Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared on Tuesday that Israel will not withdraw even a millimeter from Gaza’s so-called ‘Yellow Line’ until Hamas is completely disarmed. The statement came during a conference, where Katz emphasized that Israel would not allow Hamas to retain weapons or tunnels. The ‘Yellow Line’ refers to the area in eastern Gaza where Israeli forces have been stationed under the first phase of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan.

According to the plan’s second phase, which began last month, Israel was expected to gradually withdraw from that line. However, Katz’s remarks indicate a firm stance against any withdrawal before Hamas’s disarmament. On Monday, Israeli Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs said the government would give Hamas 60 days to disarm, warning that failure to comply could lead to renewed warfare.

The report also stated that since October 8, 2023, Israel, with U.S. support, has conducted a campaign in Gaza that has killed over 72,000 Palestinians and injured more than 171,000, mostly women and children, while destroying about 90 percent of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure.

A video recently released on social media shows an Israeli soldier admitting to killings and sexual violence in Gaza during a conversation with American YouTuber Jeff Davidson. The footage, recorded on a short video-sharing platform, captures the soldier openly discussing the destruction of civilian areas and acts of violence committed during Israel’s assault on Gaza. When confronted by Davidson about the killing of women and children, the soldier confirmed the accusations and stated that they had also committed sexual assaults.

The video spread rapidly online, sparking widespread outrage as the soldier appeared to confess to grave crimes against civilians. During the exchange, the soldier identified himself as a member of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and claimed to be broadcasting from inside Gaza. He showed scenes of widespread devastation, saying that all buildings had been leveled. The footage emerged amid growing concern from international and human rights organizations about the high civilian death toll in Gaza, particularly among women and children.

The timing of the video’s release has intensified scrutiny of the ongoing conflict and the conduct of Israeli forces in Gaza.

Israeli forces have arrested Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abbasi, the Imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa. The report said Al-Abbasi was detained from inside the mosque compound without explanation. The arrest occurred on Monday, as cited by local sources.

The report noted that Israeli measures around the Al-Aqsa Mosque have recently become more stringent. Restrictions have been imposed on imams, preachers, and worshippers, including limits on entry to the mosque. The arrest followed an earlier order by Israeli authorities banning Al-Abbasi from entering the mosque compound for one week, with the possibility of renewal.

Before his detention, Al-Abbasi said he had not been informed of the reason for the ban. He expressed deep distress over the decision, especially after returning to duty following a year-long recovery from a serious road accident. The incident comes as large numbers of Palestinian worshippers prepare to gather at Al-Aqsa during Ramadan.

The Israeli government has approved the resumption of land registration in the West Bank, a move that has triggered strong criticism from Arab nations and rights groups. According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, the initiative aims to clarify land ownership and resolve legal disputes transparently, citing illegal registrations under the Palestinian Authority as justification. The registration will take place only in Area C, which covers about 60 percent of the West Bank and remains under Israeli security and administrative control.

Egypt, Qatar, and Jordan denounced the decision as a violation of international law. Egypt described it as a dangerous step to consolidate Israeli control over occupied Palestinian territory, while Qatar warned it would undermine Palestinian rights by declaring land as “state property.” The Palestinian Authority called for international intervention, saying the move marks the beginning of annexation and weakens the foundation of a future Palestinian state. Israeli group Peace Now labeled the decision a “mega land grab.”

Israeli media reported that this is the first time since the 1967 war that land registration will resume in the West Bank, where over 500,000 Israelis and about 3 million Palestinians currently live.

More than 50,000 members of Israel’s military hold citizenship from other countries, according to official army data published by the daily Yedioth Ahronoth. The figures were released after the transparency organization Hatzlacha filed a request under Israel’s Freedom of Information law. The data show that 50,632 soldiers have dual nationality, including 12,135 with U.S. citizenship, 6,127 with French citizenship, and over 5,000 with Russian citizenship.

The report further notes that more than 3,000 soldiers hold German citizenship and a similar number hold Ukrainian citizenship. Over 1,000 soldiers have British nationality, while 1,686 are Romanian, 1,387 Polish, and 185 Canadian citizens. A smaller number hold citizenship from Arab countries such as Yemen, Tunisia, Lebanon, Syria, and Algeria. Additionally, 4,440 soldiers possess two foreign citizenships besides Israeli, and 162 hold three.

