Live Updates February 22, 2026Share to FacebookShare to XArticle printing is available to subscribers onlyPrint in a simple, ad-free formatSubscribeComments: Zen reading is available to subscribers onlyAd-free and in a comfortable reading formatSubscribeFebruary 22, 2026UpdatesRECAP: Iran offers nuclear reduction steps for interim U.S. deal, won't give up uranium, oil and mineral resourcesHere are Sunday's key updates on Israel, the West Bank, Gaza and the Middle East:■ A senior Iranian official told Reuters that renewed U.S. talks ‌for ‌early March could lead ⁠to an interim deal, and that Tehran is considering various nuclear risk reduction measures, while reiterating Iran's right to uranium enrichment. Iran will not give the U.S. control of its oil and mineral resources, but U.S. companies can act as contractors in Iran's oil and gas fields, the official said.■ Northern Israeli Arab residents from Kfar Kanna reported hours of continuous gunfire and a grenade attack during a violent clash between two feuding families on Saturday night.■ A 17-year-old Palestinian who was shot in the head by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank on Saturday has died of his wounds, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported.■ U.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff said U.S. President Donald Trump is "curious" as to why the Iranian government has not capitulated to U.S. demands in talks despite U.S. military pressure.■ Eleven Arab and Muslim states issued a joint condemnation on Saturday of remarks by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who said it "would be fine" if Israel controlled most of the Middle East.■ Iran's Civil Aviation Organization issued notices warning aircrews to avoid flying over six areas across the country, according to several Saudi media outlets.■ Two Palestinians were wounded after armed Israeli settlers opened fire on residents in the village of al-Mughayyir, northeast of Ramallah, Palestinian media reported.As Khamenei's envoys scramble for a deal, Iran prepares for all-out war | AnalysisA missile exercise in southern Iran, February. Iranian conservatives believe Tehran can show flexibility on the nuclear issue but not on missiles, as any concession in this area would constitute a strategic blow to national security. Credit: IRGC via Wana News Agency/ReutersA missile exercise in southern Iran, February. Iranian conservatives believe Tehran can show flexibility on the nuclear issue but not on missiles, as any concession in this area would constitute a strategic blow to national security. Credit: IRGC via Wana News Agency/ReutersThe mixture of reports and statements that circulated over the weekend about the prospect of war with Iran is far from answering the burning question: Will there be a war, and when?As in the days before to the second round of talks in Geneva, the air is filled with contradictory statements, ranging from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's claim Friday that he hoped to present a draft to U.S. negotiators "in the next two, three days" to U.S. President Donald Trump's remark that day that he was considering a limited military strike but still hoped for a negotiated solution.Although the talks in Switzerland ended after only a few hours, the diplomatic efforts did not cease for a moment. Araghchi and Ali Larijani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, who are tasked with formulating Iran's political response, held a series of talks in recent days with Arab, Russian and Chinese leaders to lay the groundwork for that draft proposal.After Araghchi reported that Iran and the United States had agreed on principles, the challenge now is to translate these fundamentals into agreements that may appear technical on the surface. But these technicalities lie at the heart of the ideological conflict, as they define who "won" and who "lost."Read the full articleSenior Iranian official: Iran offers nuclear risk reduction measures, will not give up uranium, oil and mineral resource controlIran and ‌the U.S. ⁠have differing views over ⁠the scope and mechanism to lift sanctions on Tehran ‌in exchange ‌for curbs on its nuclear program, a senior Iranian official told Reuters, adding that renewed talks ‌have been ⁠scheduled in ‌early March and could possibly lead ⁠to an interim deal.In an effort to make progress on a nuclear deal, the official said Tehran can seriously consider a mix of exporting part of its highly enriched uranium stockpile, diluting its purity level and a regional consortium to oversee nuclear activities, while reiterating that Iran's right to uranium enrichment within the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty must be recognized.The official added that the country will not hand over control of its oil and mineral resources to the United States, but that U.S. companies can always participate as contractors