[62807] News Summary: Hamas assassination, US-Israeli preparations against Iran and Israeli achievement at Eurovision 2026

Security and Middle East

• Assassination of senior Hamas official and complaint in The Hague: The commander of Hamas's military wing, Izz al-Din al-Haddad, was assassinated in Gaza City. At the same time, a Gazan citizen filed a historic complaint at the tribunal in The Hague against 14 senior Hamas officials, including Khaled Mashal, for war crimes and using civilians as human shields.


• Preparations for an attack in Iran: The "New York Times" reports on intensive preparations by the US and Israel for the renewal of attacks in Iran. At the same time, Iran is facing a severe fuel crisis, an Iranian cyber breach was directed against fuel infrastructure in the US, and the Revolutionary Guards announced the seizure of an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz.


• Escalation in Lebanon: The IDF launched a widespread wave of strikes against Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon (in the Sidon and Nabatieh area) after the organization violated the ceasefire. At the same time, a large number of false alarms regarding aircraft infiltration were recorded in the north during the day.


• Thwarting international terrorism: Muhammad Baqir al-Saadi, a senior official in the Iraqi 'Kata'ib Hezbollah' who was close to Qasem Soleimani, was arrested in Turkey and extradited to the US for planning attacks against Jewish and American targets.

Politics, Society and Military in Israel

• Eurovision 2026: The Israeli representative, Noam, reached seventh place in the final held in Vienna and won praise. The achievement was accompanied by stormy pro-Palestinian protests outside the hall and incidents of booing by journalists, but received full and sympathetic backing from government ministers in Israel.


• Changes in Hadash leadership: After 11 years in office, Ayman Odeh is ending his role as chairman of the Hadash party and is being replaced by Dr. Yousef Jabareen. Aida Touma-Sliman is also leaving the Knesset.


• Storms and initiatives in the IDF: A Nahal combat soldier was sentenced to 30 days in military prison for wearing a "Messiah patch", which sparked outrage and calls for a protest demonstration by the families of the fighters. On the other hand, new initiatives were recorded (such as "Issachar and Zebulun" and the "Metivta" yeshiva tracks) for integrating Haredim into technological units while maintaining Torah study.


• Mourning in Samaria: It was cleared for publication that Maj. Maoz Recanati from the settlement of Itamar fell in battle, only about a month before his wedding.

World News

• Terrorism and protests in Europe: 12 people were injured in a brutal ramming and stabbing attack in the city of Modena in Italy. In London, a massive demonstration by right-wing organizations took place against Prime Minister Keir Starmer, while in Paris protest activists raised a Palestinian flag on the Eiffel Tower.


• Diplomatic-military arena: Russian President Putin is expected to visit China and meet with Xi Jinping, a few days after a meeting with President Trump. In the US, the aircraft carrier "Gerald Ford" returned to its home port in Virginia after an unusual 326-day deployment in the Middle East.


• Disasters in the world: 8 dead and 25 injured in a fatal train and bus accident near the airport in Bangkok, Thailand.

Technology, Sports and Weather

• Innovation on land: The Chinese company BYD unveiled advanced vehicles with extreme off-road capabilities including movement in water and driving on three wheels. In the military arena, the companies Rafael and Diehl Defence successfully completed for the first time a firing test of a Spike LR missile from an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV).


• Sports: Manchester City won the FA Cup with a 1:0 victory over Chelsea (goal by Antoine Semenyo). In Israel, the champion Maccabi Haifa finished in a disappointing 1:1 draw with Hapoel Petah Tikva.


• Weather and events: A volatile week in Israel - a heatwave on Sunday that will end with a sharp drop in temperatures, with a possibility of rain on Thursday. In the local consumer sector, KKL approved a massive investment of 273 million NIS in northern settlements, and the Israel Electric Corporation offered a unique campaign to write off debt interest for customers.