“Not only will such a government fail to fight our enemies, but it will also simply tear us apart from within. Our very existence is at stake,” he claimed.

Netanyahu accused the parties of supporting terrorism and undermining Israel's Jewish identity, while calling for a broad national government led by his Likud party and other Zionist parties.

He also alleged foreign interference in the October 27 election , claiming that foreign governments had attempted to influence the results through substantial financial contributions.

“There are grave suspicions of foreign state interference involving massive sums of money intended to sway the election results,” Netanyahu said.

He backed calls for an investigation by Israel's Shin Bet security agency, insisting that any suspected interference be thoroughly examined.

His remarks followed the certification of election results showing Netanyahu's bloc securing 53 seats, the opposition 48 and Arab-led parties 19 in the 120-member Knesset.

Neither major bloc reached the 61 seats required for a parliamentary majority, leaving the formation of Israel's next government uncertain.

President Isaac Herzog has begun consultations with party leaders and must select a candidate to form a government by November 11.

Israeli forces launched the operation after two Palestinian gunmen killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded three others at a military checkpoint near Hebron on 23 October. The Israeli military said the operation aimed to thwart terrorism in the city, while Palestinian media reported that troops withdrew from several neighbourhoods on Monday, allowing residents to begin returning.

“The money is Qatari money; the hands are the hands of Ahmad Tibi,” he said, accusing the senior Arab politician of involvement in the alleged fraud . Ben-Gvir also accused Qatar of attempting to influence Israel's political system through financial support.

However, Israel's Central Election s Committee rejected allegations of systematic voter fraud, saying its investigation would not change the election results.

Qatar dismissed the accusations as “ridiculous and dangerous in equal measure,” while Tibi denied wrongdoing and accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of attempting to discredit the vote.

The dispute follows Israel's October 27 election, which saw Netanyahu's governing bloc lose its parliamentary majority.

Final results released on Friday gave Netanyahu's bloc 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset, compared with 48 for the opposition alliance led by Gadi Eisenkot.

Arab-led parties secured a record 19 seats, nearly doubling their representation and potentially becoming decisive in coalition negotiations. With neither major bloc reaching the 61 seats required for a majority, Israel faces uncertainty over the formation of its next government .

Hundreds reportedly joined similar demonstrations in Jerusalem and Haifa, calling for political cooperation between Jewish and Arab parties to break the parliamentary deadlock.

The protests followed early election projections suggesting Arab-led parties could secure 17 seats in Israel's 120-member Knesset, potentially giving them a decisive role in forming the next government.

Partial results released on Wednesday showed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc projected to win 54 seats, compared with 49 for opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot's alliance.

With 84.5% of ballot boxes counted, neither bloc had secured the 61 seats required for a parliamentary majority.

Voter turnout reached 77.7%, reportedly the highest since 1999, in Israel's first general election since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks and the subsequent wars.

The inconclusive results have left Israel facing coalition negotiations as rival political blocs seek a path to forming the next government .

Early results showed Netanyahu's Likud party emerging as the largest single party with 27 seats, followed by Eisenkot's newly formed Yashar party with 21 seats.

However, both Netanyahu's coalition and Eisenkot's opposition alliance appeared to have secured just over 50 seats each, falling short of the 61 needed to control Israel's 120-seat Knesset.

Meanwhile, Arab-led parties recorded historically high voter turnout and were projected to win between 16 and 19 seats, potentially giving them a decisive role in determining the next government .

With no clear majority emerging, coalition negotiations are expected to begin as Israel faces uncertainty over its next leadership.

Protester Tzofnat Mor accused Netanyahu of failing Israel on security, diplomacy and social issues , urging voters to push for change.

“I think October 7th proved to all of us that he failed,” she said. Another protester, Eli Blair, declared that Netanyahu's era was over, saying Israelis wanted a fresh start.

Protesters also demanded a state commission of inquiry into the security failures surrounding October 7, accusing the government of avoiding accountability.

Netanyahu has opposed a judicially appointed inquiry, arguing it would be biased against his administration. Opposition parties have pledged to establish one if elected.

Israelis will vote on October 27 to elect a new 120-seat Knesset, with 61 seats required for a parliamentary majority.

The election will determine whether Netanyahu remains in power or opposition parties form a new government .

The protest came two days after Israeli soldiers shot dead Muadh Salama al-Baeer during a security operation in Jamla village, western Daraa.

Political activist Muawiya al-Zoubi said the demonstration aimed to defend Syria's territorial integrity and reject Israeli military activities.

“The aim of this gathering is to uphold the unity of Syrian territory and geography. It is a demonstration rejecting all violations, incursions and attacks by the Zionist occupation forces,” he said.

Journalist Ayham al-Bayoush stressed that the protests would remain peaceful until Israeli forces withdrew from Syrian territory.

Israel's military said soldiers opened fire after a man continued approaching them during the operation, adding that the incident was under review.

Syria's Foreign Ministry has condemned the growing Israeli military presence in Daraa and Quneitra, describing the incursions as violations of the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“We will evacuate the residents, we will go house by house, we will also remove the weapons there, and all terrorist infrastructure will be dealt with and destroyed,” he said.

The prime minister also announced a military cordon around Hebron and Halhul, warning that similar operations could be extended to other Palestinian cities.

