Herkin's family has not authorized the video's release. Herkin was born in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region in Ukraine, and Russia has taken an active part in attempting to secure his release

Prominent activist Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is being held hostage in Gaza, criticized Netanyahu's planned escalation of Israel's offensive in Gaza for risking the lives of the hostages: 'It's unbelievable and unforgivable'

Sources told the Washington Post that National Security Adviser Mike Waltz 'engaged in intense coordination with Netanyahu about military options against Iran' before a meeting between the Israeli PM and Trump

Syrian media reported that IDF soldiers landed in a Druze city in Syria to deliver food to its residents. Netanyahu described one strike in Damascus as a 'clear message' to the Syrian regime against moving forces south of Damascus and threatening the Druze community

Old videos, misleading maps and political rhetoric turned a natural disaster into a national scapegoating campaign. 'Many people saw the lie,' one expert says. 'Fewer saw the correction'

The Israeli army said the demolitions are required to ensure troops' freedom of movement in counter-terror operations. UNRWA called the move 'collective punishment,' which follows other demolitions over previous months

Israel was given its lowest ever ranking in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, attributed to political influence, government sanctions of Haaretz, and suppression of news from and about Gaza

U.S. elections for delegates to the 'parliament of the Jewish people' end Sunday. Final results may take weeks or even months to be released due to claims of voter fraud and campaign violations

In a more reasonable world, Doron Steinbrecher would be focusing on her recovery after 471 days in Hamas captivity. But since her release, she's been doing everything she can to help bring back those left behind

How did a woman who grew up in a right-wing, religious home in Jerusalem become the spearhead of an anti-government, anti-Netanyahu protest movement that has swept up tens of thousands of supporters and whose activism even extends overseas?

This week at Ben-Gurion Airport: A free-spirited Russian dancer and deejay who moved to Israel for the good life, and a vice president of sales who learned to be alone in his 60s

ISRAEL: Hostage families call on government to halt Gaza war plans, fearing for well-being of hostages and soldiers ■ GAZA: Two killed in Israeli strike on Gaza City, Hamas say ■ SYRIA: IDF planes deliver humanitarian aid to Druze residents of souther Syria ■ YEMEN: Houthis claim responsibility for second missile launch towards Israel

Police said they raided the wedding on suspicion of storing weapons – claiming they came under fire and stone-throwing – though no such incidents appear in their footage, and no weapons were said to be found

At the Madison Square Garden Trump rally, council appointee Sid Rosenberg joked about its echoes of a 1939 pro-Nazi event at the venue. He and others will replace Doug Emhoff and several Biden officials Trump abruptly removed this week

The police were told three times throughout the day about far-right plans to disrupt the Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Day event at a Reform synagogue in central Israel – but claimed they were busy elsewhere

The likely target of last week's IDF strike in Gaza City was a Hamas Finance Ministry employee. He and his five daughters were killed. 'Everyone was gone – my brother and his kids, my sister and hers, my husband and our children,' his wife said

The Israel Police banned Palestinian flags and capped participants – a sharp break from past norms, as such measures were never deemed necessary since 1998. With a new, ultranationalist sheriff in town, the remnants of Israel's democratic space for Arabs are rapidly shrinking

Lebanon's top military body warned Hamas after several Lebanese and Palestinians were detained for firing rockets into northern Israel. 'Hamas and other factions will not be allowed to endanger national stability,' the defense council said

Germany's spy agency labeled the far-right AfD 'incompatible with the free democratic basic order,' enabling surveillance. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Germany to reverse course, saying the party is not extreme

Gil Dickman's cousin Carmel Gat was murdered in Gaza captivity. Despite her body being returned to Israel, he fights for the return of all hostages and slams the gov't for continuing a 'hopeless war, with no direction and no goal'

Israel is again preparing to mobilize reservists, is threatening to expand its operations in Gaza, and is considering what could be interpreted as a deliberate escalation against the new regime in Syria to help the Druze

As talks enter a complex phase focused on key technical issues, an ironic twist emerges: Saudi Arabia – once a key player in any regional defense against Iran – may now be the very nation pushing to prevent an attack on it

Sergeant Niv Dayag, 19, was killed on Thursday in the Golan Heights ■ Dayag is the 851st fallen soldier since the October 7 attacks

