Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on social media platform X that he hosted President Abdullahi during a visit to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for what he described as a “historic State Visit” to inaugurate Somaliland’s embassy in Jerusalem. He added that the move marked the beginning of formal bilateral relations between the two sides.

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog also met the Somaliland leader during the visit, with both leaders appearing together in Jerusalem, according to images and official accounts from the meeting.

Somaliland, which declared autonomy from Somalia in 1991 following a civil war but is not widely recognized internationally, becomes the eighth country to open an embassy in Jerusalem, joining a list that includes the United States and several smaller states.

The opening has drawn strong criticism from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which said the move violated international law and relevant United Nations resolutions. The OIC reiterated its position that Israel has no sovereignty over Jerusalem and that attempts to alter the city’s legal or political status are considered null and void.

Jerusalem remains one of the most sensitive issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with most countries maintaining embassies in Tel Aviv due to disputed claims over the city.

Israel formally recognised Somaliland’s independence in December, according to the report, further deepening ties between the two sides ahead of the embassy opening.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government had adopted a policy under which the Israel Defense Forces would stay in the areas to protect Israeli borders and communities.Katz said the deployment was intended to counter threats from armed groups and warned Iran that Israel would respond with full force if attacked in connection with the conflict in Lebanon.

The statement came after Washington and Tehran announced a deal calling for an end to military operations, including fighting linked to Lebanon.Lebanon has urged displaced residents not to return immediately, saying details of the agreement remain unclear and security conditions are still uncertain.

The Israeli government has maintained that its forces must continue operating in strategic areas, while regional actors continue diplomatic efforts following months of escalating conflict.

The developments come as the Middle East faces ongoing security tensions involving Israel, Iran, Lebanon, Syria and Gaza.

Abu Safiya, 53, the former director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, appeared before the court through a video connection as judges considered whether to extend his detention. No ruling had been issued by Thursday afternoon, according to Physicians for Human Rights–Israel (PHRI).

The pediatrician became widely known during the war in Gaza for documenting conditions inside Kamal Adwan Hospital during an 85-day Israeli military siege. Through videos released during the conflict, he appealed for international assistance as medical staff struggled to treat patients amid severe shortages and ongoing hostilities.

Images from Wednesday’s hearing showed Abu Safiya wearing white prison clothing and handcuffs. Observers said he appeared visibly thinner and pale, with marks visible on his arms.

PHRI said Abu Safiya was recently transferred to solitary confinement. His son, Elias Abu Safiya, said the move occurred shortly after the doctor challenged his detention through legal channels.

Israeli authorities have not formally charged Abu Safiya with a crime. The Israeli military has said he is being investigated on suspicion of cooperating with or working for Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that governs Gaza. Medical colleagues and international aid organizations that worked with him have rejected those allegations.

Following the hearing, defense lawyer Nasser Odeh conveyed a statement he said came from Abu Safiya, in which the doctor maintained that his work had been solely humanitarian and medical in nature.

Israel’s Justice Ministry did not immediately comment on the case. The Israeli Prison Service rejected allegations of mistreatment, stating that all detainees receive professional medical care and that complaints submitted through official channels are examined.

According to PHRI, 14 physicians from Gaza remain in Israeli detention. Rights organizations have repeatedly raised concerns about the detention of medical personnel during the conflict and have called for greater transparency regarding their legal status and conditions of confinement.

The war began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza has killed nearly 73,000 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, whose figures are widely cited by international organizations though they do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

The Supreme Court’s decision on Abu Safiya’s detention remains pending.

The latest exchange between Israel and Iran marked the first direct confrontation since a ceasefire took effect in April, raising concerns about a broader return to conflict across the Middle East.The escalation followed Israeli strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs. Iran responded with missile launches toward Israel, prompting calls from some Israeli officials for a forceful counterstrike.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir urged a severe response, declaring that Tehran should face immediate consequences following the missile attacks.Netanyahu defended Israel’s position by reiterating the country’s right to self-defense, arguing that no sovereign state could be expected to refrain from responding when civilian population centers are targeted by ballistic missiles.

Analysts said the Israeli response reflected both security considerations and domestic political pressures. Adi Bershadsky, a retired Israeli colonel and defense specialist, said it would have been difficult for any Israeli government to leave such an attack unanswered. He also suggested there may have been some level of understanding regarding how the confrontation would unfold.

The Israeli military said its chief of staff remained in close contact with his U.S. counterpart, signaling ongoing military coordination despite apparent differences in political priorities.Yaakov Katz of the Jewish People Policy Institute said Israel’s actions conveyed a message that while Trump may favor diplomatic arrangements with Iran, Israel retains the ability to act independently when it views its security interests as threatened.

