Israel

Al-Quds Al-Arabi, citing Israel Hayom, reported on Friday 16 October 2026 that unnamed sources said the Trump administration is pushing for a broad unity government after the 27 October Knesset elections. Under the reported arrangement, Netanyahu would stay as prime minister for up to two years, then hand over to Gadi Eisenkot, without National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. A Maariv poll cited the same day showed the Netanyahu and opposition blocs tied below 61 seats. These are unconfirmed media reports, not an official announcement.

On Friday 16 October 2026, Israel raised its security alert level ahead of Knesset elections scheduled for 27 October, according to Al-Quds Al-Arabi, citing Israel's public broadcaster. The broadcaster said the step was precautionary in light of possible escalation. It added that no confirmed information indicated Iran or Hezbollah intended to attack. It said the army was closely monitoring developments on various fronts and described the period as sensitive. Specific threats or measures taken were not detailed.

Representatives of thirteen delegations reportedly left the hall during Israeli President Isaac Herzog's address at the seventh summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, held in Baku, Azerbaijan. According to the newspaper, the Iranian delegation departed first, followed by representatives of Palestine, Türkiye, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Iraq, and several other states. The coordinated departures constituted a diplomatic protest against Israel. The incident illustrated continuing diplomatic tensions surrounding Israel's military actions and relations with participating Asian and Middle Eastern countries.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that his government was working on a major security barrier extending along Israel's eastern frontier, from the Yarmouk River in the north to Eilat in the south. The proposed infrastructure would cover a substantial border corridor and form part of Israel's security planning. The announcement came amid wider regional tensions and continuing conflict in Palestinian territories. The newspaper reported the government's intention but did not establish that construction had begun or provide a definitive budget or completion timetable.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office stated on Wednesday that the diversion of a Flydubai flight traveling from the UAE to Israel towards Saudi Arabia was not believed to be a hijacking. Initial emergency signals sent by the pilot—including code 7700 for general emergency and code 7500 for unlawful interference—prompted the Israeli Air Force to dispatch two fighter jets. Israeli media estimates later indicated the incident stemmed from an internal dispute between pilots on board, and the flight safely landed in Saudi Arabia where arrangements were made to transport passengers onwards.

Continued Israeli gunfire and shelling across multiple areas of the Gaza Strip resulted in nine Palestinian deaths on Tuesday, according to local sources. Incidents included an attack in Deir al-Balah, an airstrike on an apartment in the Nasr neighborhood of Gaza City which killed local figures including Al-Qassam Brigades commander Ezz al-Din al-Beik, and a drone strike on a displaced persons camp in Jabalia that killed several individuals. Meanwhile, Palestinians in the Nuseirat camp buried the bodies of 51 victims recently recovered from rubble, as local reports noted ongoing violations of the October 2025 ceasefire.

The Israeli military announced that two soldiers were killed in a friendly-fire incident involving an Israeli drone in the northern Gaza Strip. Israeli media reported that the drone crashed inside a military position and exploded when the soldiers approached it for inspection. The soldiers were identified as reservist sergeants Ofek Maalem and Nadav Kelly. The cause of the crash had not been established, and the military reportedly suspended use of the drone type pending completion of an initial investigation.