Israel at war day 595: What happened in Israel, Gaza, Lebanon?
US-Iran nuclear talks begin amid doubts; Netanyahu shares Zini report; Hezbollah seeks boost; Palestinian leaders exit Syria after harassment
'I want to apologize to you,' Ronen Bar tells Edan Alexander after Witkoff secures his release
"I want to apologize to you for falling into captivity also because of us, and for the fact that you were released thanks to Witkoff and not thanks to us," Bar reportedly told the freed hostage.
Former Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar told Edan Alexander on Thursday that he was sorry that Israel had failed to secure his release and that his freedom was thanks to the efforts of White House envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, N12 reported on Thursday.
"I want to apologize to you for falling into captivity also because of us, and for the fact that you were released thanks to Witkoff and not thanks to us," Bar allegedly reportedly the freed hostage.
During the meeting, Alexander told Bar about the trauma he experienced on October 7, his time in Hamas captivity and the worries he has for the remaining hostages.
Go to the full article >>Settlers set fire to houses and vehicles in the village of Bruchin - Palestinian report
A group of settlers threw stones and set fire to five homes and five vehicles on the outskirts of the village of Bruchin in the West Bank on Thursday night, according to the Palestinian Authority-run news agency WAFA.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said its crews treated eight burn victims, according to WAFA.
Go to the full article >>Explosions in Sanaa caused by failed Houthi missile, local minister claims
Explosions heard earlier today in Yemen's Houthi-run capital Sanaa were caused by failed Houthi missiles, Yemeni government information minister Muammar al-Iryani wrote on X/Twitter.
● Our reliable sources reported that the explosion that occurred this morning north of the hijacked capital #Danas , and caused a state of panic and terror among citizens, resulted from the failure of the terrorist Houthi militia affiliated with Iran to launch a missile from… pic.twitter.com/4xTDpEXEfx
— معمر الإرياني (@ERYANIM) May 22, 2025
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Thousands protest in Rabin Square against the appointment of new Shin Bet head
Thousands of protesters gathered Thursday evening in Rabin Square in Tel Aviv as part of a demonstration under the slogan "Everything is connected to everything - putting an end to madness, returning to values."
Against the backdrop of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's dramatic announcement regarding the appointment of a new Shin Bet chief, protesters gathered in Rabin Square and marched throughout Tel Aviv.
Go to the full article >>Trump official: US to crackdown on university antisemitism after Washington attack
Leo Terrell confirmed the Trump administration would launch lawsuits against universities failing to tackle campus antisemitism.
A senior Trump administration official confirmed that following the murder of two Israeli embassy staff in Washington, the US government was planning on intensifying the fight against campus antisemitism.
Leo Terrell, Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights in the United States Justice Department, told N12 on Thursday that the administration plans to increase the presence of law enforcement on campuses, expedite and intensify the deportation of international students who take part in antisemitic activities, and tighten economic sanctions against universities.
Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, staff members at the Israeli embassy, were murdered outside the Jewish Museum in Washington on Wednesday night.
Go to the full article >>Israel at war: What you need to know
- Hamas launched a massive attack on October 7, with thousands of terrorists infiltrating from the Gaza border and taking some 240 hostages into Gaza.
- Over 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals were murdered, including over 350 at the Supernova music festival and hundreds of Israeli civilians across Gaza border communities.
- 58 hostages remain in Gaza.
- 49 hostages in total have been killed in captivity, IDF says.
- The IDF launched a ground invasion of Lebanon on September 30.
- The Israel-Lebanon ceasefire came into effect on November 27 at 4 a.m.
- Netanyahu confirmed the first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire on January 17, 2025.