Saturday's news cycle was dominated by regional security developments, from a reported near-miss strike on a senior Hamas figure in Gaza to escalating Houthi attacks across the Red Sea and Saudi Arabia. Domestically, the IDF continued counterterrorism operations in the West Bank, while political manoeuvring ahead of looming coalition tensions kept commentators busy.

Security

A senior Hamas official reportedly confirmed to the Saudi outlet Asharq Al-Awsat that Ali al-Amoudi, widely seen as Yehya Sinwar's potential successor as Hamas's leader in Gaza, was present in an apartment struck by the IDF two weeks ago but survived after being in a side area of the building. Separately, the IDF said it had destroyed dozens of monuments and signs glorifying terrorists as part of ongoing counterterrorism operations in the West Bank, describing the move as part of efforts to crack down on incitement to violence. In Washington, a CBS report said US Army Chief of Staff General Randy George had warned months before the Iran war of a looming shortage in defence munitions, with his risk analysis reportedly included in a Pentagon force allocation plan as early as December. George has since been removed from his post.

International

Tensions in the Red Sea and Gulf region intensified over the weekend. A tanker was struck by an unidentified missile roughly 126km northeast of Jubail, Saudi Arabia, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency; the crew was evacuated safely and no environmental damage was reported. Separately, missiles struck Aden airport in Yemen while a Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted a missile heading for Yanbu and destroyed two cruise missiles over the Red Sea along with three drones targeting Saudi territory. A Wall Street Journal report cited by the Jerusalem Post said Iran has been supplying Yemen's Houthis with targeting intelligence for drone and missile strikes on Saudi Arabia, with a Yemen expert describing recent Houthi military gains as "undeniably" linked to Iranian assistance. In Ukraine, a Russian air strike on Kherson killed one person, an ambulance driver, and injured 19 others including a child. In Britain, Scotland Yard arrested a man amid a police investigation into a data dispute linked to the Your Party political movement, though the force declined to name individuals involved. Also in the UK, former Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind criticised Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and said recognition of a Palestinian state amounted to "playing with words." In the US, Jewish Democratic groups launched a social media advertising campaign highlighting antisemitic messages previously exposed among Young Republicans, alongside remarks by JD Vance downplaying the controversy. Meanwhile, a tight New York congressional race saw Republican incumbent Mike Lawler seeking to tie Democratic challenger Cait Conley to New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, as both campaigns compete for Jewish voters. A Nazi-looted Kandinsky painting, restituted to its Jewish owners, sold at auction in London for more than £31 million after a bidding contest lasting almost six minutes. In a separate case, a 19-year-old Norwegian footballer was jailed in the UK for agreeing to carry out a contract killing for an Iran-linked criminal network in exchange for 25,000 euros.

Politics

Amid growing calls for his resignation, Benny Gantz has adopted rhetoric similar to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's campaign messaging regarding Arab political parties, drawing anger from within the Blue and White camp, where critics accuse him of aligning with Netanyahu to block the formation of an alternative government.

Other Developments

Hardline rabbi Dov Lior issued a religious ruling stating that Jews may take olives from Palestinian-owned trees to "demonstrate ownership of the land," framing the act as fulfilling a biblical commandment. A moderate rabbinic group strongly condemned the ruling, stating that theft is forbidden regardless of the victim's identity, whether Jewish or non-Jewish.

Sources: Ynet, Walla, www.israelhayom.co.il, Times of Israel, Jerusalem Post