The army did not clarify whether the data include active-duty or reserve members. Israeli media estimate about 170,000 active soldiers and between 400,000 and 460,000 reservists. The statistics were requested in March 2025 and are considered the first detailed public disclosure on foreign citizenship among Israeli military personnel.

The Israeli government has approved a proposal to register extensive areas of the occupied West Bank as state property, marking the first such decision since Israel’s 1967 occupation of the territory, according to the country’s public broadcaster Kan, as reported by Anadolu Agency. The proposal was introduced by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, and Defense Minister Israel Katz. If implemented, the lands in question will be formally recorded as Israeli state-owned property.

The move is expected to accelerate settlement expansion in the West Bank and further complicate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Palestinian groups and human rights organizations have long opposed such initiatives, viewing them as violations of international law and obstacles to peace.

Many countries in the international community consider Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law. Observers suggest that this decision could trigger renewed diplomatic backlash against Israel’s policies in the occupied territories.

Israeli authorities are reportedly planning to restrict Muslim worshippers’ access to Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem during the upcoming Ramadan, according to former Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Sheikh Ekrima Sabri. Speaking to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency, he said signs of this plan appeared earlier in January when Major General Avshalom Peled was appointed as the new police commander in East Jerusalem. The move is viewed as part of far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s broader agenda concerning control over the mosque.

Sheikh Sabri stated that Israeli authorities have already imposed restrictions on young worshippers and indicated that entry rules for Muslims from the occupied West Bank would not be eased. He warned that this would result in fewer worshippers at Al-Aqsa compared to previous years, calling the measures a violation of freedom of worship and an obstacle to Muslims’ observance of Ramadan.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that Minister Ben-Gvir is taking actions that could further inflame tensions around the holy site.

More than 50,000 members of the Israeli army possess one or more foreign citizenships in addition to their Israeli nationality, according to figures published by the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth. The data was released after the transparency organization Hatzlacha filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act in March 2025, to which the army recently responded.

The statistics show that 50,632 soldiers have dual citizenship, with the largest group being 12,135 holding U.S. citizenship, followed by 6,127 with French citizenship and 5,000 with Russian citizenship. Over 3,000 soldiers each hold German and Ukrainian citizenships, while more than 1,000 hold British, Romanian, Polish, Ethiopian, or Canadian citizenships. Additionally, 4,440 soldiers have two foreign citizenships besides Israeli nationality, and 162 hold three foreign citizenships.

According to TRT World, the army did not clarify whether these soldiers are active-duty, reservists, or both. Israeli media estimate that the country has about 170,000 active soldiers and between 400,000 and 460,000 registered reservists.

US President Donald Trump has taken a clear stance against Israel’s plan to annex the occupied West Bank. A White House official said on Monday, January 9, that Trump views maintaining stability in Palestinian territories as essential for peace in the Middle East. According to Reuters, the official added that a stable West Bank is also vital for Israel’s security, reaffirming the current US administration’s commitment to this policy.

The White House reaction followed new Israeli measures announced by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Israel Katz to strengthen control over the occupied West Bank. The Israeli security cabinet approved rules easing land seizures for illegal settlements and transferring building permit authority in major cities like Hebron from the Palestinian Authority to direct Israeli control.

The decision has sparked widespread international protest. Eight Muslim-majority countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, and the UAE, jointly condemned the move as illegal and an attempt to displace Palestinians. The UN Secretary-General called the plan destabilizing and a major obstacle to a two-state solution, while Britain and Spain also issued strong condemnations and urged Israel to withdraw the decision.

Israel’s security cabinet has approved new regulations aimed at tightening control over the occupied West Bank. According to the report, the measures will make it easier for Israeli settlers to purchase land in the territory and grant Israeli officials broader authority to enforce laws on Palestinians in the area.

The Palestinian Authority condemned the move, calling it a dangerous step that legitimizes settlement expansion and land seizure. In a statement, the office of President Mahmoud Abbas urged immediate intervention by the United States and the United Nations Security Council. Jordan’s Foreign Ministry also denounced the decision, describing it as an attempt to impose illegal Israeli sovereignty and entrench settlements.

Meanwhile, Hamas called on Palestinians in the West Bank to intensify resistance against what it termed occupying forces and settlers. The new regulations have sparked strong regional criticism and calls for international response.