He described the planned offensive as an exceptionally broad Israeli military operation in the West Bank, comparing its scale to operations during the 1967 Six-Day War .

Netanyahu also praised Israeli settlers and pledged to expand settlements alongside the military campaign.

“We are going to destroy terrorist infrastructure and we are going to build settlement infrastructure,” he declared, referring to more than 100 settlements being built or regularised.

The announcement followed a shooting on Route 35 near Hebron, where Israeli forces said they killed two Palestinian gunmen.

Israeli forces said they shot and killed both attackers at the scene.

Speaking after the incident, Ben-Gvir demanded the dissolution of the Palestinian Authority, arguing that its continued existence posed a security threat to Israel.

“We need to dismantle this thing called the Palestinian Authority. There cannot be a situation where we have a terror state inside Judea and Samaria,” he said, using the Israeli terminology for the West Bank.

Ben-Gvir also called for restrictions on roads shared by Israelis and Palestinians, arguing that Israeli security should take precedence over Palestinians' freedom of movement.

That earlier visit sparked controversy after Israel’s Central Elections Committee ordered Netanyahu to remove a video of the appearance from his personal social media accounts, ruling that it contained elements of election propaganda. US President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Netanyahu’s re-election bid on Sunday.

“I picked up the phone and called al-Sharaa. It was a very short, very sharp conversation, and the massacre stopped,” he said. Netanyahu also pledged to continue protecting Syria’s Druze minority and supporting the return of displaced residents to their homes.

The Israeli strikes followed deadly sectarian clashes in Syria’s Suwayda province, where government forces were accused of attacking civilians. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights , more than 2,000 people were killed, including 789 Druze civilians.

Israel maintained that its military intervention was intended to protect the Druze community, which has close religious and family ties with Druze citizens in Israel.

Netanyahu’s claim marks the first publicly reported direct conversation between the two leaders, despite Israel and Syria having no formal diplomatic relations. Syrian authorities have not commented on the alleged call.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the declaration on Wednesday as Colombia officially opened its embassy in Jerusalem, marking a new phase in diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The opening follows Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella's decision to restore ties with Israel after his predecessor, Gustavo Petro, severed relations in May 2024 over the war in Gaza .

Speaking at the inauguration, Netanyahu welcomed Colombia's decision and highlighted Jerusalem's importance to Israel.

"Thank you, Colombia, for this friendship, and I can say that there's no better place to celebrate it than in Jerusalem. Because it has been the pulsating heart of the Jewish people for three millennia. It's our past, it's our future, it's our hope, it's our faith," Netanyahu said.

The Israeli leader praised De la Espriella for changing Colombia's diplomatic approach and expressed interest in expanding cooperation in security, agriculture, water management and artificial intelligence .

"We want to seize the future together with security, with agriculture, with water, with AI, with everything, with everything. We want to make it grow- not only the crops, the people, the children- give hope," he continued.

Netanyahu also acknowledged that Israel's relations with several Latin American governments had weakened in recent years but said diplomatic engagement was improving.

"You have a beautiful country, beautiful people, and you deserve the future that now you will get. You have no better friend than Israel. We believe that we have no better friend than Colombia," he remarked.

Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula Escobar and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar attended the embassy inauguration.

With the opening, Colombia becomes the tenth country to establish an embassy in Jerusalem and the fourth Latin American nation to do so, joining Guatemala, Honduras and Paraguay.

The diplomatic development follows more than two years of strained relations between Israel and Colombia.

In May 2024, former President Petro cut diplomatic ties with Israel over its military campaign in Gaza, accusing the Israeli government of committing genocide against Palestinians. Israel rejected the allegation.

The decision disrupted a relationship dating back to 1957, when the two countries established diplomatic ties.

Since assuming office in August 2026, De la Espriella has moved to rebuild relations, revive a bilateral free trade agreement and strengthen cooperation in security, technology and investment.

His government has also recognised Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights, prompting criticism from the Palestinian Authority and Jordan.

The decision to open an embassy in Jerusalem remains controversial because of the city's disputed status. Most countries continue to maintain their diplomatic missions in Tel Aviv.

Media reports alleged that Kamel warned Israeli officials that Gaza could erupt into violence unless Israel changed its approach. Egyptian authorities have not publicly commented on the reported warning.

“I want to know who he met with. I want to know the truth,” Netanyahu said, rejecting suggestions that he had personally received the warning. The prime minister accused an unidentified individual of attempting to falsely link him to the meeting and called on security and law enforcement agencies to investigate.

The controversy has revived criticism of Netanyahu's government over its failure to prevent the October 7 attack, just two weeks before Israel's parliamentary elections .

During the interview, Netanyahu also addressed regional security, claiming that several Middle Eastern and Western countries regularly seek Israel's assistance despite publicly criticising its policies.

He further warned that Israel was prepared to deploy “massive force” against any potential Palestinian uprising in the occupied West Bank, saying the military had developed plans to respond.

The vigil, organised by anti-occupation group Israelis for Peace, honoured Israelis killed in the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, and Palestinians killed during Israel's subsequent military offensive in Gaza.

Some attendees welcomed Mamdani's presence, thanking him for his statements and actions. Tensions later escalated as protesters shook barricades and clashed with vigil participants, prompting police to separate the groups.

