Israel has decided to keep the Al-Aqsa Mosque closed during Eid al-Fitr and the following period, citing security concerns. The Islamic Waqf, which administers the site, has been officially notified of the decision. The mosque was initially closed earlier in the month amid heightened tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. Palestinians have condemned the move as an attempt to tighten Israeli control over the holy site during Ramadan.

Several Muslim-majority countries have denounced the closure as unjustified and called for the immediate lifting of restrictions. For the first time since Israel’s 1967 occupation of East Jerusalem, Palestinians were unable to perform Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa during Ramadan. Access remains limited to a maximum of 25 Waqf staff per shift, and surveillance cameras have reportedly been installed. The Old City of Jerusalem is under near-lockdown, with only local residents allowed entry.

Waqf officials warned that the temporary ban could become permanent, signaling a potential long-term shift in the mosque’s status. International law prohibits permanent changes in occupied territories, and the current restrictions have raised concerns about erosion of the long-standing status quo governing Al-Aqsa.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that Israel will continue its campaign to eliminate Iran’s leadership following a recent airstrike. Katz said the operation killed Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani and Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani. He stated that both he and the prime minister had instructed the Israel Defense Forces to keep pursuing Iran’s leadership, which he described as responsible for terrorism and oppression.

Katz referenced a comment by U.S. President Donald Trump about frequent changes in Iran’s leadership, saying that Israel’s actions had accelerated that process by killing two of Iran’s top figures. He also praised the Israeli Air Force pilots and intelligence officers who took part in the mission.

Iran has not yet confirmed the deaths of Larijani and Soleimani, leaving uncertainty about the full impact of the strike and Israel’s ongoing operations.

At least 3,530 people have been injured in Israel since the outbreak of war with Iran, according to the Israeli Health Ministry. The ministry reported that the injured include both civilians and members of the Israeli military. Many of the wounded have been hospitalized for treatment.

As of Tuesday, 86 Israelis remain hospitalized, with eight of them in critical condition. The information was reported by Qatar-based news outlet Al Jazeera, citing official data from Israel’s Health Ministry. The report did not specify the timeline or nature of the incidents that caused the injuries.

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran has led to a significant number of casualties and hospitalizations, highlighting the escalating humanitarian impact within Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has released a new video showing him walking in Jerusalem and interacting with locals. In the footage, he is seen greeting people, commenting on the weather, and asking about a dog’s breed, which a woman identifies as a Canaanite-Israeli. Netanyahu also speaks about secure shelters, expressing confidence that the Israel Defense Forces will prevail and protect the nation.

The release follows controversy surrounding an earlier video in which Netanyahu appeared to show five fingers, which the Grok chatbot labeled as AI-generated. That earlier clip had sparked debate after claims that Netanyahu’s hand showed six fingers. On Sunday, he had already posted another video from a Jerusalem café to dismiss rumors about his death, humorously addressing the finger-count issue.

The new video appears to be part of Netanyahu’s ongoing effort to counter online misinformation and reaffirm his public presence amid growing scrutiny of AI-generated political content.

A projectile strike in the northern Israeli city of Nahariya caused a building to catch fire, injuring at least three people, according to Israeli media reports on March 17, 2026. Medical sources cited by local outlets said the fire spread through the building and damaged several nearby structures.

Earlier, Hezbollah had claimed responsibility for launching rocket and drone attacks targeting Nahariya. The incident occurred amid heightened regional tensions following the outbreak of war between Iran and the United States.

Reports also stated that at least 12 people have been killed in Israel so far by Iranian missile attacks since the conflict began on February 28, when Iran initiated hostilities against the United States.

Israel announced that the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt will reopen on Wednesday. The reopening will occur from both sides of the border but only for limited civilian movement. The crossing had been closed since March 1, when Israel cited security concerns following the launch of joint attacks with the United States on Iran.

Before the March closure, the Rafah crossing had reopened in February after being shut for several consecutive months. The crossing serves as a critical route for humanitarian aid deliveries and the transfer of seriously ill patients from Gaza.

The decision to reopen the crossing in a restricted manner indicates a cautious approach by Israel amid ongoing regional tensions and security concerns.

A new video showing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordering coffee at a Jerusalem café has sparked widespread debate on social media. Many users claimed the clip was generated using artificial intelligence. The controversy follows earlier speculation about Netanyahu’s safety after another video appeared to show him with six fingers on one hand. The latest video was posted on the prime minister’s official X account, apparently mocking rumors of his death.

The AI chatbot Groq, responding to a user query on X, asserted that the video was AI-generated and described it as a deepfake with no real-world basis. Several social media users also questioned the video’s authenticity, pointing to visual inconsistencies such as the coffee cup’s movement and changes in Netanyahu’s facial shape. Groq reiterated its claim, calling the video a “100% confirmed advanced AI deepfake.”

However, the café identified as the filming location, The Sataf in Jerusalem, posted photos on Instagram showing Netanyahu drinking coffee there, stating they were honored to host the prime minister and his staff.

Israel has informed the United States that its stockpile of ballistic missile interceptors is running low as the war with Iran enters its third week, according to U.S. officials cited by the news outlet Semafor. The officials said Israel’s defense system had already been weakened by heavy interceptor use during last year’s conflict with Iran. Continuous missile attacks from Iran are now placing severe pressure on Israel’s long-range air defense network.

The report added that Iran has equipped some of its missiles with cluster bombs, making them harder to intercept and accelerating the depletion of Israel’s interceptor reserves. Washington had been aware of the potential shortage for months. A U.S. official told Semafor that the situation had been anticipated, emphasizing that the United States itself has sufficient reserves and is not facing a similar shortage.

