Israel News for 9-22-2026
News Update
The IDF and security establishment are entering this holiday season at high alert in Judea and Samaria, with thousands of Israelis expected to be traveling and hiking in the areas. during Yom Kippur, the IDF said forces acting on Shin Bet intelligence thwarted a significant attack planned by two Hamas-affiliated terrorists in Qabatiya.
Hours before Yom Kippur, a Hamas affiliated 35 yr. old terrorist opened fire on the vehicle of Netanel Shukrun, a father of six from the community of Ali Zahav, at a nearby spring. Shukrun was killed. His 16 year old son with him was not hurt. An IDF tracker in the area shot the terrorist, who managed to escape to a clinic, where he was then identified and captured. An hour later, a terrorist tried to ram soldiers at a checkpoint. An hour after that, an Israeli who took a wrong turn into a village in the Hebron Hills was attacked and wounded. Forty minutes later, another attempted ramming targeted Israeli troops. Ten minutes after that, a vehicle with no license plates tried to run down two Israelis. All of these attacks occurred in Judea and Samaria.
Defense Minister Israel Katz warned today that any new abduction of an Israeli soldier or civilian would trigger the evacuation of Gaza City, saying the threat was issued in light of what he described as “various intentions and intelligence.” Katz did not elaborate on the intelligence behind the warning, but again said the IDF would not withdraw from the Yellow Line in Gaza “as long as Hamas is not removed and Gaza is not demilitarized of weapons and tunnels.”
Israeli citizen Fares Abu al-Hija, 32, a resident of Kaukab in northern Israel, was sentenced to 4½ years in prison after he was convicted of spying for Iran, including gathering intelligence on former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and traveling to Gallant’s home in Moshav Amikam, where he was arrested. For more, click here.
Prime Minister Netanyahu will land in NYC on Thursday morning, where he will address the UN General Assembly at 2pm. He will not stay overnight and will depart for Israel that evening, reportedly in order to avoid protests. In a video addressing NYC Mayor Mamdani, Netanyahu said, “Shame on you, Mr. Mamdani. Shame on you for supporting the Hamas terrorist monsters who butchered our people. Shame on you for inciting riots against New York Jews. I’m coming to the UN. I’m going to tell the truth about our heroic soldiers, and I’m going to tell the truth about you.” This comes in response to Mamdani saying in an interview, “When it comes to Benjamin Netanyahu, I have described him as I believe him to be a war criminal and an architect of a horrific genocide of the Palestinian people.”
