Israel Prepares for Elections Amid Regional Tensions and Security Incidents

The Israeli military is actively preparing for upcoming elections, with Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir emphasizing the army's mission to ensure the democratic process proceeds safely. As part of these preparations, a directive has been issued to halt all non-essential troop movements starting Thursday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited an air force base, expressing confidence in the military's readiness to strike enemies when necessary and issuing a stern warning against testing Israel's resolve. Meanwhile, the military revealed a Hamas document detailing plans to plant explosives near refugee camps in Gaza. The document, dated April 2024, outlines a strategy to detonate these devices as Israeli forces approach, aiming to create panic and facilitate the escape of militants, while endangering civilians.

In the West Bank, Defense Minister Israel Katz reiterated his plan to transfer responsibility for handling settler violence from the IDF to the Israeli Police's Judea and Samaria district. Katz stressed that the police should solely manage prevention, investigation, and prosecution of such incidents, freeing the military to focus on combating Palestinian terrorism. He also confirmed that administrative detention orders against settlers would not be reinstated, favoring robust police enforcement instead.

Security forces apprehended two terrorists in the Benjamin region who were allegedly planning an imminent attack. Separately, police launched an investigation into property damage, suspected arson, and graffiti incidents in villages in Benjamin and Gush Etzion. In a related incident, a settler delegation touring the village of Turmus Ayya in Benjamin was attacked, resulting in a shattered car window and a minor injury to one participant. The delegation included American and South American influencers who described the event as a terrifying lynching attempt.

On the diplomatic front, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, accused the U.S. of creating insecurity in the Strait of Hormuz and called for a regional security arrangement. Araghchi also responded to Netanyahu's earlier remarks about an unfinished mission in Iran, warning that Iran had grown stronger after a previous attempt to "finish the job" and suggesting Netanyahu was dragging the U.S. into war to evade legal troubles.

In other security developments, the IDF announced the elimination of several Hamas operatives in Gaza, including a squad leader and members of the engineering corps. The military stated that precautions were taken to minimize civilian harm during these strikes. Separately, an Israeli citizen apprehended in the settlement of Avitar on suspicion of infiltration was identified as an Israeli national, with no further security concerns raised.

Internationally, a Turkish-Israeli woman was reportedly attacked in an Istanbul mall by pro-Palestinian activists who accused her of aiding IDF soldiers. In Egypt, security sources indicated that the country's announced military aid to Saudi Arabia in its conflict with the Houthis would involve deploying additional forces for defensive missions.