The confrontation comes amid a dispute between Mamdani and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Mamdani previously pledged to enforce an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Netanyahu but later acknowledged he lacked the legal authority to do so.

Netanyahu accused Mamdani of antisemitism and supporting Hamas during his September address to the UN General Assembly. Mamdani rejected the accusations, maintaining that his criticism targets Israeli government policies rather than Jewish people.

The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in November 2024 over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. The United States rejects the court's jurisdiction in the case.

Some attendees questioned the government's responsibility for the security failures surrounding the attacks. “I don't think the army or the police have the whole responsibility,” said Elad, who also expressed concern about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu potentially remaining in power after the upcoming election.

Avi Shamriz, whose son Alon escaped Hamas captivity but was mistakenly killed by Israeli soldiers in Gaza , called for unity beyond political divisions.

“There is no right, no left; there is only bereavement, and we want to respect everyone's families,” he said, praising his son Yonatan for organising the ceremony.

The memorial comes ahead of Israel's October 27 parliamentary election , with Netanyahu facing a challenge from former military chief Gadi Eisenkot.

About 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage in the October 7 attacks. Israel's subsequent military offensive in Gaza has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.

Musayev recalled the aircraft rapidly losing altitude during the incident. “Another five seconds and that was it. Because we lost 16,000 feet in half a minute,” he said.

Other passengers praised those who helped during the emergency. “We were truly saved... it was insane. True heroes,” one passenger said, pointing to Musayev as the doctor who treated and resuscitated the injured pilot.

Flight FZ1073, carrying around 150 people , most of them Israeli, had been scheduled to land at Ben-Gurion Airport before being diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia.

Flydubai later confirmed that an “altercation” had occurred on the flight deck. The airline said crew members travelling on the flight secured the aircraft and diverted it safely to Tabuk, adding that all passengers and crew were accounted for.

Saudi Arabia's aviation operator Cluster2 said the captain and co-pilot were hospitalised with injuries. Flydubai said the reasons and motives behind the incident remain under formal investigation.

Yasmin Abukasis, whose daughter was a passenger, said her daughter called her after the incident and told her that one pilot had allegedly attacked the other with a knife.

“She told me there were two pilots, and one of them tried to kill the other with a knife,” Abukasis said, adding that passengers heard shouting and calls for help.

According to Abukasis, a woman travelling with three young children approached the cockpit and saw blood before calling for help. She said several Israeli passengers then intervened and restrained the alleged attacker.

Trump said preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon had also reduced what he described as a wider threat to the Middle East, Europe and the United States .

"Iran will never have a nuclear weapon; that's a very big thing because if you want to see turmoil and a travesty, let them take out a city with a nuclear weapon," Trump said.

"There'd be no Middle East . And then the rockets and the bombs would start coming our way and Europe's way. And I stopped it," he added.

Trump's comments come as disagreements between Washington and Tehran continue over the Strait of Hormuz and the possibility of restarting talks.

On Saturday, Trump confirmed that the United States had rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume negotiations with Washington.

Tehran has maintained that its conditions must be met before the strategic waterway can be reopened.

“Every day, they try to murder our people, particularly in our historic homeland in Judea,” Netanyahu said. “There are thousands of attempts per year on families, peaceful families driving along the roads.”

His comments come amid international criticism of settler violence . According to UN figures cited in the supplied material, 23 Palestinians have been killed and more than 1,100 injured in settler attacks in the West Bank since the start of 2026. More than 1,600 attacks resulting in Palestinian casualties or property damage were recorded between January and August.

Several European countries have also announced measures targeting goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The UK additionally accused Israeli settlers of “ethnic cleansing”, a characterisation Israel rejected as “outrageous”, while responding with measures including an order to close the British consulate in East Jerusalem.

France , Canada and several other European countries have introduced similar measures on settlement goods, although critics have argued that the restrictions cover only a small proportion of Israeli exports.

Netanyahu had accused Turkey of spreading what he called antisemitic claims, hosting Hamas leaders and other actions, while describing Erdogan as a “tyrant”. Dozens of delegates left the General Assembly hall as Netanyahu began speaking on Thursday, amid growing international criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza .

Protester Naor Kapolnik called for broader political change beyond replacing Netanyahu, criticising the government's conduct during the war and the deaths in Gaza . Another demonstrator, Ori Harish, accused the government of refusing to take responsibility for its actions and failures.

Other protesters called for a state commission of inquiry into the October 7, 2023 attacks, equal burden-sharing and a constitution. Demands for such an inquiry have featured prominently in recent anti-government protests.

Some demonstrators also raised concerns about the integrity of the upcoming election, calling for the vote to remain fair, secret and free from interference.

In July, the Knesset approved in a first reading a separate proposal to establish a “state-national” commission to investigate the October 7 attacks and the circumstances surrounding them.

“We are facing a global attack against the State of Israel and the Israel Defense Forces,” Netanyahu said, arguing that accusations of war crimes against Israeli soldiers were “the most absurd thing imaginable.”

He also claimed Israel was the only country in the Middle East where the Christian community was flourishing and growing, while describing allegations that the country persecutes minorities as a “big lie.”

Netanyahu said the ceremony itself challenged those claims, adding that Christians in Israel were not only protected by the state but also served in its defence forces.