It remains unclear whether the U.S. will supply Israel with additional interceptors. Previous military aid packages included missile defense systems, but new deliveries could strain America’s own stockpiles.

Israel is preparing to deploy an international force in Gaza as part of U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan for rebuilding the war-torn territory. According to Israel’s public broadcaster KAN, the deployment is scheduled to begin in May 2026. The multinational force will include about 5,000 Indonesian troops, along with soldiers from Kazakhstan, Morocco, Albania, and Kosovo.

The first phase will focus on the Rafah area in southern Gaza, surrounding a new Palestinian city built with support from the United Arab Emirates. The operation will later expand to other parts of the Gaza Strip, particularly near areas referred to by Israeli media as the “Yellow Line.” Before entering Gaza, several hundred foreign troops are expected to undergo training in Jordan next month.

KAN also reported that military delegations from participating countries are expected to arrive in Israel within two weeks to finalize preparations for the mission.

At least two people were injured in a recent Iranian ballistic missile attack on Israel, according to Israeli media reports citing the country’s emergency service organization Magen David Adom. The incident occurred as the Iran–US–Israel conflict entered its 16th day, with Iran continuing to launch retaliatory strikes. The report, carried by Al Jazeera, said both injured individuals were in their 50s and their injuries were not severe.

The missiles reportedly carried cluster bomb warheads, releasing multiple sub-munitions that scattered across Israel’s southern city of Eilat and parts of the central region. Local authorities in Eilat earlier stated that they had successfully intercepted one such missile through the air defense system, but fragments of the sub-munitions still fell in various parts of the city.

The continued exchange of missile and drone attacks underscores the intensifying hostilities between Iran and Israel, with no indication of a ceasefire or negotiation effort mentioned in the report.

Debris from an Iranian ballistic missile struck a building used by US diplomats in Israel, according to a CNN report citing Israeli outlet Channel 12. The report included an image showing damage to part of the building’s roof, which appeared to be over a parking area. The exact location of the damaged building was not specified by the Israeli media.

The United States maintains its embassy in Jerusalem and a large branch office in Tel Aviv, which previously served as the main embassy. CNN said it had contacted the US State Department for comment on the incident, but no official response had been received at the time of reporting.

The incident comes amid heightened regional tensions, with recent reports of missile and drone attacks involving Iran and Israel, though the source did not provide further details on casualties or broader implications.

Iran has launched a large-scale ballistic missile and drone attack on Israel on Sunday, March 15, 2026, marking the 16th day of the ongoing conflict between the two nations. According to reports, missiles struck Tel Aviv and at least two other cities, injuring two people in central Israel and three more in the occupied West Bank. The Times of Israel cited emergency service Magen David Adom confirming that two 50-year-old men were wounded in the attack.

The report added that one of the missiles carried cluster munitions, dispersing submunitions across southern and central Israel, including the city of Eilat. Local authorities in Eilat stated that an Iranian ballistic missile equipped with cluster bombs was intercepted by Israel’s air defense system before impact. The attack occurred amid heightened tensions as Iran accused Israel and the United States of imposing an “unjust war.”

The situation underscores the intensifying hostilities between Iran and Israel, with no indication of ceasefire or negotiation efforts from Tehran, according to related reports.

The Israeli government has approved an emergency allocation of approximately $827 million, or about 2.6 billion shekels, for urgent military purchases amid its ongoing war with Iran, according to Al Jazeera. The decision was made through a telephone meeting of cabinet members at the end of the week. The funds will be used for security-related acquisitions and to meet the military’s immediate needs, though specific spending areas were not disclosed.

A document from the Finance Ministry, distributed among cabinet members and cited by multiple media outlets, stated that the additional budget was required due to the intensity of the war. It emphasized the need to procure ammunition, advanced weapons systems, and replenish critical combat equipment to sustain operations. The measure was described as an exceptional emergency step taken solely to address wartime necessities.

The report added that the funds will come from Israel’s $222 billion national budget, which was approved by the government on March 12 and is expected to pass the Knesset by March 31.

A senior US official has warned that Israel might consider using nuclear weapons if its ongoing conflict with Iran continues. David Sacks, an adviser to former US President Donald Trump on artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency, made the remarks on his All-In podcast, saying Israel is facing one of the most severe attacks in its history. He cautioned that prolonged warfare could weaken Israel’s air defense systems, posing a serious threat to its national security.

Sacks compared the current situation to the 12-day war in June 2025, noting that although Iran launched more missiles and drones then, the present conflict has caused greater humanitarian losses, infrastructure destruction, and displacement. He urged a swift end to the hostilities, arguing that the United States has already achieved its main objective by significantly weakening Iran’s military capabilities.

Sacks suggested that now is the right time to declare victory and de-escalate tensions through a ceasefire or negotiations with Tehran.

Iran has claimed responsibility for drone attacks targeting key Israeli security installations. According to Israel’s military, the strikes occurred on Sunday morning and hit the headquarters of the Lahav 433 special police unit and the Gilat defense satellite communication center. The report was carried by Al Jazeera, citing official statements.

Iran’s state media released a statement from its military saying the attacks were part of an ongoing military operation. However, Iran did not specify the exact locations of the targeted facilities or the extent of any damage caused by the strikes. The statement provided no further operational details.

As of the latest update, Israel has not issued any official response regarding the incident or its potential impact on national security.