Israel reopened the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem to Palestinian worshippers after a 40-day closure. Verified footage from Al Jazeera showed thousands of Palestinians entering the mosque gates early Thursday, with around three thousand attending the dawn prayer. The reopening followed a period of restrictions imposed after the outbreak of war between Iran and the US-Israel alliance on February 28, which had limited or halted access to holy sites for Christians, Jews, and Muslims.

The Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem confirmed that all mosque gates were reopened for worshippers from dawn. The Jordan-linked religious authority responsible for managing the site did not provide further details. Earlier footage showed volunteers cleaning and preparing the prayer areas to welcome worshippers.

Israeli authorities announced the reopening of both Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Wednesday evening, citing updated guidance from the Israeli Home Front Command. Hundreds of police and border guards were deployed across Jerusalem’s Old City to ensure visitor safety.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Israel will continue to strike Hezbollah targets wherever necessary, even after a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Israel. He stated that any group acting against Israeli civilians would be targeted and emphasized that operations would persist until full security is ensured for residents in northern Israel.

The announcement followed the Israeli Defense Forces’ claim of killing Ali Yusuf Harshi, nephew and secretary to Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem. Israel had earlier clarified that the ceasefire does not apply to Lebanon. In response, Iran condemned Israel’s continued attacks in Lebanon, calling them a serious violation of the ceasefire agreement. Iranian officials, including the deputy foreign minister and the parliament speaker, warned that the situation remains highly tense.

The developments underscore escalating tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border, raising concerns about the durability of the ceasefire and the potential for broader regional confrontation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had promised a decisive victory in the war against Iran, is now facing growing domestic challenges as his objectives appear increasingly unattainable. He had pledged to change Iran’s regime, destroy its missile capabilities, and seize its enriched uranium. However, continued Iranian bombardment of Israel has made those goals seem unrealistic.

Some analysts suggest that Netanyahu’s failure to achieve his war aims could prove even more damaging than his inability to prevent the events of October 7, 2023. According to Al Jazeera journalist Nida Ibrahim, Israel may hold elections later this year, and opposition leader Yair Lapid has begun openly criticizing Netanyahu.

The coming weeks are expected to be crucial as Netanyahu seeks ways to navigate the political and military challenges arising from the ongoing conflict and domestic discontent.

The Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem has reopened after being closed for 40 days under an Israeli-imposed ban. The Jerusalem Islamic Waqf Department announced on Wednesday evening that the mosque would reopen for worshippers starting with the dawn prayer on Thursday, without any numerical restrictions. Large numbers of worshippers attended the first prayer following the reopening.

According to the Waqf Department, Israeli authorities had kept the mosque closed under the pretext of emergency and security measures. During the closure, Israeli forces imposed strict military control around the mosque and sealed the gates of Jerusalem’s Old City. The ban coincided with the Jewish Passover festival, which ran from April 2 to April 9.

During the restriction period, groups supporting the so-called ‘Temple’ movement reportedly used the festival as an opportunity to incite attacks on the mosque and called for ritual sacrifices inside the compound, according to the report.

Hezbollah announced early Thursday that it launched rocket attacks targeting northern Israel, claiming the strikes were in response to what it described as continuous ceasefire violations by Israeli forces. The group made the statement through its Telegram channel, asserting responsibility for the attack.

According to the statement, Hezbollah vowed to continue its retaliatory operations until what it called Israeli and U.S. aggression comes to an end. Israeli media reported that one rocket fired from Lebanon was intercepted midair. The exchange followed a series of Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday that hit nearly 100 targets across Lebanon within a span of ten minutes, killing at least 254 people and injuring many others.

The report, published by Al Jazeera and cited by local outlet Amar Desh, highlights the escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah despite existing ceasefire arrangements.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has sharply criticized the ceasefire agreement with Iran, calling it a “political disaster.” According to a report by AFP, Lapid accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of failing to achieve the main objectives of the war. In a post on social media platform X, Lapid said Israel was not even present at the negotiation table when crucial national security decisions were made.

Lapid stated that the military fulfilled all its assigned duties and the public showed great patience, but Netanyahu failed politically and strategically. He argued that none of the goals Netanyahu himself had set were achieved. Netanyahu had aimed to destroy or severely weaken Iran’s nuclear program, which he described as an existential threat to Israel, as well as to neutralize Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities and reduce Tehran’s regional influence.

Lapid warned that due to Netanyahu’s arrogance, negligence, and lack of strategic planning, Israel would take many years to recover from the political and strategic damage caused.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has declared Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a complete failure following the United States’ announcement of a two-week ceasefire with Iran. Lapid described the development as a political disaster for Israel, criticizing Netanyahu’s handling of the situation. The ceasefire was announced by US President Donald Trump, and Netanyahu publicly expressed his support for the decision, according to BBC reports.

In his remarks on Wednesday, Lapid said Iran remains one of Israel’s main national security concerns, yet Israel was not included in the discussions leading to the ceasefire. He argued that while the Israeli military fulfilled its duties and citizens showed remarkable resilience, Netanyahu failed politically and strategically, and did not achieve the goals he had set for himself.

The criticism underscores growing political tension in Israel over the handling of regional security and diplomatic engagement with the United States regarding Iran.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the recently declared two-week ceasefire agreement with Iran does not apply to Lebanon. According to an official statement, Israel has agreed to suspend attacks against Iran on certain conditions. These include Iran immediately reopening the Strait of Hormuz and halting all forms of attacks against the United States, Israel, and regional countries.