His remarks come after incidents involving Israeli soldiers and Christian statues in the predominantly Christian village of Debel in southern Lebanon. In one incident in April, a soldier was documented striking a statue of Jesus, while another filmed the act. Both were subsequently punished by the Israeli military .

Trump had earlier pointed to "a little activity" at Pickaxe Mountain, a fortified site near Iran's damaged Natanz uranium enrichment facility, and threatened further US strikes if it continued.

Satellite imagery analysed by the Center for Strategic and International Studies shows increased construction at the site. Researchers, however, said the images could not confirm reports that centrifuges had been moved there and assessed that the facility did not yet appear capable of enriching uranium.

Iran is also reportedly rebuilding military capabilities damaged by US and Israeli strikes, including assembling ballistic missiles at underground facilities, although production remains below previous levels.

Netanyahu said Israel was continuing operations against what he called the "Iranian axis" in Gaza and Lebanon.

Footage released by the IDF shows operations conducted in "recent months", with troops crossing the Litani River and advancing towards Beaufort Castle and Ali al-Taher. Soldiers are also seen entering underground routes, seizing weapons and striking tunnel shafts.

Israeli forces had earlier seized Beaufort Castle, giving them control of another position overlooking the Litani River and surrounding areas.

According to the Israeli military, the underground network housed Hezbollah's "Badr" Unit and contained weapons and " living quarters" that allowed fighters to remain underground for "extended periods".

Israeli officials said more than 1,100 tonnes of explosives were used to destroy the complex, claiming the operation removed a strategic threat to northern Israel.

Lebanese media earlier reported a "massive explosion" and powerful tremors in the area on Thursday. The US Geological Survey recorded a magnitude 4.1 seismic event in southern Lebanon around the time of the demolition.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz described the tunnels as "strategic terrorist infrastructure that was built over two decades, with Iranian funding and planning".

Hezbollah has not independently confirmed the loss, and the Israeli claims could not be independently verified.

The Ali al-Taher Ridge is roughly 600 metres high, overlooks Nabatieh and sits about 15 kilometres from the Israeli border. The area has become a key battleground since Israeli forces pushed deeper into southern Lebanon earlier this year.

Fighting has continued despite a US-brokered ceasefire reached in June. A wider framework calls for Hezbollah to disarm and Israeli forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon. The process has stalled, with Hezbollah refusing to give up its weapons and Israel saying it will not withdraw until the group is disarmed.

Military vehicles were seen travelling through Wadi al-Raqad before advancing into residential areas of Jamla in the Yarmouk Basin. Israeli personnel were also seen stopping passers-by as armed forces remained deployed in the area.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said three Israeli military vehicles entered the village before later withdrawing.

"An Israeli military force consisting of three vehicles, including two armoured personnel carriers, infiltrated the village of Jamla within the Yarmouk Basin area in the western countryside of Daraa, and deployed around it for a period of time, with no information reported about clashes or injuries resulting from the incursion, before later withdrawing toward the occupied territories in the Golan," the organisation reported.

The Israeli military had not commented on the incursion by the time of publication.

The movement came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Israeli forces deployed on Mount Hermon in southern Syria. He was accompanied by Defence Minister Yisrael Katz and IDF Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Tamir Yadai.

During the visit, Netanyahu said Israel controlled the area stretching from the summit of Mount Hermon to the Yarmouk River and west towards the Mediterranean Sea. He also said Israel would not allow any "terrorist army" to establish itself along its borders.

Syria's Foreign Ministry condemned Netanyahu and Katz's visit to sites held by Israeli forces on Mount Hermon inside Syrian territory, describing it as "provocative and a blatant violation" of Syria's sovereignty, territorial integrity and international law.

Netanyahu previously visited Israeli forces inside Syria in December 2024, shortly after Israel took control of the buffer zone, and again in November 2025.

Netanyahu said Israel's strategy had been to confront Iran directly while weakening its regional allies. "My intention was that ultimately we would clash with Iran, with the head of the octopus, and we would sever the arms, clear them out, strike this axis of evil, and we did so very forcefully," he said.

His comments came as the United States and Iran engaged in their largest exchange of fire since July. US forces struck targets along Iran's southern coast on Tuesday, while Tehran launched missiles and drones at American positions across the region.

Israel has not joined the latest exchange, although Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israeli forces were prepared to strike Iran if Israel came under attack.

Gofman took over as Mossad director on June 2 after previously serving as Netanyahu's military secretary. At his inauguration, Netanyahu said helping bring down Iran's government was part of Gofman's mission.

Netanyahu also addressed Israel's operations in Gaza , claiming the country now controls more than 60 per cent of the territory. He said Israel would continue pursuing what he described as "dismantling, demilitarisation, evacuation in places where needed" to prevent Gaza from again becoming a threat to Israel.

Katz said the continued Israeli military presence would be intended to protect communities in Israel’s western Negev region. His comments come as Israel maintains that any lasting settlement in Gaza must include Hamas’s disarmament and the territory’s demilitarisation, while Hamas has tied the surrender of its weapons to the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Speaking in Jerusalem on Wednesday, Netanyahu said Israel would continue to defend itself against Iran and insisted the country would face no future threat from Tehran.

“This is our land and it will remain ours forever. There is, of course, a very major struggle around us to uproot us not only from the heart of our land, but to uproot us altogether from the State of Israel,” he said. “There will be no threat from Iran.”

