A US military ship is preparing to anchor in the Gulf of Aqaba, south of Israel’s port city of Eilat, as part of enhanced military readiness amid growing regional tensions and the possibility of an attack on Iran, Israel’s state broadcaster KAN reported on Thursday, citing Anadolu Agency. According to unnamed security sources, the move is part of US-Israel military and security coordination, which includes naval deployment and increased defensive and offensive preparedness.

The report said Israeli security agencies are closely monitoring US movements, anticipating potential actions related to Iran. Concerns have also been raised about possible regional reactions if the situation worsens. During Israel’s weekly military security review on Thursday, the Iran issue was discussed in detail.

Meanwhile, Israeli and Saudi defense and intelligence officials are visiting the United States this week to discuss Iran. Axios reported that Israel’s military intelligence chief, General Shlomi Binder, held several high-level meetings with Pentagon, CIA, and White House leaders, while Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman is expected to emphasize diplomatic solutions in his meetings with US officials.

Israel has shifted its stance on the Gaza ceasefire after recovering all hostages taken to the enclave. The Israeli government now insists that Hamas must fully disarm before any further progress can be made toward the next phase of the ceasefire. This marks a tougher position from Israel following the hostage recovery.

Hamas has publicly refused to surrender its weapons. Two Hamas officials told Reuters that neither the United States nor mediators have presented any detailed or concrete disarmament proposal. Israeli minister and former intelligence chief Avi Dichter warned that disputes over disarmament could reignite conflict in Gaza, saying the issue might have to be resolved by Israeli forces through military means.

A White House document released last week indicated that the Trump administration seeks the immediate elimination of heavy weapons in Gaza and a phased registration and removal of personal arms under an interim technocratic administration to ensure local security.

Israel’s High Court has ordered the forced eviction of Palestinian residents from the Batn al-Hawa area of Silwan in occupied East Jerusalem. The court also directed that the properties be transferred to Israeli settlers, according to Middle East Monitor. The ruling has raised fears among Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem of further forced displacement.

Silwan, located near Jerusalem’s Old City, has long been a focal point of Israeli settlement activity and demolition policies. Thousands of Palestinians live in the area, which has seen accelerated house demolitions and evictions. In the nearby al-Bustan neighborhood, Israel plans to build a park called “King’s Garden,” demolishing dozens of homes and threatening many more.

Human rights organizations have stated that Israel’s actions in Silwan are part of a broader policy aimed at displacing Palestinian residents. East Jerusalem remains surrounded by concrete walls and barbed wire, much of it built on West Bank land. Israel claims the barrier is for security, while Palestinians and the United Nations view it as part of a land seizure strategy.

The Israeli military announced that the body of Ran Gavili, the last hostage held in Gaza, has been recovered. Gavili, an Israeli police officer, was killed during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, and his body had remained in Gaza for over 840 days. The army said the body will be returned to Israel for burial. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the recovery as an “incredible achievement” for the state and called Gavili a “national hero.”

The recovery fulfills a key condition in the initial phase of a U.S.-proposed plan to end the Gaza war, potentially paving the way for a limited reopening of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt. A U.S.-supported Palestinian technocrat committee indicated the crossing could reopen this week, though Israel has not commented. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said the group provided information that aided the recovery and reaffirmed its commitment to uphold all aspects of the agreement.

Gaza’s health authorities reported that more than 71,000 Palestinians have been killed during nearly two years of Israeli attacks. Israeli officials had previously opposed reopening Rafah until the last hostage’s body was returned.

Israel announced on Monday that it will reopen the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on a limited basis following the recovery of the last hostage’s body in Gaza. The Rafah crossing, a key route for humanitarian aid into Gaza, will initially allow only pedestrian movement under full Israeli inspection. The reopening decision follows U.S. pressure within the framework of the October ceasefire agreement and will take effect once all living hostages are returned and the bodies of the deceased are identified and repatriated.

Gaza administrator Ali Shaath said the crossing will open this week for limited two-way movement, describing Rafah as a lifeline for Palestinians. Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida stated that information about the hostage’s body had been shared with mediators, guiding Israel’s search. The family of the recovered hostage, Ran Givili, opposed the reopening plan, demanding his return first.