Ali al-Samoudi, 58, who works for the Al-Quds paper and who witnessed the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in 2022, was detained at his home earlier this week by the Israeli army

The election for the World Zionist Congress is real and the stakes are higher than ever. For those of us committed to democracy, justice and pluralism: vote with clarity

IDF soldiers in an ambush rained fire down on a trio of 14-year-old Palestinian Americans who may have been throwing stones, but harmlessly. Two escaped, wounded; the third was killed after being sprayed with bullets

The IDF strike took place hours after protests erupted in Israel's Druze community, calling on the government to intervene in Syria

When the Jerusalem-area wildfires were first spreading, sewage was already spewing from the Israeli prime minister's poison machine against the Shin Bet, the air force and other easy targets ■ Yair Golan has a vision for winning the next vote: a liberal-democratic bloc that could include right-wing parties

Most Israeli authorities did not take any preparatory measures ahead of the fire, leaving them to scramble for solutions when the flames ignited ■ The fires capped off a bad week for the Netanyahu government, which included a right-wing mob storming a reform synagogue

ISRAEL: Soldier killed in car crash in Golan Heights; Druze protesters block roads, call for intervention in Syria ■ GAZA: Flotilla heading to Gaza reportedly sinking after drone strike near Malta ■ SYRIA: Israel hits targets near Damascus' presidential palace after attacks on Druze minority ■ YEMEN: Houthis claim responsibility for second missile launch towards Israel

When the leadership incites, it's the finest hour of human ugliness. The state that has just marked its 77th year has gone insane

Waltz is set to be the first major firing under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, which has sought to convey stability compared to the first administration, which was defined by infighting and turmoil

For a decade, U.S. audiences seemed ravenous for programming about ultra-Orthodox Jews. Now it seems to be the turn of liberal Judaism, at least based on the success of 'Nobody Wants This,' about a Conservative rabbi, and 'Reformed,' which is based on the career of one of France's only female rabbis

Netanyahu blamed the Palestinians for Wednesday's wildfires, but the police have no true suspects for igniting the fire near Jerusalem. In no case of large wildfires in Israel has there been an indictment for nationalist arson

An Israeli scholar who is in contact with the family of Bipin Joshi, a Nepalese student being held hostage in Gaza, asked his cousin for one message for Israelis: All he asked her was to 'Tell everyone to stop the war, release all the hostages – and free Bipin too'

Paramount on the minds of Jewish voters in past elections were issues like the economy and environment. Today, antisemitism seems to be overshadowing everything else. That is not good news for Labor in districts where the Jewish vote matters

Israel could have been a global leader in handling wildfires, but to be a model country, it must reorder its priorities – instead of seeking revenge, it must make an effort to protect its citizens

Despite the shock that relations between the two communities sustained following the outbreak of the war, efforts to bring together residents from East and West Jerusalem haven't waned, and several exciting initiatives have been added

It was estimated that approximately 20,000 dunams (about 5,000 acres) have burned in what is being called one of the largest wildfires in the country's history

ISRAEL: Israel marks second Independence Day since October 7 attack; Police arrest three suspected of setting mass fires ■ SYRIA: IDF targets extremists planning attack on Druze community, PM and Katz say; Clashes between Druze and Syrian authorities reportedly leave 70 dead ■ IRAN: U.S. warns Iran to stop funding Houthis; Iran accuses Washington of 'contradictory behaviour'

Former top public security official accused Israel's far-right National Security Minister of undermining firefighting preparedness, saying it affected the country's response to the massive wildfire in the Jerusalem hills

Amid Israel's constitutional and social crisis, the president, in an interview with Haaretz, defines a middle ground: he seeks to respect gatekeepers while affirming the government's right to dismiss them. He calls for an Oct. 7 state commission of inquiry but refrains from criticizing Netanyahu, who is blocking it, and encourages a plea deal in his trial

Since the end of Itay's battle against Hamas on October 7, a new battle of our own began: To bring Itay, and the other 58 hostages home. This is because the Israeli government has decided not to prioritize the task

A nation mourning its fallen, battling fires and confronting internal hatred: For Israelis, Independence Day arrives under a cloud of smoke and division