Netanyahu said he had discussed three possible approaches to Iran with US President Donald Trump : a deal, military action or tougher sanctions.

He expressed doubt that an agreement with Tehran could be reached.

“A good deal, we have no objection. I am doubtful, with this bunch over there, with these savages. Can a deal be made? I'm telling you. It's impossible to make a deal with them,” he said.

Netanyahu then addressed the possibility of further military action, referring to what US officials have described as a “kinetic option”.

“A second option is an option. What do they call it? These sanitized words? A kinetic option. Have you heard these words? A kinetic option, in short, military action. I told him we are there, we will defend ourselves,” he said.

“We won't let Iran attack us, and if God forbid they attack us, or if they attack us, they will suffer a blow they never dreamed of, much stronger than what they have suffered until now. Much stronger. And I said there is also a third option. And the third option. To tighten the siege.”

Netanyahu said Trump's latest secondary economic sanctions were aimed at “tightening the siege on those who help this regime”.

The United States announced earlier this week that it was “tightening the noose” on countries and businesses dealing with Iran.

Reports earlier this week suggested Washington was returning diplomats across the Middle East as the Trump administration appeared to move away from further military action and turn its attention towards the November midterm elections.

Netanyahu has faced criticism over claims that he “bounced” Trump into the latest conflict with Iran, an allegation denied by both Israel and the United States.

Speaking on Wednesday, Netanyahu pointed to the number of communities and farming outposts established under his government and said further expansion was planned.

“This is our land, and there is none other,” Netanyahu said. “You are preparing the ground for a very large immigration that will come.”

“One cannot ignore the numbers. One hundred and four communities that we established and arranged together, and 160 farms. And more is yet to come,” he continued.

His remarks come as Israel moves to expand and formalise settlements and farming outposts across the occupied West Bank.

Israel’s security cabinet approved plans in July for 13 new communities in the Binyamin region. Local officials said work on the first sites was already underway.

Israeli officials commonly refer to the West Bank by the biblical names Judea and Samaria, while rejecting international legal positions concerning the territory and Israeli settlements there.

In a 2024 advisory opinion, the International Court of Justice said Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem were being maintained in violation of international law. The court also called on Israel to halt new settlement activity.

Protester Buchner Azriel accused the state of seeking the "cultural annihilation" of the Haredi community by pushing its members into the military and workforce .

"The army has been defined as a melting pot, after all. For us, it is regarded as a church, and, as you know, it is better to die than to enter a church," Azriel said.

Another protester, Yehezkel Rotman, said the demonstration followed the detention of a yeshiva student who had been taken to military prison two days earlier.

"As long as the state tries to conscript the Haredi community, does not leave them alone, and arrests them, the Haredi public will not enlist," Rotman said.

Israel's Supreme Court ruled in June 2024 that the state must begin drafting ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students, finding there was no legal basis for their sweeping exemption from military service.

He stressed that disarmament must cover "heavy weapons, less heavy weapons and light weapons," describing the demand as a "real disarmament and not a fictitious disarmament."

The roadmap, drawn up by the US-led Board of Peace, proposes a phased process under which Hamas and other Palestinian factions would relinquish control of Gaza's government and security apparatus. Civil administration would pass to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, while disarmament would be linked to a phased Israeli withdrawal.

The two sides remain divided over the sequence of the process. Netanyahu wants Hamas fully disarmed before Israeli troops withdraw, while Hamas has called for Israeli strikes to stop and forces to begin pulling back as disarmament gets underway.

Netanyahu also reiterated his opposition to Palestinian statehood. "As long as I am Prime Minister, a Palestinian state will not be established, not in Gaza and not in Judea and Samaria," he said.

Israeli strikes have continued across Gaza despite the ceasefire, with much of the territory devastated and most of its population still displaced.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Ankara alongside Syrian Transitional Government Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, Fidan said Israel was delaying progress on the US-brokered agreement because it did not want to enter a process that would eventually require its withdrawal from the Palestinian territories.

Last week, US President Donald Trump announced that the Peace Council had reached an agreement on the disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza. He said the plan would be implemented in phases, including an Israeli withdrawal and the transfer of security responsibilities in the territory to an international stabilisation force working alongside a new Palestinian police force.

Turning to Syria, Fidan described Israeli military operations as a major threat to regional stability.

He called on the international community to respond to what he described as "Israel's occupation-oriented policies" and urged greater pressure to ensure compliance with the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement and respect for Syria's sovereignty.

Since Syria's transitional government took power in Damascus in December 2024, Israel has expanded its military presence in southern Syria, deployed forces into the buffer zone and carried out extensive air and naval strikes targeting Syrian military assets, saying the operations are intended to prevent weapons from falling into the hands of hostile groups.

He argued that both communities were facing growing attacks.

"It's under attack from the rising tide of anti-Semitism and anti-evangelicalism. It's no accident that the two are coming under joint attack because we are one," he said.

According to the Prime Minister's Office, the evangelical leaders thanked Netanyahu for Israel's actions during the conflict with Iran .

"When you're faced with an attack, what do you do? Attack back," Netanyahu said, adding, "It's now time to fight, fight, fight."

Evangelical Christian groups have long been among Israel's strongest supporters in the United States , and Netanyahu has regularly met with their leaders during visits to Washington.