Israel’s security cabinet has approved new regulations aimed at strengthening Israeli control over the occupied West Bank, according to local media reports. The measures will make it easier for Israeli settlers to purchase land in the territory and grant Israeli officials greater authority to enforce laws on Palestinians. The new steps reportedly remove restrictions that previously prevented private Jewish individuals from buying land and allow Israeli authorities to manage certain religious sites and increase supervision in areas administered by the Palestinian Authority.

The Palestinian presidency condemned the decision as a “dangerous” move and an attempt to legalize settlement expansion and land confiscation, urging the United States and the United Nations Security Council to intervene. Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also denounced the decision, calling it an effort to impose illegal sovereignty and entrench settlements. Hamas called on Palestinians to intensify confrontation with Israeli forces and settlers.

Palestinian Vice President Hussein Al-Sheikh described the measures as a violation of international law and existing agreements, warning that they undermine the two-state solution and risk escalating regional instability.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to travel to the United States for discussions centered on Iran. His office announced the visit on Saturday night, just one day after high-level talks between the United States and Iran took place in Oman. Netanyahu will depart for Washington on Tuesday and meet U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday.

According to a statement from Netanyahu’s office, the prime minister believes that any agreement with Iran must include strict limitations on its ballistic missile program. He also insists that Iran’s support for proxy groups across the Middle East must be addressed in the negotiations. The statement reflects Israel’s concern that Iran’s missile program was reportedly not included in the ongoing U.S.-Iran discussions in Oman.

This will be Netanyahu’s seventh visit to the United States during Trump’s second term, underscoring the frequency of their diplomatic engagements over the past year.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed concern over Egypt’s increasing military capabilities, calling for close monitoring to prevent excessive buildup. According to Israeli media reports on Thursday, Netanyahu made the remarks during a closed-door session of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Citing a source present at the meeting, the report said Netanyahu emphasized that while Israel maintains relations with Egypt, its expanding military strength should be carefully observed and restrained if necessary.

The report added that this warning comes amid heightened sensitivities in bilateral relations, following a major $35 billion gas deal signed between Israel and Egypt in December. Netanyahu had described the agreement, valued at 112 billion shekels, as the largest in Israel’s history. The two nations have maintained peace since signing the Camp David Accords and a formal peace treaty in 1979, which ended their state of war and normalized relations.

The renewed caution from Netanyahu highlights ongoing strategic vigilance in Israel’s approach to Egypt despite their longstanding peace framework.

Audio recordings of former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak speaking with Jeffrey Epstein have surfaced, revealing Barak’s remarks about Israel’s demographic policies and attitudes toward different Jewish communities. Released last week by the U.S. Department of Justice, the undated recording captures Barak telling Epstein that he had informed Russian President Vladimir Putin that Israel needed one million Russian-speaking immigrants. He said Israeli authorities could now be more “selective” and “control the quality” of immigrants more effectively than in the past.

In the conversation, Barak appeared to disparage Jews from North Africa and Arab countries, contrasting them with potential Russian-speaking immigrants. He also discussed breaking the Orthodox rabbinate’s monopoly over religious definitions and ceremonies to encourage mass conversions to Judaism. The recording highlights long-standing divisions between religious and secular Jews and reflects Israel’s ongoing efforts to shape its population through immigration.

The report also notes that Israel continues to promote immigration, offering tax incentives to new arrivals in 2026. Past immigration waves, such as those from Ethiopia’s Beta Israel community, have exposed persistent racism and inequality within Israeli society.

Israeli authorities have started constructing a new settlement road north of occupied East Jerusalem, according to the Jerusalem Governorate. The road extends from the city of Mikhmas in the east to the village of Qalandiya in the west, spanning about six kilometers. Officials said the project is part of a bypass network designed to connect Israeli settlements while avoiding Palestinian areas. Around 280 dunams of land have been confiscated from four Palestinian towns for the construction.

Palestinian officials argue that such infrastructure projects restrict Palestinian movement and entrench land confiscation. They accuse Israel of using settlement expansion and road construction to isolate East Jerusalem from the West Bank. The report notes that since the Gaza war began in October 2023, Israeli military operations in the West Bank have intensified, with increased killings, demolitions, forced evictions, and settlement expansion.

According to official Palestinian statistics, at least 1,110 Palestinians have been killed, about 11,500 injured, and more than 21,000 detained in the West Bank during that period.