A slight rift has emerged within the group of families that have loved ones whom Hamas kidnapped on Oct. 7. Many of them want the Israeli government to move swiftly to bring the hostages home. But some are saying that Hamas should be defeated first, even if it takes longer to release the captives.
Over three days of fighting, 44 Palestinians were killed, including 15 children and four women, and 311 were wounded, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.
Top of The World: Ecuador's president, Guillermo Lasso, declared a state of emergency for the country’s prison system. And, Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid traveled to Bahrain on Thursday to meet with his counterpart and inaugurate Israel's embassy in the capital Manama. Also, former French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, has been convicted for illegal campaign financing.
The news of a proposed $10.4 billion deal for the US to sell up to 50 F-35 fighter jets to the UAE has raised questions among Israeli defense officials, who warn that it could have negative effects for Israel.
Under new measures against the coronavirus, the Israeli government has banned protesters from holding demonstrations more than 1 kilometer (about a half-mile) from their homes. In response, some activists have turned to WhatsApp, Facebook and an interactive map to find protest sites near them.
Israeli officials took quick action against the coronavirus this spring and reduced the rate of infections to one of the lowest in the world. The situation is quite different today. Experts say Israel went from being a model for other nations to a cautionary tale on what happens when a nation opens too much and too quickly.
A recent exchange of alleged cyberattacks on critical infrastructure between the two regional rivals is rattling the Middle East and threatens to change the unofficial but implicit agreement on the rules of engagement.
Some Americans showed up to a local sports bar in Israel on Super Tuesday to cast their votes for the next American president.
After the United States killed Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu applauded the move. Israel’s security forces went on alert. Meanwhile, Iranian Jews in Israel say they hope for a day when they can go back to visit Iran.
Over the summer, Ethiopian Israelis held protests in several cities after a police officer shot and killed an Ethiopian teenager. Protesters said they were upset about police brutality, discrimination and racism. Those issues were still on the minds of two Ethiopian candidates for the Knesset in the run-up to last month's election in Israel.
Michel Bacos chose to stay with his Jewish passengers who were being held hostage in Entebbe, Uganda, in 1976. He "took over immediately as a real captain and as a real commander, remembers one of the youngest passengers on the flight.