"Last week, Mayor Mamdani accused our prime minister of being a war criminal and accused our nation of committing genocide. Hours later, a Jewish man walked out of his synagogue... He was stabbed by a radical who yelled 'Allahu Akbar'," Danon said.

Police said two men, one Jewish and one Asian, were attacked in separate incidents and are expected to survive. Authorities have not established any connection between the attacks and Mamdani's remarks.

Addressing the Security Council's quarterly debate on the Middle East , Danon also accused Hamas of obstructing peace and criticised the UN for failing to hold the group accountable.

Palestine's UN envoy, Riyad Mansour, meanwhile, accused Netanyahu's government of exploiting the Gaza conflict for political gain and urged stronger international action to end the bloodshed.

Trump also renewed his criticism of the nuclear agreement negotiated under former President Barack Obama, describing it as "a road to a nuclear weapon."

He credited recent US military strikes, including B-2 bomber missions targeting what he described as Iranian nuclear infrastructure, with preventing Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon.

"If that didn't happen, they would have had a nuclear weapon and there would be no Israel," Trump said, referring to the strikes. The US president further claimed that his administration's actions had prevented a wider regional catastrophe.

"If I wasn't here, if I wasn't president, there would be no Israel and there probably would be no Middle East ," he said, adding that he believed Iran would have used a nuclear weapon if it had obtained one.

Several protesters voiced strong accusations against the foreign missions. One demonstrator claimed that those involved in the rescue efforts were not genuine humanitarian actors but part of a broader agenda tied to geopolitical interests.

The final session on Friday ended with applause from lawmakers as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz looked on before parliament formally closed ahead of national elections .

Coalition Whip Ofir Katz praised lawmakers for completing the full term and highlighted the work carried out during the past four years.

"We are completing a four-year term. We passed nine budgets, hundreds of laws. I thank you for the trust you placed in me, that together we managed to hold a four-year term. We did this together with the whole group, with all the members here, and this is only one part. God willing, for another four years of you continuing to lead the State of Israel," Katz told the Knesset.

The final sitting followed a week of marathon parliamentary sessions in which lawmakers approved several controversial bills as Netanyahu pushed through key elements of his legislative agenda.

The dissolution of the 25th Knesset officially launches Israel's election period, with voters set to elect members of the 26th Knesset on October 27.

Under Israeli law, the newly elected parliament is expected to convene about two weeks after the vote, when lawmakers will begin forming a new government .

The completion of the four-year term ends more than a decade of repeated early elections and short-lived governments, making the 25th Knesset the first Israeli parliament in nearly four decades to serve its full mandate.

The heated exchanges unfolded in the Knesset as lawmakers debated the coalition-backed bill, with opposition members shouting "Shame!" and "Leave!" as Netanyahu entered the chamber ahead of the final readings.

The proposed legislation temporarily freezes the enlistment of Haredi draft evaders for several months by suspending their arrest and prosecution.

The measure has drawn strong criticism from the Israel Defence Forces, defence officials and opposition parties, who have opposed the temporary protections.

As debate intensified, Netanyahu left the chamber before the final vote and did not take part in the ballot.

Despite several defections from within the governing coalition, the legislation was approved by a narrow 58-54 vote.

The confrontation highlighted growing political divisions over military conscription, an issue that has become one of Israel's most contentious domestic debates.

After the strike, people returned to inspect the damage, including a large crater at the impact site.

“Our neighbours had a blacksmith workshop, and it was hit. They [IDF] told us to evacuate the area. So, we evacuated our children before they hit the area. You can see the destruction,” eyewitness Wael Manasra said.

Palestinian media reported that four people were killed and others were injured after the strike hit a blacksmith workshop on Al-Sina'a Street in southwestern Gaza City.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it had targeted a “weapons production site,” alleging that Hamas operatives were using the location to manufacture weapon components.

“In a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement, Hamas operatives operated from a weapons production site to produce weapon components in an attempt to rehabilitate the organisation's military capabilities,” the IDF said in a statement.

The military added that “steps were taken to mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions and aerial surveillance.”

The war in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, after Hamas-led attacks killed 1,139 people, mostly Israeli civilians, and more than 200 people were taken hostage.

According to Gaza's Health Ministry, Israel's military campaign has killed 73,223 Palestinians and injured 173,654 others since the conflict began.

In January, US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff announced the second phase of President Donald Trump's 20-point Gaza plan, aimed at moving from a ceasefire toward demilitarisation, technocratic governance and reconstruction.

The video, widely shared online, shows a uniformed officer approaching the vehicle before tossing an object inside. Moments later, two people are seen jumping out as a gas canister detonates.

The authenticity, date and location of the footage could not be independently verified.

Palestinian media reported that the incident took place during an Israeli raid on the Qalandia refugee camp, north of Jerusalem, on Sunday.

Israeli media reported that the officer seen in the video was detained. According to the newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth , Israeli police launched an investigation into the incident.

Police told the newspaper that the officer's actions "were not in line with approved procedures and instructions."

The raid also reportedly left casualties. Palestinian media said a 16-year-old boy died after being shot by Israeli forces during the operation, while two other children were reportedly wounded in the lower limbs.

Violence has continued across the occupied West Bank since October 7. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, more than 759 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers during that period. Official Israeli figures say more than 26 Israelis have been killed in attacks carried out by Palestinians in the West Bank over the same timeframe.