The 2023 Hamas attack killed 1,221 people in Israel, while Israeli counterstrikes devastated Gaza, displacing millions and causing over 70,000 deaths, according to Gaza authorities.

Israeli Settlement Affairs Minister Orit Strock has called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to take control of Gaza, dismissing former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recently signed ‘Peace Board’ as a “bad plan.” Speaking to an Israeli radio station on Sunday, Strock said the plan should not endanger Israeli soldiers. Her remarks came just days after Trump signed the peace initiative during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Strock opposed transferring Gaza’s administration to the Palestinian Authority, warning that such a move would come at a high cost. She stated that after disarmament and the defeat of Hamas, only Israel should have authority over Gaza. The second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement reportedly includes disarming Hamas and other Palestinian groups, withdrawing additional Israeli forces from the enclave, and beginning reconstruction efforts.

The minister’s comments highlight divisions over post-war governance in Gaza and reflect ongoing debate within Israel about the future of the territory following the ceasefire process.

Israel has extended its ban on Al Jazeera Media Network’s operations and offices in the country for another 90 days. The order, signed by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi and announced on Sunday, prolongs restrictions first imposed in May 2024 when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet voted to shut down the network’s activities during the Gaza war.

The move follows a 2024 Knesset law allowing temporary closure of foreign broadcasters deemed threats to national security. In September that year, Israeli forces raided Al Jazeera’s Ramallah office, seizing equipment and documents. In December, the Knesset extended the law’s validity for two more years, a measure widely referred to as the “Al Jazeera law.” According to Al Jazeera Arabic’s bureau chief Walif al-Omari, Israeli authorities claim the network’s broadcasts harm national security.

Al Jazeera has long faced Israeli restrictions, including threats to close its Jerusalem office in 2017 and the destruction of its Gaza building in 2021. The network has also lost several journalists in Israeli attacks, including reporter Shireen Abu Akleh in 2022.

US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have visited Israel to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for discussions on Gaza and Iran. According to the White House, the meeting included talks on President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan. The visit took place amid growing concerns about a possible US strike on Iran. Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the meeting.

Israeli media reported that US Central Command chief Brad Cooper also arrived in Israel and is expected to meet senior Israeli security officials, including Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi and Air Force Commander Tomer Bar. The timing of these visits coincides with heightened regional tensions and speculation over potential US military action against Iran.

Iran has accused the United States of attempting to incite unrest, impose sanctions, and pursue regime change through pressure and destabilization efforts, according to reports from Israeli and international outlets.

Israel has gradually advanced efforts to close the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestinian refugees in occupied East Jerusalem, according to Al Jazeera. Since mid-2024, the process has involved a series of legal, administrative, and military actions aimed at removing the agency from the city. On May 9, 2024, the UNRWA headquarters in East Jerusalem was set on fire, forcing a temporary suspension of operations. Later, on October 28, Israel’s parliament passed a law banning UNRWA activities within what it calls its sovereign territory, including East Jerusalem.

Following the law’s enforcement on January 30, 2025, UNRWA vacated its headquarters for staff safety. Israeli authorities then ordered the closure of six UNRWA-run schools in April, affecting about 800 Palestinian children. In December, police entered the headquarters, removed the UN flag, and seized property, while new legislation allowed cutting utilities and seizing land. On January 12, 2026, police shut a health center for 30 days, and on January 20, Israeli forces began demolishing UNRWA structures.

Analysts cited in the report said the campaign to remove UNRWA undermines Palestinian refugees’ access to education and healthcare and represents a move to entrench occupation in violation of international law.

Israeli media reported that the country’s once-profitable agricultural export industry is facing a severe crisis as international opposition to Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza begins to affect trade. Orders for Israeli lemons and mangoes from Europe and Asia have nearly stopped, leaving farmers fearing a total collapse of this key economic sector. Some farmers, including orchard managers and former military officials, said they are operating at a loss since the war began.

According to reports from Kan 11 and Middle East Monitor, many farmers acknowledge that the main reason for the export decline is global outrage over Israel’s actions in Gaza, despite citing supply disruptions and Red Sea blockades. Some farmers have refused to sell produce to Gaza’s Palestinian market, even at the cost of heavy financial losses, citing ideological opposition to Hamas. The Citrus Growers Organization confirmed that no containers have been exported since the war started.

