Germany has approved a significant expansion of its Arrow 3 defense system contract with Israel, increasing the total value to approximately $6.5 billion. This landmark deal, approved by the German Bundestag, represents Israel's largest defense export in history and aims to bolster Germany's air and missile defense capabilities amidst evolving geopolitical tensions.
The International Criminal Court's Appeals Chamber has rejected Israel's challenge to block an investigation into alleged war crimes in Gaza. The ruling, issued Monday, means the probe will continue and arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant remain valid.
A delegation of 30 Canadians, including six Members of Parliament, was denied entry to the West Bank by Israeli authorities on Tuesday. Israel cited 'public safety threats' due to alleged links between the trip's organizer, The Canadian-Muslim Vote, and Islamic Relief Worldwide, an entity Israel designates as a terror group. Canadian officials have expressed objections.
Israel is reportedly concerned by renewed talks between the United States and Qatar regarding the potential sale of advanced F-35 fighter jets. Jerusalem fears such a deal could erode its qualitative military edge in the Middle East, prompting the formulation of a compensatory arms package for Washington.
A 23-year-old Palestinian, Muhammad Wael al-Sharouf, was killed by Israeli forces near Hebron in the occupied West Bank on Sunday, December 14, 2025, following an alleged stabbing attempt. Israeli military stated troops 'eliminated a terrorist' who tried to stab them, while Palestinian health officials reported al-Sharouf was shot and his body seized.
Israel has announced the killing of Raed Saad, a senior Hamas commander and alleged architect of the October 7, 2023, attack, in an airstrike in Gaza City on Saturday, December 13, 2025. The strike reportedly followed an explosive device detonation that wounded two Israeli soldiers.
International Criminal Court judges and officials continue their work despite facing US sanctions, including asset freezes and travel bans, imposed in response to investigations into alleged war crimes by Israeli and US personnel. The court remains committed to its independent judicial mandate.
Winter Storm Byron has unleashed severe flooding across Gaza's displacement camps, leading to the tragic death of an 8-month-old infant, Rahaf Abu Jazar, from hypothermia. The storm has submerged thousands of makeshift shelters, mixed stormwater with sewage, and intensified the already catastrophic humanitarian conditions for 1.5 million displaced Palestinians, prompting urgent calls for unhindered aid.
Storm Byron brought heavy rains, strong winds, and flood warnings to Israel in December 2025, leading the IDF to limit activities and release soldiers early. Concurrently, Ben-Gurion Airport experienced significant baggage system malfunctions, though authorities clarified this was unrelated to the storm, causing widespread delays for travelers.
Israel held a solemn repatriation ceremony at Ben-Gurion Airport for Sudthisak Rinthalak, a Thai agricultural worker murdered during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. His body, held in Gaza for over two years, was returned to Israel as part of a ceasefire agreement before being flown to Thailand for burial.
Israeli police and municipal officials forcibly entered the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) headquarters in East Jerusalem on Monday, December 8, 2025. They removed the UN flag and raised an Israeli flag, seizing equipment. Israel cited unpaid property taxes, while UNRWA condemned the action as a violation of international law.
Israel and Costa Rica are poised to sign a Free Trade Area Agreement this week, a strategic move expected to significantly boost Israeli exports, deepen trade relations with Latin America, and reduce the cost of living in Israel. The pact will also open new opportunities for Costa Rican businesses and attract Israeli investment.
Israel announced plans to open the Rafah crossing for Palestinians to exit Gaza, a move met with strong opposition from Egypt and eight Muslim-majority countries. Concerns center on potential forced displacement and the unilateral nature of the plan, which contradicts calls for bidirectional operation under the US-brokered peace plan.
The Israeli government has approved its 2026 state budget, totaling NIS 662 billion ($205 billion), following intense negotiations. The budget includes a significant increase in defense spending to NIS 112 billion ($34.6 billion), a rise from earlier drafts and 2023 levels, reflecting ongoing security priorities. The budget now proceeds to the Knesset for parliamentary approval by March 2026.
Israeli forces conducted airstrikes on Hezbollah weapons depots and military infrastructure across southern Lebanon on Thursday, December 4, 2025. The strikes, targeting villages including Jbaa, Mahrouna, Mjadel, and Baraachit, followed urgent evacuation warnings issued by the Israeli military. This action comes a day after the first direct talks between Israeli and Lebanese civilian representatives in decades, amidst Israeli accusations of Hezbollah violating a November 2024 ceasefire.
US Special Envoy Tom Barrack reportedly warned Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on November 30, 2025, of an imminent Israeli military operation against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Barrack urged Iraq to remain neutral and cautioned against intervention by pro-Iranian factions, implying potential Israeli retaliation against Iraq.
Two Israeli soldiers sustained light injuries in a stabbing attack near the West Bank settlement of Ateret on Tuesday, December 2, 2025. The Palestinian assailant, identified as 18-year-old Mohammed Asmar, was shot dead by Israeli forces at the scene. The incident occurred during a security check after troops were alerted to a suspicious individual.
The Israeli Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee has resumed debates on a revised ultra-Orthodox conscription bill. The proposed legislation, which seeks to formalize exemptions for Haredi individuals from military service, faces significant opposition from within the ruling coalition and has sparked widespread criticism over its perceived leniency and impact on national security.
Israeli security forces, including the IDF, Shin Bet, and the elite Yamam unit, arrested a five-member terror cell in the northern West Bank village of Barta'a on Saturday night. The cell was reportedly planning an imminent attack, and the arrests are part of ongoing counterterrorism operations in the region.
Israeli forces launched extensive raids across the occupied West Bank on Sunday morning, resulting in the abduction of 54 Palestinians. Operations were reported in Salfit, Nablus, Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Hebron, amid ongoing security activities in the region.
