Security forces in Jerusalem uncovered a tunnel nearing the separation barrier while concerns grew over a missing man from the north believed to have been murdered. Internationally, Britain's sanctions on West Bank settlers continued to generate strong reactions from Israeli officials, British Jewish leaders and even Hamas and Iran, while Algeria severed ties with the UAE and Houthi forces expanded their grip on the Red Sea.

Security

IDF and Border Police forces sealed a tunnel discovered near Givat Ze'ev, close to the West Bank separation barrier near Jerusalem. The tunnel, dug through a dry water pit, had reached within five metres of the barrier. A suspect was caught digging at the site. A Border Police battalion commander in the Jerusalem envelope warned this was not an isolated incident, noting that similar tunnels have previously been used by militants to infiltrate and smuggle weapons, alongside cases of illegal labour infiltration. Separately, concern is mounting over the fate of Sharif Taher, 21, from Shefa-Amr, who has been missing from the north; an anonymous social media message has fuelled suspicion he was kidnapped and murdered, with his body concealed. His car was torched, but all suspects previously held in connection with his disappearance have since been released, leaving his family without answers. In a more positive development, an Israeli man reported missing after entering a Palestinian village was found safe; searches had reportedly focused on the Nablus-area towns of Kifl Haris and Qira, though security services have not confirmed the exact location. Meanwhile, IDF Intelligence Directorate chief Shlomi Binder gave a rare interview outlining his approach to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, alongside assessments of Hezbollah and regional developments. Further afield, Houthi forces have expanded their control over the Red Sea with the takeover of the port city of Mocha, a move analysts say could have wider implications for regional shipping security and the broader conflict landscape.

Politics

With Knesset party lists closing ahead of potential elections, cracks are emerging within the right-wing bloc, posing an organisational challenge for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he seeks to impose order and build a unified list ahead of a possible 2026 vote. At Likud's first working session with its newly finalised list, Netanyahu and senior figures reportedly agreed on a campaign strategy targeting what they termed the 'toxic media', even as some party members privately expressed unease that unfavourable poll numbers could yet undermine their efforts despite the prime minister's reassurances.

International

The diplomatic fallout from Britain's sanctions on West Bank settlers accused of involvement in 'Jewish terror' continued to widen. A former Israeli prime minister voiced support for the UK measures, while Israeli MK Gilad Kariv accused Netanyahu and the far-right of encouraging settler violence that he said supports the dispossession of Palestinian communities. Progressive UK rabbis welcomed the sanctions as necessary to combat settler violence, in contrast to Britain's chief rabbi, who described the announcement as a 'dark day'. Notably, both Hamas and the Iranian regime praised the British government's move, with Iranian state radio suggesting European countries have concluded that Israel 'has no future'. Former US official Elliott Abrams said Israel's retaliatory measures against Britain likely succeeded in diminishing London's diplomatic influence. Meanwhile, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage told the Jerusalem Post his party would seek to 'undo' the damage done to Israel-UK ties under the Labour government, following what he called a 'very productive' call with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar. In a related memoir, veteran Labour MP Margaret Hodge accused Ed Miliband of refusing to get involved in the party's fight against antisemitism under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership. In London, police are appealing for witnesses after a Jewish student from Hasmonean Boys School was physically attacked in Belsize Park, an incident being treated as a potential hate crime. Elsewhere, Algeria announced it was severing diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates, saying all avenues to preserve ties had been exhausted, though no immediate reason was given. Politico reported that the United States attempted to enlist NATO allies in an effort to 'systematically dismantle' the International Criminal Court in The Hague, with diplomats saying Washington urged member states to withdraw from the Rome Statute. In New York, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and police pledged tight security for synagogues during the High Holidays, reporting increased deployments despite no known specific threats. In US politics, President Trump, seeking to bolster Republican prospects in the midterms, pledged to give every American adult $5,000 if the GOP wins, a proposal JD Vance appeared to partially walk back while suggesting it could be funded through tariff revenue, despite an estimated cost exceeding $1 trillion.

Other Developments

In a Tel Aviv courtroom, Sabah Haniyeh, sister of the late Hamas leader, denied allegations that she sent messages after 7 October urging her brother to 'kill them, don't leave anyone', insisting she does not know how to write text messages and relies on her daughters-in-law for correspondence. She is charged with identifying with and expressing support for a terrorist organisation. Separately, more than 5,000 public figures worldwide, including politicians, historians and actors, signed an open letter rejecting claims of 'genocide' in Gaza, arguing that while criticism of Israel's conduct in the war is legitimate, only Hamas intended to commit genocide. The signatories said the legal designation against Israel does not meet the required definition and has instead provided a 'moral cover' that has fuelled harassment, exclusion and violence against Jews.

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