Limor Simhony Philpott

A crisis of authority now festers at the heart of Israel. A shrill, violent fringe of extremist settlers in the West Bank is not only terrorising Palestinians, but undermining the authority of the Israeli state, its security and diplomatic relations. This week, there have been reported attacks by settlers near Deir Istiya, near Nablus, and in Jaba, southwest of Bethlehem. These settlers’ growing impunity, and the government’s failure to rein them in, is no longer a side issue. Settler violence is emerging as a national security crisis. This is not hyperbole.

As the dust settles on Israel’s phased withdrawal from Gaza under Donald Trump’s hard-won ceasefire deal, Hamas has slithered straight back into the void. Barely hours after the ink dried on ‘phase one’ of Trump’s plan, the Islamist rulers of Gaza unleashed a wave of reprisals against rival Palestinian clans. Accusations of ‘collaboration’ with Israel, or simple refusal to bow to Hamas’s rule, have triggered executions, abductions and what survivors are calling outright massacres. Instead of rebuilding, Gaza is now witnessing a purge. The message is clear: anyone who worked against Hamas during the war will pay for it now. In Gaza City, fierce clashes have erupted between Hamas and the Doghmush clan, one of Gaza’s most powerful factions.

Keir Starmer is hardly famous for his grit. But the proscription of Palestine Action is one issue on which the Prime Minister must hold his nerve. Nearly 900 supporters of Palestine Action – a banned terrorist group – were arrested last weekend alone Nearly 900 supporters of Palestine Action – a banned terrorist group – were arrested last weekend alone. The organisation's supporters – and critics of the proscription – claim that the sheer number of arrests means the current approach isn't working. It simply isn't sustainable, they say, to apprehend hundreds of ordinary people for showing support for Palestine Action. They're wrong: Palestine Action is a dangerous organisation that deserves to have been banned.

After nearly 21 months of bitter fighting in Gaza, reports suggest Israel and Hamas may be edging closer to a 60-day ceasefire deal – or at least circling it warily. Talks mediated by the US, Qatar and Egypt have resumed, raising hopes of a temporary pause, or even a broader framework for peace. President Trump claimed that Israel has agreed to a deal, although Prime Minister Netanyahu has so far maintained ambiguity. The debate in Israel is unfolding under mounting pressure. Israelis desperately want the remaining hostages released. They are also worried that the war is becoming a slow war of attrition, reminiscent of the 15-year long, costly war against Hezbollah, which bore limited achievements.

Last night, the Middle East witnessed its fiercest clash yet as Israel and Iran traded blows. A daring Israeli operation, orchestrated by Mossad and the Israeli Air Force (IAF), obliterated Iran’s top military commanders, including IRGC leaders, and struck ballistic missile sites and nuclear facilities. Iran initially retaliated with a barrage of drones, all of which were shot down. It then escalated its attack, firing over 200 ballistic missiles targeting civilians. Several missiles hit the densely populated cities of Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, and Rishon Lezion, killing three civilians and wounding over 75. Unlike Iran’s barrages last year, which inflicted minor damage, this assault overwhelmed Israel’s defences. A lot less help from allies also meant that more missiles hit Israel.

The release of Edan Alexander, the last living American-Israeli hostage held by Hamas, was a moment of profound relief for his family and a rare flicker of hope for war-fatigued Israelis. The 21-year-old soldier, kidnapped on 7 October 2023, walked free on 12 May 2025 after 584 days in hell.  The jubilation was quickly muddied by political spin. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, ever the opportunist, claimed the release stemmed from Israel’s relentless military pressure. The truth, however, lies elsewhere: American backchannels, led by Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, secured Alexander’s freedom through quiet diplomacy in Qatar, not IDF bombs in Gaza.

On the eve of Israel’s Remembrance Day, as sirens pierce the quiet of Israeli streets and the nation stands still to honour its fallen, something different will be happening far beyond Israel’s borders. This year, the pain pulses through the hearts of Jews across the diaspora. The grief is no longer distant – it is raw, personal, and inescapable. The surge in anti-Semitism, venomous and unapologetic, has woven our fates together. Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Remembrance Day for fallen soldiers and victims of terror, has always been a deeply Israeli ritual.

Benjamin Netanyahu dropped a bombshell this evening when he fired Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. Outside observers might wonder why the Prime Minister would fire the only member of his government with meaningful military experience when Israel is engaged in a prolonged and complex war on several fronts. Israelis however, have been expecting this to happen for some time. It was no secret that Gallant and Netanyahu had a fractured relationship from the moment the government came to power. Netanyahu fired Gallant in March last year because of his criticism of the government’s judicial reform that threatened to undermine Israel’s democratic institutions. He backtracked on his decision after tens of thousands of furious Israeli spontaneously took to the streets to protest the decision.

The Israeli parliament resumed its work on Monday after a long recess, and one of the first items on the agenda was voting on a bill that enjoyed rare widespread popularity. The bill decreed that Israel will severe ties with the UN relied and work agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA), which will heavily restrict the organisation’s ability to operate in Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank. It passed with a majority of 92 for and 10 against, with even opposition members of the Knesset supporting the bill. The bill was criticised by the UN, which threatened to suspend Israel’s membership. It was also criticised by Israel’s allies, including the US, UK and France, who argue that UNRWA has an essential role in providing humanitarian aid to Palestinians.

A drone exploded in a sleepy Israeli seaside town yesterday. The target of the attack was Benjamin Netanyahu. By luck, the drone missed its target – Netanyahu’s home – and no one was hurt in the explosion. Hezbollah launched three drones from Lebanon toward Caesarea. Two were shot down by the Israel Defense Forces but, worryingly, the third arrived undetected. Sirens, which are supposed to warn civilians of an impending attack, did not sound, meaning no one knew they should seek refuge in a bomb shelter. The Israeli Prime Minister claimed he was not at home when the drone hit. An Iranian – or Iranian-backed – assassination of the Israeli Prime Minister (or other senior figure) would change the game completely.