The crisis has left hundreds of tons of fruit rotting in northern Israel and forced producers to rely on local markets. Analysts noted that this agricultural decline reflects a broader economic downturn, with Israel’s overall economic activity dropping 26 percent in late 2023.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will join the proposed 'Peace Board' formed to oversee governance and reconstruction in Gaza. The announcement was made Wednesday by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office through social media. The invitation came from U.S. President Donald Trump, who initiated the board to monitor the ceasefire and post-war rebuilding process in the war-torn Gaza Strip.

According to the report, Trump announced the creation of the 'Peace Board' comprising world leaders to manage Gaza’s administration and reconstruction. He will serve as the board’s chairman indefinitely, continuing even after his presidential term ends. Permanent membership will be granted to countries contributing one billion dollars. The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have already confirmed their participation, while invitations have also been extended to other global leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The initiative aims to coordinate international involvement in Gaza’s recovery and governance following the conflict, though specific operational details of the board remain undisclosed.

Israel has raised objections to the composition of a panel formed under the 'Board of Peace' announced by U.S. President Donald Trump to oversee postwar governance in Gaza. On Saturday, Israel stated that the White House did not consult or coordinate with it regarding the selection of members for the Gaza Executive Board. Tel Aviv argued that the initiative contradicts Israeli policy, particularly criticizing the inclusion of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and a Qatari official.

A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the formation of the Gaza Executive Board under the Board of Peace was uncoordinated with Israel and inconsistent with its national policy. The Israeli foreign minister has been instructed to contact the U.S. secretary of state on the matter. Meanwhile, the formation of the Board of Peace began Saturday, with invitations extended to leaders from Egypt, Turkey, Argentina, and Canada.

Donald Trump has declared himself chairman of the board and presented an economic reconstruction plan for Gaza that has already sparked debate. The board also includes U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and senior advisers Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.

An Israeli military Yasur (Black Hawk) helicopter crashed in the occupied West Bank on Friday, January 16, 2026. According to the Israeli army, no casualties were reported in the incident. The helicopter had earlier made an emergency landing in an open area of the Etzion Brigade zone in the southern West Bank due to adverse weather conditions. It lost control and crashed while being removed from the site.

Israeli Air Force chief Tomer Bar has ordered the formation of a military investigation committee to determine the exact cause of the crash. The incident occurred as tensions in the West Bank have intensified since the start of the Gaza war. Local sources reported that since October 2023, more than 1,080 Palestinians have been killed, around 11,000 injured, and over 20,000 arrested during Israeli operations in the area.

The crash adds to the ongoing instability in the region, where military operations and humanitarian conditions have sharply deteriorated since the escalation of conflict in Gaza.

Israel has reportedly violated the Gaza ceasefire nearly 1,200 times since it was declared on October 10 last year. According to Gaza’s government media office, between October 10 and January 9, Israel breached the truce at least 1,193 times, with hundreds killed in the attacks. Out of 97 days of ceasefire up to January 14, Israel carried out assaults on 82 days, leaving only 15 days without reports of violence, deaths, or injuries. Despite the continued attacks, the United States maintains that the ceasefire remains in effect.

Meanwhile, discussions on the Gaza peace plan are moving into a second phase even though the first stage has not been fully implemented. U.S. President Donald Trump announced several members of the new Gaza Peace Board on Friday. The board will oversee interim governance in the war-torn territory. The seven-member founding executive board includes U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and World Bank President Ajay Banga, with Trump himself serving as chair. The board will eventually have 15 members.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu requested the United States not to carry out an attack on Iran at this time, according to a report by The New York Times. The report, citing a senior US official, said Netanyahu spoke with US President Donald Trump and asked him to delay any planned military action against Iran.

On Wednesday, President Trump said he had been assured that killings of anti-government protesters in Iran had stopped and that planned executions were suspended. He did not specify the source of this information but described it as coming from a highly important source.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported that after lengthy discussions at the military headquarters, Israel informed the US that while it would support any American decision, it did not currently want an attack. The report also noted that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Netanyahu for the third time in six days.