in Iran's oil and gas fields.Read the full articleItalian broadcaster apologizes after remark targets Israeli bobsleigh teamItaly's state broadcaster RAI was forced to apologize to the Jewish community on Saturday after an off‑air remark advising its producers to "avoid" the Israeli crew was broadcast before coverage of the Four-Man bobsleigh event at the Winter Olympics.The head of RAI's sports division had already resigned earlier in the week after his error-ridden commentary at the Milano Cortina 2026 opening ceremony two weeks ago triggered a revolt among its journalists.On Saturday, viewers heard "Let's avoid crew number 21, which is the Israeli one," and then "no, because ..." before the sound was cut off.Israel's AJ Edelman, front, Menachem Chen, Uri Zisman and Omer Katz start for a four man bobsled run at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday. Credit: Alessandra Tarantino/AP Israel's AJ Edelman, front, Menachem Chen, Uri Zisman and Omer Katz start for a four man bobsled run at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday. Credit: Alessandra Tarantino/AP Read the full articleRight-wing agitators briefly detained after protesting outside Arab-Israeli journalist's homeRight-wing agitators Mordechai David and Rami Ben Yehuda were released from police custody under restrictive conditions on Saturday night, after they were detained while protesting in front of the home of Arab-Israeli journalist Lucy Aharish.David and Ben Yehuda entered Aharish's building and were recorded standing outside her front door with a megaphone. The two were detained for trespassing and disturbing the peace, and were released under a 14-day ban on contact with Aharish and a 14-day ban on contact with her.According to additional recordings David shared online, he also attempted to block journalists Shai Golden and Raviv Drucker.News 13 reported, "The police's response yesterday was swift, but the facts prove that the agitators are not deterred and are only escalating threats toward Lucy. A journalist who dared to speak her mind is living in fear, and the communication minister has fallen silent. The police minister's hand embraces convicted criminal Mordechai David and Minister Silman (Likud) praises him."The incident occurred against the backdrop of comments Aharish made on air about growing violence in Arab society and upcoming elections: "The Arabs are the citizens of this country, whether you like it or not. In the upcoming elections, they will flock in huge numbers to the ballot boxes, Inshallah, to exercise their democratic right in the democratic Jewish state. Until then, on Saturday, they will go out to exercise another democratic right and protest against violence and the lack of governance."Earlier this month, David admitted on Channel 13 that he pays protesters to disrupt left-wing protests, block opponents and disrupt conferences through his group Brotherhood for Justice - Together We Will Win.Last month, David and far-right agitator Roi Star showed up at the homes of several left-wing activists and harassed them on camera. In a separate incident in the West Bank, David and Star tried to force their way into a building, broke down the front door, and filmed themselves pepper-spraying those inside.Read the full article'Non-stop shooting for many hours': Police arrest 34 suspects after shooting, grenade explosion in northern Israeli Arab townNorthern Israeli Arab residents of Kfar Kanna reported hours of continuous gunfire and a grenade attack during a violent clash between two feuding families on Saturday night.One local resident described calling the police multiple times, only to be told that authorities were "handling it." Hours after a drone dropped a grenade on a house, police raided the town, arresting 34 suspects.The violence left four wounded, including a 30-year-old in serious condition and three others in moderate condition: an 18-year-old, a 40-year-old, and an 80-year-old.Ahmed Dhamsha, a local resident, told Haaretz that during the shooting last night, he hid with his children lying down, covering their heads with their hands. "What is happening is unbelievable, we have never experienced anything like this. Non-stop shooting for many hours, terrifying automatic gunfire. Feelings of fear," he said. "We called the police twice. They said they were handling it – I don't know what they were handling."In the hours following the violence, a local leader held a reconciliation (sulha) between representatives of the two families.Read the full articleIDF forces fatally shoot Palestinian teenager in West Bank, health officials sayA 17-year-old Palestinian who was shot in the head by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank on Saturday has died of his wounds, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported.The teenager, Mohammed Wahabi Abdul-Aziz Hannani, was shot by Israeli forces in the village of Beit Furik, near Nablus. He was evacuated to a hospital in critical condition, where he later died.Witkoff says Trump 'curious' why Iran hasn't capitulated to demands amid massive U.S. military presenceU.