Political considerations may also have influenced decision-making in Jerusalem. Israel is scheduled to hold national elections by the end of October, and analysts noted that Netanyahu’s political opponents could have criticized any perceived failure to respond to Iranian missile attacks.Michael Horowitz, a regional analyst, said no Israeli leader would likely have accepted a situation in which an Iranian strike went unanswered.

He described Netanyahu’s decision to proceed despite Washington’s preference for de-escalation as a political gamble.According to Horowitz, the move represented one of the most public instances in which Netanyahu appeared willing to diverge from Trump’s approach, even as both leaders remain closely linked through their joint military and strategic policies toward Iran.

The relationship carries political significance for both men. Since launching a coordinated offensive against Iran on February 28, the United States and Israel have shared responsibility for managing the fallout from the conflict while balancing domestic political pressures ahead of upcoming elections in both countries.

Anna Barsky, a commentator for Israeli newspaper Maariv, said the Israeli response carried risks because it could encourage additional Iranian attacks or trigger involvement from allied armed groups in the region. However, she argued that failing to respond to a direct missile strike would have established a precedent that many Israeli policymakers considered unacceptable.

Although both Iranian and Israeli leaders have signaled a desire to limit further escalation, tensions remain elevated. Israel has continued military operations in Lebanon despite warnings from Tehran that further attacks could provoke a stronger reaction.

The latest developments underscore Israel’s longstanding strategic challenge of maintaining close cooperation with Washington while preserving the ability to act unilaterally on national security matters, particularly when U.S. and Israeli assessments of regional risks diverge.

The latest exchange of fire marked the most direct confrontation between the two adversaries since an April ceasefire, underscoring the fragility of diplomatic progress and highlighting the risk that violence elsewhere in the region could reignite the conflict.

Iran’s military headquarters announced that armed forces operations against Israel had been halted after what it described as a “painful response” to Israeli attacks on Lebanon. The statement, however, warned that Tehran would resume military action if Israeli operations continued, including in southern Lebanon.

A source briefed on the matter told Reuters that Israel had also decided to suspend attacks on Iran, although Israeli officials maintained that the military remained prepared to continue operations if required.

The confrontation began after Iran launched missiles toward Israeli territory late on Sunday, which Tehran said was retaliation for Israeli strikes on Hezbollah strongholds on the outskirts of Beirut. Israel responded with attacks on Iranian targets, including a petrochemical facility in the southwestern city of Mahshahr.

Israeli officials said the site was used to produce and export raw materials for Iran’s ballistic missile program. A provincial Iranian official told local media that sections of the complex had sustained damage.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it retaliated by targeting a similar petrochemical facility in the Israeli port city of Haifa.

The flare-up reverberated through global markets. Oil prices surged as much as 5% before retreating after Iran signaled that its initial military response had concluded. The U.S. dollar also eased after reaching its highest level in nearly two months.

The renewed violence has complicated Trump’s efforts to secure a broader agreement with Tehran. The conflict, launched by the United States and Israel on Feb. 28, has remained largely frozen since an April 8 ceasefire paused full-scale warfare.

In a social media post, Trump said Israel and Iran were seeking “an immediate CEASEFIRE” and that final negotiations toward peace were progressing. He added that a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place until a comprehensive agreement was reached.

An Israeli official confirmed that Trump spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday as Washington sought to prevent the latest escalation from derailing diplomacy.

Despite indications of restraint, officials on both sides maintained a hardened stance. An Israeli military official said the armed forces were prepared to continue operations “for as long as it takes” and confirmed strikes on newly rebuilt Iranian air-defense systems in addition to the petrochemical facility.

Iranian officials likewise signaled readiness for a prolonged confrontation. A military source quoted by the semi-official Tasnim news agency said Tehran could renew attacks, including against U.S. interests in the region, if circumstances warranted.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said talks with Washington were taking place in an atmosphere of “extreme suspicion” and accused Israel of attempting to sabotage diplomatic efforts through its military actions in Lebanon.

In Tehran, state media reported explosions and said air-defense systems had shot down a drone over the capital. No significant casualties or major damage were immediately reported.

The conflict also drew in Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis, who announced plans to prevent Israeli maritime navigation through the Red Sea and claimed responsibility for missile launches against Israel.

An Israeli military official said Iran had fired nearly 30 ballistic missiles toward Israel since Sunday evening, while the Houthis launched an additional two missiles.

Iran’s National Emergency Organization said 15 people were injured in the latest Israeli strikes, including 14 in Mahshahr County. No fatalities were reported. Israel’s ambulance service said there were no reported casualties from the missile attacks on Israeli territory.

The latest exchange has reinforced the central role of Lebanon in regional diplomacy. Israel has continued military operations against Hezbollah despite the Iran ceasefire, arguing that the Lebanese front is separate from its conflict with Tehran.

