Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich:

For years I have said that the repeated rounds of fighting in Gaza were a mistake. They believed that Israel should increase pressure instead—stop humanitarian aid, stop vaccines during the COVID period, tighten the blockade.

I told them that all of those measures would only lead to another round of fighting. People would be killed, yet nothing fundamental would change.

As long as Israel was unwilling to make that decisive move, it had no choice but to manage the conflict instead.

Gaza should have been conquered. Hamas should have been destroyed.

Iran's Fars:

Iranian sources deny reports that a deal has been reached to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

They say the strait will remain restricted while U.S. hostile actions continue, with ship transit allowed only via designated routes and IRGC naval approval.

The earlier reports were described as false.

The Lebanese army says five soldiers were lightly wounded in an Israeli attack while escorting civilians in military vehicles near Kfra, Bint Jbeil.

Armenian President Vahan Khachaturyan has reappointed Nikol Pashinyan as prime minister after the government's resignation earlier today.

A growing faction of traditional, pre-Trump Republicans is criticizing Vice President JD Vance as Trump's likely successor, arguing he's overly ambitious, inexperienced, and too aligned with Tucker Carlson.

Vance's allies dismiss the attacks as coming from an outdated GOP establishment and say they only strengthen his standing with the party's base.

Source: Axios

After 4.5 months of repairs at Ben Gurion Airport, the U.S. KC-135 tanker that survived a mid-air collision over Iraq departed Israel this morning for the U.S.

The March 13, 2026, accident occurred while two KC-135s were refueling fighter jets en route to strikes in Iran.

One tanker crashed, killing six U.S. crew members, while the other made an emergency landing in Israel despite losing part of its tail.

Source: Kan News

WATCH: Two firefighting helicopters crash while fighting a wildfire in Greece.

Trump paused planned U.S. strikes on Iran after Gulf states—especially Saudi Arabia—and regional mediators urged diplomacy.

Qatar presented a new proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran signaled it was open to negotiations, though key disputes remain over control of shipping lanes and transit fees.

Source: WSJ

Gulf states are growing frustrated with what they see as an inconsistent U.S. strategy toward Iran.

They fear a prolonged conflict will leave them exposed to Iranian retaliation, including attacks on their territory and critical infrastructure.

Saudi Arabia is urging Trump to prioritize diplomacy and de-escalation while seeking stronger U.S. security guarantees.

The UAE, however, believes only tougher U.S. military action will force Iran to compromise.

Source: WSJ

Polling indicates that the war with Iran is unpopular among American voters and is weighing on Republican prospects ahead of the November midterm elections.

Iranian officials see Trump's domestic political constraints as a potential source of leverage in negotiations.

According to an Iranian diplomat, if diplomacy collapses, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is considering preemptive strikes even without a U.S. attack.

Source: WSJ

According to the Greek Fire Service, two firefighters died in the crash, while the crew of the second helicopter survived and was rescued.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says negotiations with Oman have made progress and are now in their final stages, nearing completion.

At least 13 Palestinians, including several children, were killed in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza City, Khan Younis, and Deir al-Balah, according to Palestinian officials.

The strikes came just days after Hamas accepted a US-backed disarmament plan to transfer its weapons to President Trump's Board of Peace.

Israel said it targeted Hamas members.

Iran's FM Spox. Esmail Baghaei:

The agreement between Iran and Oman on the new route has no connection to reopening the Strait of Hormuz or maintaining its closure.

The southern route through the Strait of Hormuz has been associated with making the region insecure and harming Iran’s national interests, and Tehran does not accept it.

The agreed route will be neither the northern route nor the current southern route. Instead, it will be a new route that both sides mutually agree upon.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog:

Israel is a democracy. We're in elections. We're having elections on the 27th of October — huge elections.

We'll have about 40 different parties running, from Palestinian-oriented parties to extreme right-wing, even fascist, on-the-verge-of-fascism parties.

Source: Fox News

Iran's FM Spox. Esmail Baghaei:

The future management of the Strait of Hormuz will be carried out by Iran in consultation with Oman.

Trump reportedly won both the club and senior championships at his Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey.

Iran's FM Spox. Esmail Baghaei:

In the past 24 hours, we have received numerous calls from the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, and Ukraine, all stating that they will not be a part of any conflict against Iran.

Israeli officials are frustrated after Trump canceled a planned strike on Iran for the second time in a week, saying the last-minute reversals undermine military planning.

Israel now believes Trump prefers securing a deal with Iran over escalating the conflict.

Source: Kan News

WATCH: Israeli "settler" to BBC:

One Jewish life is worth 10 million Palestinian lives.

Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posts a video mocking a Palestinian detainee over prison conditions.

It is unclear why she is being held.