanon</h2>Rezaei also addressed tensions involving Israel and Lebanon, saying that Dahiyeh and Beirut remained Iranian "red lines"."We are monitoring the situation with full seriousness," he said, adding that Israel would be forced to withdraw from occupied territory in Lebanon."If the conflict resumes, we are preparing ourselves for a new phase; any future war will be different from the previous ones," Rezaei said.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-mojtaba-khamenei-alive-dead-iran-war-putting-on-show-mystery-1787800507116">'If he is dead, they're putting on a pretty good show': Trump casts fresh doubt over Mojtaba Khamenei's fate</a><h2>Iran threatens US economic interests</h2>Rezaei linked the widening US economic pressure campaign to what he described as the failure of military action to force Tehran into submission. "The US shift to economic pressure demonstrated the futility of military strikes," he said. He warned that Iran would respond to any further escalation by targeting US economic interests in the region.Rezaei also claimed Iran had exported between 70 million and 80 million barrels of oil during the ceasefire period, saying Tehran had managed to break through the naval blockade."Continuing the siege means a severe confrontation with the American enemy," he said. "If the blockade continues, we will target American economic interests 100 per cent, with intensity and force."

Iran's top security official has issued fresh warnings to Washington and Israel as pressure on Tehran intensifies. He has threatened a forceful response if the blockade continues and warned that any renewed conflict with Israel could enter a very different phase.

Iran's Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Major General Mohsen Rezaei, has warned that continued US pressure on Tehran could trigger a much more serious confrontation, while issuing fresh threats against Israel and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In an interview with Al-Manar, reported by Iran's state news agency IRIB, Rezaei said Tehran would respond forcefully if the blockade remained in place. He also claimed that any renewed conflict with Israel would be different from previous rounds of fighting. Rezaei threatens Netanyahu Rezaei made a direct threat against Netanyahu during the interview. "We will send Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of the Zionist regime, to hell," he said, according to IRIB. He also claimed that Netanyahu had spread false reports about an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate US President Donald Trump's son. Rezaei alleged that the reports had alarmed Trump and affected his decision-making. "Netanyahu has panicked Trump and disrupted his decision-making by spreading false news about an 'Iranian plot to assassinate Trump,'" he said. Also read | 'Glorifies terrorism': Israeli far-right MP Zvi Sukkot smashes Palestinian memorial with sledgehammer | WATCH Warning over Lebanon Rezaei also addressed tensions involving Israel and Lebanon, saying that Dahiyeh and Beirut remained Iranian "red lines". "We are monitoring the situation with full seriousness," he said, adding that Israel would be forced to withdraw from occupied territory in Lebanon. "If the conflict resumes, we are preparing ourselves for a new phase; any future war will be different from the previous ones," Rezaei said. Also read | 'If he is dead, they're putting on a pretty good show': Trump casts fresh doubt over Mojtaba Khamenei's fate Iran threatens US economic interests Rezaei linked the widening US economic pressure campaign to what he described as the failure of military action to force Tehran into submission. "The US shift to economic pressure demonstrated the futility of military strikes," he said. He warned that Iran would respond to any further escalation by targeting US economic interests in the region. Rezaei also claimed Iran had exported between 70 million and 80 million barrels of oil during the ceasefire period, saying Tehran had managed to break through the naval blockade. "Continuing the siege means a severe confrontation with the American enemy," he said. "If the blockade continues, we will target American economic interests 100 per cent, with intensity and force."

Iran's top security official has issued fresh warnings to Washington and Israel as pressure on Tehran intensifies. He has threatened a forceful response if the blockade continues and warned that any renewed conflict with Israel could enter a very different phase.

Iran warns of 'severe confrontation' with US if blockade continues, Rezaei threatens to 'send Netanyahu to hell'