Israel News for 8-5-2025
News Update
Prime Minister Netanyahu is reportedly moving towards a full military takeover of Gaza, despite reluctance by the IDF leadership and pleas from hostage families. Meanwhile, U.S. envoy Witkoff has stressed that the Trump administration is pursuing a new “all-for-all” approach to secure the release of every hostage in a single deal, rejecting partial agreements. Hamas has shown no interest in such a deal.
Getting enough humanitarian aid into Gaza to prevent starvation remains a major challenge. As part of this effort, Israel announced that it will begin allowing the gradual entry of goods into the Strip through a limited number of approved local merchants. The approved goods include basic food staples, baby formula, fruits and vegetables, and hygiene products. Only merchants who meet specific criteria and pass rigorous security screening will be authorized to participate. Under the plan, Israeli authorities will permit approved merchants to purchase goods outside the enclave and sell them within Gaza. The daily number of aid trucks is expected to increase from 200 to 300.
According to a new medical report released Monday evening by the Health Task Force of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, the remaining 20 live hostages are at immediate risk of death due to deliberate and prolonged starvation by Hamas. For more, click here.
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson is on an official visit to Israel. Yesterday he visited Judea and Samaria, along with U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee, Reps. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Nathaniel Moran (R-Texas), Michael Cloud (R-Texas) and Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.), and Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. THis is the fist time a U.S. House Speaker has visited the territories. He said, “It is a great honor for me to be the most senior figure to officially cross the Green Line. Judea and Samaria are Israel’s front line. The Bible teaches that the hills of Judea and Samaria were promised to the Jewish people and belong to you by right. The world may not see it that way—but we do. I want to thank you, the leaders of the Yesha Council, for your leadership and courage during these challenging times. May God bless you and all the people of Israel.”
The government on Monday unanimously approved the dismissal of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara. Justice Minister Yariv Levin argued in the discussion that “it is impossible to accept a situation in which the court would try to impose on the government a legal advisor who is completely political, who the government does not trust and does not cooperate with, who is obstructing the government and refusing to represent it.” The High Court of Justice ruled that the government does not have the authority to dismiss the attorney general, as the position is an independent legal authority protected by law. The justices emphasized that the attorney general serves the public interest, not the interests of any specific government, and that her dismissal would constitute a violation of the rule of law and the system of checks and balances. As a result, the Court issued an injunction freezing the decision, pending a full hearing.
The Trump administration announced that U.S. states and cities seeking federal disaster relief and anti-terrorism funds—totaling over $2.5 billion—must certify that they do not boycott Israeli companies. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the policy aims to counter the BDS movement, which she called “rooted in antisemitism.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu is reportedly communicating with Russia to try and reduce tensions between the U.S. and Russia, with President Trump’s knowledge. Netanyahu and Putin spoke for the second time in the past week on Sunday.