The statement further clarified that the ceasefire’s scope is limited strictly to Iran and does not extend to Lebanon. It also noted that Israel supports U.S. efforts aimed at preventing Iran from emerging as a future nuclear, missile, or terrorist threat.

The announcement underscores Israel’s continued security concerns in the region and its alignment with U.S. strategic objectives regarding Iran’s military and regional activities.

Professor Sultan Barakat of Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s Public Policy department has warned that Israel may be planning a limited strategic nuclear strike. In an interview with Al Jazeera, he said Israel could attempt such an attack to demonstrate itself as a nuclear power, interpreting recent language from both Israel and the United States as indicative of this possibility.

Barakat linked U.S. President Donald Trump’s use of phrases like “great surprise” and “civilization will be destroyed” to the potential for such an operation. He noted that although Israel has never officially acknowledged possessing nuclear weapons, it is widely believed to have nuclear capability. According to Barakat, Israel previously used its nuclear capacity mainly as a deterrent, but that approach has failed.

He added that Israeli policymakers might now seek to reveal their nuclear status through a controlled strike designed to limit radiation spread and destruction. The White House, however, has denied any U.S. plan to use nuclear weapons against Iran.

Israel is facing heightened tension as its military anticipates a possible large-scale missile attack from Iran. According to reports, Iranian missile strikes have already continued throughout the day, targeting several Israeli cities. The central region, home to nearly half of Israel’s population, has reportedly experienced the most intense attacks.

Unrest has also been reported in the southern part of the country. At least two incidents were noted in which Iranian missiles were fired toward Beersheba, Dimona, and surrounding areas. The situation remains volatile, with Israeli defense forces on high alert for further escalation.

The ongoing attacks have raised fears of a broader conflict in the region, as both sides appear to be preparing for potential military escalation in the coming hours.

Iran’s most recent round of attacks caused damage at 28 locations across central Israel, according to emergency service reports published on April 6, 2026. The strikes, which involved cluster bombs launched by Iran, left one man in his forties moderately injured. The affected areas include Ramat Gan, Bnei Brak, and Givatayim.

The report, citing Israeli emergency authorities, indicates that the damage was widespread but provides no details on the scale of destruction or the type of facilities hit. The information was sourced from Al Jazeera and relayed by the outlet Amar Desh. The incident marks another escalation in the ongoing hostilities between Iran and Israel.

Further details on Israel’s response or international reactions were not included in the report, leaving the broader implications of the attack unclear.

Four bodies were recovered from the rubble of a building destroyed by an Iranian missile strike in Israel’s Haifa city, according to a BBC report. Local sources said the missile hit the building the previous day. Security officials noted that the bomb did not detonate upon impact and remained active when rescue teams arrived, complicating the search operation. Rescuers had to tunnel through concrete from an adjacent building to reach the trapped victims.

Residents described living under the threat of Iranian attacks as a daily ordeal despite Israel’s multilayered air defense system. Surveys indicate that after more than five weeks of conflict, public support among Jewish Israelis for the war is gradually declining. Anti-war demonstrations have intensified, with reports of crackdowns and arrests, including of Arab-Israeli activist Alon-Lee Green.

Israel claims success in targeting Iranian ballistic missile bases and leadership, while Iran aims to undermine Israel’s sense of security through such strikes.

An Iranian missile attack struck Israel’s largest city, Haifa, early Monday, killing two people and leaving two others missing, according to local reports. Rescue workers continued operations through the night, searching the debris of a heavily damaged apartment block that was hit by a large missile. Half of the building was destroyed, and the remaining structure was unstable, complicating rescue efforts.

Al Jazeera reported that Haifa, a strategically important city, is frequently targeted by Iranian missiles and lies within range of rockets launched from Hezbollah positions across the Lebanese border. During the ongoing rescue operation, another missile alert was issued as three additional missiles were detected from Iran. Most were intercepted, while the rest landed in open fields.

Authorities have not yet provided further details on the missing individuals or the extent of the damage, and search operations were continuing as of Monday morning.

Israeli police conducted an operation to disperse an anti-war protest in Tel Aviv, detaining several demonstrators including Alon-Lee Green, leader of the Jewish-Arab movement 'Standing Together'. The protesters had gathered to oppose Israel’s ongoing war, attacks on neighboring countries, and destruction in Gaza. They chanted slogans demanding an end to the war and aggression, accusing authorities of suppressing dissent. Police reportedly used force to break up the rally and arrested multiple participants.

According to the report, the detainees were held on buses after their arrest. During this time, air raid sirens sounded in the area, but police allegedly prevented them from reaching nearby shelters, escalating tensions. Human rights groups and activists claim that arrests, use of force, and dispersal of gatherings are increasingly being used to suppress anti-war protests, even as public opposition continues to grow.

Recent weeks have seen similar crackdowns across Israel, with numerous arrests reported during other anti-war demonstrations.

A study by Tel Aviv University has found that emigration among Israelis has risen sharply in recent years. Between 2023 and 2024, around 100,000 Israelis left the country, which has a total population of about 10 million. The report attributes this increase to insecurity caused by the Gaza conflict and internal instability, as well as the rising cost of living that has pushed some to seek work abroad. Many skilled professionals are reportedly unwilling to endure the ongoing war conditions.

Researchers warned that any additional economic shock—whether political, economic, or security-related—could trigger a sudden surge in emigration, posing a serious risk to Israel’s stability. The situation has been further aggravated by Iran’s retaliatory attacks, which have exposed Israel’s declining ability to intercept missiles and drones, leading to greater damage.

The findings highlight growing concerns about Israel’s long-term resilience as it faces simultaneous security and economic pressures.