Israel News for 3-27-2025
News Update
Two ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis from Yemen were intercepted before entering Israeli airspace overnight. Sirens blared across central Israel, prompting thousands to seek shelter.
An IDF strike in Gaza reportedly killed Abdul Latif al-Qanou, a longtime Hamas official and one of its main media spokesperson. Other overnight airstrikes eliminated more terrorists throughout Gaza. In southern Lebanon, a Hezbollah commander was killed in a drone strike.
Syrian state media reported that Israeli jets struck multiple locations in Latakia and its port. A source cited by Lebanon’s Al Mayadeen network said the targets included al-Bayda port and Brigade 110, reportedly used by foreign fighters including Chechen and Uzbek elements. Israeli activity was also reported overnight in Syria’s Quneitra region near the village of Qom Mahres.
A group of at least 9 terrorists opened fire on Israeli soldiers in the Golan, from the outskirts of a village just 330 yards away. The soldiers returned fire and called in an airstrike, which eliminated the terrorists.
Hundreds of protesters demonstrated against Hamas again today, after similar demonstrations yesterday. According to Israeli officials, over 35,000 Gazans have left for a third country since the Gaza war began. In recent weeks around 2,000 have left, and hundreds of departure requests are received every week by Israeli officials. All departing Gazans undergo strict security screening by the Shin Bet to filter out Hamas members and other terrorists.
The Rand Corporation, a U.S. think tank, released a report estimating that the rebuilding of Gaza would take decades and cost more than $50 billion. The report said, “at the pace of Gaza’s housing reconstruction after the 2014 and 2021 military incursions, it would take 80 years to rebuild 79,000 completely destroyed homes in Gaza.” According to the report, 5% of Gaza’s population (115,000 people) had already left the Strip by mid-2024.
Early today, the Knesset passed the controversial Judicial Reform bill by a vote of 67-1, with the opposition boycotting the vote. The law restructures the Judicial Selection Committee, reducing the influence of sitting judges and increasing political control over appointments. Under the new framework, the nine-member panel will include the president of the Supreme Court and two other justices chosen by their peers; the justice minister, who will chair the committee, and another minister selected by the government; two Knesset members, one from the coalition and one from the opposition; and two public representatives — attorneys with at least 10 years of experience — chosen by the coalition and opposition respectively.