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff said U.S. President Donald Trump is "curious" as to why the Iranian government has not acceded to U.S. demands in talks, in light of the mass mobilization of U.S. forces in the Middle East."I don't want to use the word 'frustrated,' because he understands he has plenty of alternatives, but he's curious as to why they haven't… I don't want to use the word 'capitulated,' but why haven't they capitulated?" Witkoff said on Fox News. "Why, under this pressure, with the amount of seapower and naval power over there, why haven't they come to us and said, 'We profess we don't want a weapon, so here's what we're prepared to do'? And yet it's sort of hard to get them to that place."Read the full articleArab, Muslim states slam Huckabee for saying 'fine' for Israel to take over Middle EastFar-right American pundit Tucker Carlson interviews U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee. Credit: Video screengrabFar-right American pundit Tucker Carlson interviews U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee. Credit: Video screengrabEleven Arab and Muslim states issued a joint condemnation on Saturday of remarks by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who said it "would be fine" if Israel controlled most of the Middle East.The foreign ministers who signed the statement categorically rejected Huckabee's "dangerous and inflammatory remarks," which they said "directly contradict the vision put forward by U.S. President Donald J. Trump" for the region, which they claimed is "grounded in promoting tolerance and peaceful coexistence."They said the statements "undermine these objectives, fuel tensions, and constitute incitement rather than advancing peace," adding that they "pose a grave threat to the security and stability of the region."The ministers warned that the "continuation of Israel's expansionist policies and unlawful measures will only inflame violence and conflict in the region and undermine the prospects for peace and called for an end to these incendiary statements."Signatories included the foreign ministers of the Palestinian Authority, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bahrain, as well as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the League of Arab States (LAS), and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).Read the full articleRECAP: Iran reportedly warns aircrews to avoid flights over six areas across countryHere are Saturday's key updates on Israel, the West Bank, Gaza and the Middle East:■ Eleven Arab and Muslim states issued a joint condemnation of remarks by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who said it "would be fine" if Israel controlled most of the Middle East.■ Iran's Civil Aviation Organization issued notices warning aircrews to avoid flying over six areas across the country, according to several Saudi media outlets.■ Thousands of Israelis demonstrated across the country, protesting the government and the surge of violence in the Arab community. Four protesters were detained by police at a demonstration in Jerusalem■ Islamic State claimed responsibility ⁠for two attacks ‌targeting Syrian army personnel in northern and eastern Syria, as the militant ‌group signaled what it described as a new phase of operations against the ⁠country's leadership.■ Hezbollah has increased the frequency of its meetings as it plans its response to a possible war between the United States and Iran, Saudi-owned outlets Al Arabiya and Al Hadath reported, citing Lebanese sources.■ The Israeli military is preparing for the possibility that Hezbollah will join a conflict against Israel if Iran is attacked.■ Two Palestinians were wounded after armed Israeli settlers opened fire on residents in the village of al-Mughayyir, northeast of Ramallah, Palestinian media reported.In the NewsTensions Flare Near Strait of Hormuz as Ship Seized, Another StuckU.S. Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks U.S. Sanctions Against Francesca AlbaneseNext Spy Chief Attempted to Meddle in Matter Affecting Witness on His NominationIsrael Preparing to Sue NYT Over Column Alleging Sexual Abuse of PalestiniansThree Wounded, One Critically, in Hezbollah Drone Attack on Northern IsraelRemembering and rebuilding two years laterICYMIWhatsApp Co-founder Donates Record-breaking $200 Million to Jerusalem HospitalThe Hasidic Jews Behind Florida's Giant Golden Trump StatueLeaked Video of Arab Lawyer's Violent Arrest Contradicts Israel Police Account'A Slave Economy': Inside Israel's ultra-Orthodox Parallel StateIt Wasn't Just Revenge That Israel Was After in GazaIsraeli Artists Slam Venice Biennale Participation: 'Again, Israel as a Victim'