Hezbollah has maintained attacks against Israel and insists it will not disarm unless Israeli operations cease. Tehran has repeatedly stated that any comprehensive peace agreement with Washington depends on an end to fighting in Lebanon.

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa said Lebanese-Israeli negotiations were scheduled to resume in Washington, offering a potential diplomatic channel as efforts continue to prevent the conflict from expanding further.

The war has also reshaped regional trade routes. Iran continues to block most shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global energy supplies, while Washington has maintained a blockade on Iranian ports.

Trump has said any final settlement must ensure Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon. Tehran has demanded the lifting of international sanctions, access to frozen assets and recognition of its influence over the strategically important waterway.

In a statement posted on Telegram, the Israeli military said it had monitored two armed individuals located hundreds of meters from Israeli territory in southern Lebanon before targeting them in an aerial strike.

“A short while ago, IDF surveillance identified two armed individuals moving in a suspicious manner hundreds of meters from Israeli territory, in southern Lebanon,” the military said, adding that the individuals were subsequently “struck and eliminated.

”The incident comes as tensions remain high along the Israel-Lebanon border despite a truce that was extended by Israeli and Lebanese authorities last week.Since the ceasefire took effect on April 17, Israel has continued conducting airstrikes, demolitions and evacuation measures in southern Lebanon, saying its operations target Hezbollah positions and activities.

Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has also continued attacks against Israel.The latest phase of fighting intensified after Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel on March 2, describing the attack as retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader in joint U.S.-Israeli strikes.Israel responded with extensive airstrikes and a ground offensive in southern Lebanon.

Israeli forces continue to operate inside a self-declared security zone, referred to by the military as a “yellow line,” extending roughly 10 kilometers inside Lebanese territory along the border.According to Lebanon’s health ministry, Israeli attacks have killed at least 3,089 people since the broader regional conflict began. Israel’s military has reported 22 military fatalities during the fighting.

The current truce was extended by 45 days following a third round of direct talks between Lebanese and Israeli representatives in Washington. Hezbollah has publicly opposed the negotiations.

The strike highlights the fragility of the ceasefire and the continuing risk of escalation along one of the Middle East’s most volatile frontiers.

In a statement posted on Telegram, the Israeli military said it had monitored two armed individuals located hundreds of meters from Israeli territory in southern Lebanon before targeting them in an aerial strike.

“A short while ago, IDF surveillance identified two armed individuals moving in a suspicious manner hundreds of meters from Israeli territory, in southern Lebanon,” the military said, adding that the individuals were subsequently “struck and eliminated.”

The incident comes as tensions remain high along the Israel-Lebanon border despite a truce that was extended by Israeli and Lebanese authorities last week
Since the ceasefire took effect on April 17, Israel has continued conducting airstrikes, demolitions and evacuation measures in southern Lebanon, saying its operations target Hezbollah positions and activities. Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has also continued attacks against Israel.

The latest phase of fighting intensified after Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel on March 2, describing the attack as retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader in joint U.S.-Israeli strikes.

Israel responded with extensive airstrikes and a ground offensive in southern Lebanon. Israeli forces continue to operate inside a self-declared security zone, referred to by the military as a “yellow line,” extending roughly 10 kilometers inside Lebanese territory along the border.

According to Lebanon’s health ministry, Israeli attacks have killed at least 3,089 people since the broader regional conflict began. Israel’s military has reported 22 military fatalities during the fighting.

The current truce was extended by 45 days following a third round of direct talks between Lebanese and Israeli representatives in Washington. Hezbollah has publicly opposed the negotiations.

The strike highlights the fragility of the ceasefire and the continuing risk of escalation along one of the Middle East’s most volatile frontiers.

The dispute intensified after two ultra-Orthodox factions withdrew support from Netanyahu’s coalition earlier this month, leaving the government without a parliamentary majority and triggering an initial vote on Wednesday to dissolve the Knesset, Israel’s parliament.

The political crisis centers on efforts to pass legislation preserving military draft exemptions for ultra-Orthodox seminary students, a decades-old arrangement that has become increasingly unpopular after more than two years of regional conflict and extended reserve duty for many Israelis.

Netanyahu is attempting to advance a bill that would formalize the exemptions and satisfy his religious coalition partners, but opposition within his own bloc has cast doubt over its chances of passage.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel said she was among several coalition lawmakers unwilling to support the legislation, describing demands by ultra-Orthodox parties as unfair during wartime.
“The ultra-Orthodox are trying to extort us. It’s immoral. It’s not fair,” Haskel said after Wednesday’s parliamentary vote, where she wore her military uniform to underscore her opposition.

Analysts say Netanyahu’s dependence on ultra-Orthodox parties, which currently hold 18 seats in the 120-member Knesset, has long helped him maintain political stability despite corruption allegations, repeated elections and regional conflicts.