The leader of the Democrats, Yair Golan, condemned the attack on Tuesday evening of a live-streamed broadcast in Ra'anana of the Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Day event, but the leaders of the other Jewish parties have refrained from commenting

Columbia student and 10-year U.S. resident Mohsen Mahdawi was arrested during his naturalization interview. His arrest was part of U.S. President Donald Trump's crackdown on pro-Palestinian activists at U.S. universities

Several communities near the Tel Aviv–Jerusalem highway have been forced to evacuate, with the number continuing to rise as the wildfire spreads. One resident said, 'I'm 68, and we've never experienced anything like this,' while another added, 'It's like war'

Attendees describe chaos as right-wing activists stormed the joint memorial ceremony screening at Beit Samueli synagogue in Ra'anana, a central Israel city once known for its Jewish pluralism and harmony

Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, blamed nationalist incitement by far-right Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and others for the attack on 'peaceful' Israeli Jews. Among the injured was a prominent leader in the Israeli Reform movement

A top Haredi minister canceled his appearance at a ceremony following ongoing objections to his presence, as his faction continues to push for legislation exempting ultra-Orthodox men from IDF service; others faced protests demanding a hostage deal

The U.S. itinerary of Israel's far-right minister was loaded with Chabad-affiliated events, which certainly didn't contribute to the PR effort of the global Jewish outreach movement that likes to describe itself as open, inclusive and non-partisan

But now that Ronen Bar, the current Shin Bet chief, has announced his resignation, it may hand the High Court a greater opportunity to affirm that the head of the Shin Bet isn't a political appointee serving at the prime minister's behest

Israel's fire chief warns wildfires will continue for another day ■ Major Jerusalem hospital urges public to come only in urgent cases ■ Most Independence Day events canceled for Wednesday ■ Israel expects aid from Italy, Croatia, Spain, Romania and Ukraine

The Daily Mail reported that the suspect is a 33-year-old who was wearing a 'traditional Palestinian kaffiyeh headscarf'

The Gaza war brought international art activity to a halt in Israel, prompting museums to look to their own collections, primarily although not exclusively involving Israeli art. 'It's not simple dealing with the situation in Israel and continuing to be creative'

If Hamas released a video informing Israelis that there weren't 24 living hostages but 'fewer,' everyone would cry out 'psychological terror!' The Netanyahus' terror has its own grotesque twist

Irene Levin turned the hundreds of notes her mother left behind after her death into a book chronicling the story of Norwegian Jews during the Holocaust

The cancellation of flights to Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion International Airport was made despite Israeli efforts to bring back most airlines that had dropped flights to Israel due to security concerns

Lior Rudaeff had been a volunteer member of Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak's emergency squad for 40 years, going out to defend the kibbutz on October 7, 2023. Seven months later, the army determined he was killed and his body was being held by Hamas

After Syria assured the U.S. that it won't pose a 'threat to Israel,' Palestinians voiced criticism on social media: 'What is the value of a revolution if you end up reconciling with the very forces it was meant to oppose?'

On October 7, Israeli police commander Itzik 'Bazooka' Buzukashvili went back and forth four times to rescue dozens of Israelis at the Nova dance party. Then an RPG shot by Hamas terrorists hit his vehicle

The petitions against Ronen Bar's dismissal became theoretical once he announced his resignation and the government dropped the process. Now the High Court will have to choose: Will it deliver a broader decision that addresses the fundamental questions raised by the case?

Armored vehicles on the road to Jerusalem and cars cleared from Gaza border communities after October 7. What can we learn from wrecked cars when they become symbols for something else?

The Zionist dream and the American dream have been joined, though often in complicated ways, since Israel's establishment in 1948. Here's what remains the same – and what has changed

Right-wing activists surrounded the synagogue, which hosted a screening of the joint Israeli-Palestinian event, throwing objects and firecrackers. The local Likud branch leader backed the attack: 'The city's leftists - you've been warned'

On the evolution of Jewish self-identification from Judah to 'Israel'

Since October 7 the Mount Herzl military cemetery has been teeming with funerals, memorial ceremonies, educational visits and tours of donors. One bereaved mother, who visits almost daily, is trying to find meaning in the grief