"We are breaking the Iranian terror axis here, but we are also breaking the Iranian political axis. We managed to reach these understandings for a simple reason: because we hit Hezbollah hard. Hezbollah, which relied on assistance from Iran, did not receive that assistance because we hit Iran hard," he said.

The agreement, signed in Washington after five rounds of direct talks, outlines a phased process under which the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) will assume control of designated areas in southern Lebanon, replacing Hezbollah as Israeli troops withdraw in stages.

Netanyahu said Israel was not a party to the separate negotiations between the United States and Iran but stressed that Israeli security interests would remain a priority.

"From the start, we said we were not a party to the agreement between the United States and Iran, but that does not mean we do not have interests. We have interests, and we will make them clear. On the main issue, which is the nuclear issue, I intend to send a delegation to Washington to present Israel's interests. I insist on Israel's interests at our border. We will not leave the security zone," he said.

The deal places significant responsibility on the Lebanese government, which is expected to deploy additional troops to the south, dismantle Hezbollah's military infrastructure and prevent the group's return. The United States has pledged continued military assistance to the LAF.

“The agreement signed yesterday between the United States , Israel and Lebanon is a historic event and an important diplomatic and security achievement for the State of Israel,” Katz said.

He stated that Israel would maintain its military positions in southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is fully disarmed and security is guaranteed for communities in northern Israel.

“The key principle established by the agreement is that there will be no Israeli redeployment in southern Lebanon, no withdrawal whatsoever, for as long as the Hezbollah terrorist organisation has not been disarmed throughout Lebanon and the security of northern residents is guaranteed,” he said.

Katz also described the agreement as a setback for Iran , accusing Tehran of attempting to pressure both Israel and the United States into securing an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

“Iran attempted to force Israel to withdraw from Lebanon through threats and pressure on the United States, and it failed. Lebanon's future will not be dictated by Iran and Hezbollah,” he said.

He warned that Israel would respond militarily if Iran sought to prevent the agreement from being implemented.

“Should Iran attempt to attack Israel in order to prevent the implementation of the agreement, we will respond with overwhelming force,” Katz added.

The agreement was signed in Washington on Friday and is intended to stabilise the Israel-Lebanon border following months of hostilities. Under the framework, Hezbollah is expected to be disarmed throughout Lebanon, while Israel says it will retain its security zone in southern Lebanon until those commitments are fulfilled and the safety of northern Israeli communities is assured.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem rejected the US-brokered agreement after it was announced, describing the 14-point proposal as “humiliating” and accusing the Lebanese government of “destroying” the country.

“Iran is trying to force us to withdraw by force from southern Lebanon, and basically Israel, Lebanon, and the United States are telling them, ‘It is none of your business .’ You have no role in Lebanon, neither you, nor Hezbollah, nor any terrorist organisation,” he said.

Netanyahu said the 14-point framework allows Israeli troops to remain in southern Lebanon for as long as Hezbollah remains armed and continues to pose a threat to Israel.

“We have been conducting negotiations in Washington between representatives of Israel, Lebanon, and the United States, a prolonged negotiation, and today it has borne fruit. The most important thing is, first of all, that Israel remains in the security zone in southern Lebanon. This is a great achievement,” he added.

Under the framework, the Lebanese Armed Forces are expected to “restore effective sovereignty over all Lebanese territory,” while non-state armed groups would be disarmed and their military infrastructure dismantled.

Netanyahu said the agreement would allow the Lebanese army to begin organising its deployment in selected areas.

“We are allowing the Lebanese army to begin organising to take up territory. We are establishing two pilot areas, both recommended by the IDF; one is completely outside the security zone and south of the Litani, and the other is north of the Litani,” he said.

The agreement was signed at the US State Department in Washington on Friday, following four days of talks mediated by the Trump administration. As part of the agreement, Washington pledged $100 million in humanitarian assistance, as well as more than $30 million in support for the Lebanese Armed Forces, Viory reports.

Police were deployed at several locations as officers tried to keep protesters and residents apart during a series of tense exchanges.

Local resident Johnny Velligora said the community had gathered to prevent a repeat of previous disturbances.

"These ultra-Orthodox protest s inside our neighbourhood are causing major disruption […] During the previous protest, demonstrators entered our homes, urinated inside them and left a huge mess," he claimed.

Velligora said residents supported the right to protest but opposed the way previous demonstrations had unfolded.

"If you want to protest, you have every right to do so. But at least do it in a legitimate and orderly way, instead of rioting, overturning trash bins, and getting into fights," he added.

Kfar Yona Mayor Albert Taieb said the municipality was coordinating with police to stop vehicles carrying demonstrators from entering the town.

"We expect to stop the thousands of [Haredi] vehicles arriving from across the country […] We will not allow that to happen under any circumstances," he noted.

"We are waiting. They are still gathering and have not yet arrived. I sincerely hope the police will keep their promise and prevent them from entering," Taieb continued.

For many ultra-Orthodox protesters, the demonstrations reflect growing opposition to compulsory military service and the arrests of men accused of avoiding the draft.

"I have several sons who, under current law, are classified as draft evaders, and every day we live in fear that they will come to arrest them. Their only 'offence' is that they live according to their faith," Yigal Wertheimer said.