“He made a promise to his most loyal allies in the coalition, and he could not deliver,” said Shmuel Rosner, referring to Netanyahu’s pledge to protect the exemptions system.

Ultra-Orthodox lawmaker Yitzhak Pindrus said his faction would not return to the coalition without legislation guaranteeing continued exemptions.
“We need the draft bill,” Pindrus said.

The political standoff reflects broader tensions within Israeli society over military service obligations. Most Jewish Israeli men are required to complete nearly three years of mandatory military service followed by reserve duty, while women generally serve two years.
Roughly 13,000 ultra-Orthodox men reach conscription age annually, but fewer than 10% enlist, according to Israeli parliamentary data.

The issue has become more politically sensitive as Israel maintains military operations in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria while also confronting heightened tensions with Iran, stretching reserve forces and intensifying public frustration over unequal service burdens.

Israel’s Supreme Court ruled in 2017 that the longstanding exemptions lacked legal basis, but successive governments delayed implementing changes.

Researchers say Netanyahu now faces a narrowing political path: preserving ties with ultra-Orthodox parties risks alienating broader conservative voters frustrated by military disparities, while abandoning the exemptions could permanently fracture his governing alliance.

Political observers say the coalition’s collapse could move elections forward from October to September, potentially ending one of the most durable governing partnerships in Israeli politics.

The procession, which moved through the Muslim Quarter toward the Western Wall, is one of Israel’s most politically charged nationalist demonstrations and has long inflamed tensions between Israelis and Palestinians over the contested city.

Israeli police erected barricades around Damascus Gate and restricted access to parts of the Old City, while Palestinian shopkeepers said authorities ordered businesses shut ahead of the march.Israel captured East Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and later annexed the territory in a move not recognized by most of the international community.

Palestinians seek East Jerusalem as the capital of a future independent state, making the annual march a focal point of competing national claims.“Jerusalem is our holy city. It is our holy city forever,” Shira Gefen, a participant who traveled from near Haifa to attend the event, told Reuters.

Thousands of security personnel, including riot police, were deployed across Jerusalem as crowds carrying Israeli flags streamed through narrow streets of the Old City.

The parade route traditionally passes through Palestinian neighborhoods, drawing criticism from Palestinians and rights groups who accuse Israeli authorities of enabling nationalist displays intended to reinforce Israeli control over East Jerusalem.

The event comes at a time of heightened political and military strain across the Middle East, with the ongoing Iran conflict and renewed regional security concerns fueling nationalist rhetoric on multiple fronts.

Jerusalem Day commemorates Israel’s seizure of East Jerusalem and access to Jewish holy sites during the 1967 conflict. The march concludes at the Western Wall, revered by Jews as the last remnant of the ancient Temple complex.

Muslims refer to the same elevated compound above the wall as Al Haram Al Sharif, home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Islam’s third-holiest site.Previous Jerusalem Day marches have seen clashes between Israeli nationalists and Palestinians, with some demonstrators chanting anti-Arab slogans.

Israeli authorities said security measures this year were aimed at preventing violence and maintaining order during the celebrations.

The procession, which moved through the Muslim Quarter toward the Western Wall, is one of Israel’s most politically charged nationalist demonstrations and has long inflamed tensions between Israelis and Palestinians over the contested city.

Israeli police erected barricades around Damascus Gate and restricted access to parts of the Old City, while Palestinian shopkeepers said authorities ordered businesses shut ahead of the march.Israel captured East Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and later annexed the territory in a move not recognized by most of the international community.

Palestinians seek East Jerusalem as the capital of a future independent state, making the annual march a focal point of competing national claims.“Jerusalem is our holy city. It is our holy city forever,” Shira Gefen, a participant who traveled from near Haifa to attend the event, told Reuters.

Thousands of security personnel, including riot police, were deployed across Jerusalem as crowds carrying Israeli flags streamed through narrow streets of the Old City.

The parade route traditionally passes through Palestinian neighborhoods, drawing criticism from Palestinians and rights groups who accuse Israeli authorities of enabling nationalist displays intended to reinforce Israeli control over East Jerusalem.

The event comes at a time of heightened political and military strain across the Middle East, with the ongoing Iran conflict and renewed regional security concerns fueling nationalist rhetoric on multiple fronts.

Jerusalem Day commemorates Israel’s seizure of East Jerusalem and access to Jewish holy sites during the 1967 conflict. The march concludes at the Western Wall, revered by Jews as the last remnant of the ancient Temple complex.

Muslims refer to the same elevated compound above the wall as Al Haram Al Sharif, home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Islam’s third-holiest site.Previous Jerusalem Day marches have seen clashes between Israeli nationalists and Palestinians, with some demonstrators chanting anti-Arab slogans.

Israeli authorities said security measures this year were aimed at preventing violence and maintaining order during the celebrations.