Miriam Shachor, the first woman in the pre-state Palmach militia to lose her life in the War of Independence, became a flesh-and-blood symbol. But her commanders soon turned that symbol into a far-reaching policy, limiting women's role in the military

The IDF's renewed military operations in Gaza have not changed Hamas' position, yet the military is preparing to increase the pressure and is wary of the reservists. While the Egyptian proposal for negotiations does not look promising, Jerusalem once again understands that Trump will have the final word – on Gaza and Iran

ISRAEL: Israel marks second Memorial Day since October 7 attack ■ GAZA: Hamas-run Health Ministry says 35 killed in Israeli strikes in last day ■ SYRIA: IDF carries out 'warning operation' against extremists planning attack on Druze community, Netanyahu and Katz say

Reports recommendation that the Ivy League school review its admissions, appointments, curriculum, and orientation and training programs - as well as change its disciplinary processes

Jewish Democrats 'condemn Donald Trump for once again using Jewish Americans for his political agenda'

Tens of thousands of reservists will be stationed across Israel, with some already announcing they won't report. While operations in Gaza will mainly be conducted by conscripts, reservists will be stationed there, too

On the 77th Independence Day of the State of Israel, a dark shadow hangs over the celebrations. When 59 hostages are still in Gaza, it's even hard to breathe

As long as mothers and fathers are crying out for their children from the borders of Gaza, we have nothing to celebrate. We call on a merciful God with a voice more broken than ever and return home

I lost my elder brother in the first Lebanon war. Therefore, I allow myself to ask in a loud and clear voice, how could it be that millions of Israelis can the horror being conducted in our name in Gaza?

In three very different ceremonies, people found ways to express their grief and loss, from October 7, from the Gaza war, and from the rest of Israel's wars since it was founded. The heightened tension of the war did not escape any of them

Despite advance warning that right-wing activists were planning to protest outside the ceremony, there was only a small police force, including only one patrol car, when the violence began

In a new study devoted to the commemorative stickers that have taken over the public sphere, Dr. Noam Tirosh, an expert on memory studies from Ben-Gurion University, questions what they say about bereavement culture in Israel

Asaad al-Nassasra, who survived the Israeli attack on an aid convoy that killed 15 aid workers near Rafah, was detained by the IDF for 37 days. His family turned to the courts after the army withheld information about his arrest

There are 59 hostages still in Gaza. Innocent Palestinians are dying gruesome deaths each day, and none of these sacrifices – of Palestinians, of hostages, of Israeli soldiers – seems to be bringing Israel any closer to the aim of toppling Hamas

Sivan watched her partner die before her eyes, Daniel returned without his friend who was kidnapped by Hamas, Shlomi learned his friends had been killed and Neta lost her cousin. Survivors of the October 7 Nova festival massacre speak about the guilt and the struggle to move on

The attorney general published a proposal that limits the national security minister's involvement in appointing police officers. Critics from the Justice Ministry believe Ben-Gvir is deceiving the attorney general

Maman said in his interrogation that he had agreed to meet with an Iranian businessman and was smuggled into Iran on two occasions via a land border crossing with Turkey

Nike said the temporary billboard was part of a campaign to 'inspire runners and the copy was based on common phrases used by runners,' echoing those who often swear off long races immediately after completing one, only to return for another round later

The prime minister's wife said that the Israeli media systematically overlooks her work helping hostages, and described a series of national networks serving the radical left: 'This is an attempt to override the will of the people and maintain bureaucratic rule'

'You did something that must not be done to any of the [hostages'] families,' a hostage's mother wrote in response on X, 'you effectively declared their children dead in captivity, and on the eve of Memorial Day, no less'

The government's U-turn follows Bar's announcement that he will step down in June. Government sources said Prime Minister Netanyahu is interviewing candidates and is expected to name Bar's replacement in the coming days

Israel's army recommended that 1,200 soldiers be decorated for bravery in the War of Independence, but Israel's founding prime minister slashed the list to 12, 'the number of the Tribes of Israel.' A history-buff computer scientist has made amends

With many bereaved families from the Gaza war, several have joined the Israeli-Palestinian Forum. Many will attend online, as the joint Memorial Day ceremony – held at a secret location due to far-right threats – seeks to show that Israelis and Palestinians can share both pain – and hope