Military service for ultra-Orthodox Jews has become one of Israel's most divisive domestic issues. Long-standing exemptions for many Haredi men have come under increasing pressure since Israel's Supreme Court ruled on June 25, 2024, that the state must begin drafting ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students, while the military continues to face personnel shortages during the Gaza war.

Speaking on Monday, Netanyahu said Israel acted without seeking approval from its allies and maintained that military action prevented Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

"I did not ask for permission; I simply informed him [Trump] of our plans. And I was pleased that he also joined toward the end, which was very important [...] We will not sit and watch while Iran comes and destroys our cities, destroys our citizens, and thousands—if not tens of thousands—die," said Netanyahu.

The Israeli leader said stopping Iran's nuclear programme remained the government's top security objective.

"As long as I am prime minister, Iran will not have nuclear weapons. And another thing: as long as I am prime minister, we will maintain the security zone south of Lebanon for as long as necessary to safeguard the security of Israel's north," he added.

Netanyahu also argued that Israel's operations had weakened Iran's military capabilities.

"The greatest achievement is that if we had not acted when we did, and if we had not struck them forcefully, Iran would already have had nuclear bombs intended for our destruction. We pushed that threat away," he argued.

On defence policy , Netanyahu announced plans to increase Israel's defence spending by 350 billion shekels over the next decade, saying the investment would strengthen domestic weapons production while preserving international partnerships.

"I want the State of Israel to be independent. Because I want an independent domestic defence industry, as self-sufficient as possible," he said.

"We will also expand our alliances. We will preserve our existing alliances and broaden them, but first and foremost, we must be self-reliant," Netanyahu stated.

The remarks come as diplomatic efforts continue alongside military tensions. High-level talks between the United States and Iran were held in Burgenstock, Switzerland, on June 21, with Pakistan and Qatar acting as mediators to discuss implementation of the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran.

Lebanon and Israel also began a new round of direct talks in Washington on Tuesday, despite Iran's efforts to include Lebanon in its agreement with the United States.

Among the speakers was former Israeli Air Force fighter pilot and technology entrepreneur Jacob "Kobi" Richter, who delivered a scathing criticism of the prime minister's leadership.

Richter accused Netanyahu of leading Israel through "a thousand days of fighting, fraught with cost and dead, with absolute failure at their end."

"Your decisive contribution to the country you were elected to lead amounts to the incitement in Zion Square and the Ra'anana intersection," Richter said. "The October 7 massacre. Abandoning the hostages and returning their bodies instead of their living bodies. The abandonment and liquidation of the north of the country."

He also accused the government of neglecting Arab communities and weakening public institutions. "Abandoning the Arab society , a fifth of your citizens, to murderous crime. The destruction of the public sector and the appointment of your ass-kissers instead of professionals," Richter continued.

He further criticised the recent US-Iran agreement, claiming it had undermined Israel's position internationally.

"The US-Iran agreement that threw you and us with you under the wheels of the bus. Turning Israel into a leper in the eyes of the enlightened nations," he said.

Similar anti-government demonstrations were reported in other Israeli cities, including Jerusalem. The protests come as Israel moves closer to a national election, with the next Knesset vote currently required to be held no later than October 27.

"Why did you not come to see the evidence yourself? Were you afraid the facts would not match the conclusion?" Danon said. "You caved. You caved to the pressure. You caved to the Secretary General's obsession with targeting Israel."

His remarks were interrupted by Vanessa Frazier, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, who objected to what she described as a personal attack.

"This should not be personal. I have a point of order," Frazier said. Danon responded by telling her to remain silent. "No, you will be quiet because I'm speaking now," he said, before demanding that she leave the session. Frazier refused.

"I will not walk out. We have verified evidence," she replied, accusing Danon of making "personal attacks." "You work for the UN, and you will respect the rules of the UN. We are a member state, and you work for the UN, and you will be quiet now...If you don't want to listen, go out," he retorted.

The confrontation followed the publication of a UN report on conflict-related sexual violence that added Israeli armed and security forces to a UN monitoring list over allegations involving Palestinian detainees.

Others criticised the reliability of the agreement and the US position, suggesting shifting policies could undermine trust. The memorandum of understanding, signed by Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, reportedly includes a 60-day ceasefire framework, steps to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and further negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme and regional security, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has resisted calls for withdrawal from Lebanon.

"I have been censored even on social media. The owners of social media platforms have put in place an algorithm so that if my face appears or if my voice appears, it is not distributed and does not reach a larger audience," he said.

The Colombian leader linked the alleged censorship to his outspoken criticism of Israel's military campaign in Gaza, arguing that those opposing what he described as genocide were increasingly being silenced.

“Simply because I opposed a friend of theirs, the genocidal maniac who killed 20,000 babies in Gaza,” Petro said, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Petro warned that the issue extended beyond Colombia, claiming that growing control over digital platforms by private technology companies posed a broader threat to democracy .

“When the private owners of artificial intelligence , and therefore of social media platforms, come together to censor someone who has opposed a genocide, we may be heading toward fascism once again, but this time on a global scale,” he stated.

The president also drew parallels between violence in Colombia and the conflict in Gaza, while criticising what he described as rising racism around the world .

Speakers at the event linked the situation to broader geopolitical tensions, while highlighting India’s historical ties with Iran. The gathering comes amid ongoing regional conflict and heightened tensions involving Iran and its allies.