On the security front, Maariv newspaper quoted an Israeli military source as saying that Israel carries out an average of four assassinations per day to prevent Hamas from strengthening or developing its offensive capabilities, causing deep concern within the organization. In the same context, Kan channel revealed that the Shin Bet arrested 72 people from the Negev and southern Israel since the beginning of 2026, including 67 Arab citizens holding blue ID cards, on suspicion of security activities threatening state security, including planning military operations and arms smuggling across the border, with about 50 detainees indicted. It was also found that a cell from Segav Shalom planned to establish a military battalion and carry out an attack on the Club Forum in Beersheba. In a separate incident, two Israeli soldiers were injured in what was described as an operational error, their condition described as serious, and they were airlifted to Rambam Hospital.
Politically, an extensive New York Times investigation revealed accusations against David Milstein, advisor to US Ambassador to Israel Mike Hacabi, of suppressing and rewriting official reports sent to Washington to present Netanyahu's government in a more positive light. In a statement, Eisenkot said he does not trust that Netanyahu will not initiate a security escalation before the elections, adding that his concern is focused on the Iranian arena. Yozef Handel, head of the 'Reserve and Economy' party, called on Ofer Winter, leader of the 'Amkha Yisrael' party, to retract his commitment to sit in a government with Benjamin Netanyahu and the Haredi parties, proposing a surplus vote agreement between the two parties and a declaration of commitment to participate only in a 'Zionist' government, without Haredi or Arab parties. This coincided with Winter's participation in the annual international counter-terrorism conference at Reichman University, where he symbolically tore up the Oslo Accords and said there is 'no Palestinian people' and no Palestinian state. A report by journalist Ofer Haddad in N12 magazine also stated that Netanyahu is reusing an election formula similar to the 1996 campaign, with a new slogan: 'Either the right or Palestine,' first launched by Transportation Minister Miri Regev and then adopted by Netanyahu. An article by former head of Military Intelligence Amos Yadlin and expert Udi Avntal reviewed ten scenarios that could change the elections' course, based on the concept of an 'October surprise.'
In Jerusalem and Modi'in, protests and clashes erupted between Haredi Jews and Israeli police over the conscription file. In Jerusalem, a car driver attempted to run over Haredi protesters who had blocked an entrance in protest against the arrest of draft refusers. In Modi'in, hundreds of protesters clashed with police around a residential building to prevent military police from arresting a draft dodger. Police said they were called to assist the military police and extracted the soldiers from the building without arresting the youth, while the Israeli army said military police elements faced 'great resistance and obstruction.'
Strategically, the Hebrew Merlin website analyzed the emergence of a new challenge for Israel represented by the strengthening of the 'Sunni axis,' particularly relations between Turkey, Qatar, and elements linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, warning that the growing 'Mecca alliance' between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan, and Egypt could create a Sunni power center that excludes Israel from regional initiatives. In another analysis, the site considered that Israel proved in the two direct operations against Iran its ability to achieve air and intelligence superiority and strike strategic infrastructure, in addition to inflicting severe damage on Hezbollah. Strategic expert Major General Samir Farag said that the deployment of 3,000 US soldiers in Israel constitutes a reserve force for Central Command, noting that US President Donald Trump has refocused on the Iranian nuclear file, and that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's statement about allowing inspection of nuclear facilities in exchange for sanctions relief represents a major change in the Iranian position. Colonel Roi Tzvi-Lavi, commander of the Paratroopers Brigade, revealed in an interview with N12 magazine lessons from the war with Hezbollah, admitting the army's failure to confront drones, and describing Rafah and Bint Jbeil as a picture of tactical victory.