Live Updates December 02, 2025Share 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 formatSubscribeDecember 02, 2025UpdatesPalestinian journalist killed in Israeli attack in Gaza Strip, local media reportsA Palestinian journalist has been killed in an Israeli attack in the Gaza Strip, according to media reports Tuesday. Another journalist was injured in the drone strike in Khan Younis in the south of the territory, the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.An Israeli army spokesperson said on request that the armed forces were investigating the report.According to WAFA, the journalist killed was named as Mahmoud Wadi. Local media reports said that he had used a drone camera in his work for various media outlets. December 02, 2025Report: Netanyahu asked Trump for more help securing pardon in criminal trialPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked U.S. President Donald Trump for his continued assistance in ensuring that President Isaac Herzog agrees to grant him a pardon, in a telephone conversation on Monday, according to Axios.Netanyahu on Sunday submitted an official request to Herzog for a pardon in his long-running corruption trial.Two senior American officials quoted by Axios said that Trump "believes he has done everything he can on the matter" and that the president "thinks the pardon request will work out," but did not commit to taking further steps.According to the report, a senior Israeli official noted that it was Trump who raised the issue of the pardon in the conversation and that the two leaders agreed to continue discussing the matter in the near future. The prime minister is expected to visit the White House in a few weeks.Shin Bet knows of 'dozens' of Israelis working with Iranian intelligence, Bat Yam mayor saysIsraeli authorities know of dozens of residents of central Israel who are working with Iranian intelligence, according to Zvika Brot, mayor of the Tel Aviv suburb of Bat Yam.In a video posted on Facebook, Brot said those working with Iran "are endangering not only national security but also their personal future. These are very serious offenses, and any of them who are arrested by the Shin Bet will cause themselves irreparable harm."Brot noted that he issued the announcement "at the request" of the Shin Bet security service.He also mentioned that some of the Israelis working with Iranian intelligence throughout the country are "normative people, even IDF reservists."December 02, 2025Hostage parents say U.S. treated them better than IsraelRonen Neutra, father of fallen IDF Omer Neutra at his funeral, in November. Credit: Tomer AppelbaumRonen Neutra, father of fallen IDF Omer Neutra at his funeral, in November. Credit: Tomer AppelbaumRonen Nuetra, father of fallen soldier Omer Nuetra, spoke about their decision to stay in New York. He said that in the weeks after October 7, "the administration in Israel disappeared. We had to take a role decision to be a bridge between the U.S and Israel, to let people know here there's a crisis in Israel."Speaking at the Israel Hayom conference in New York, Orna Neutra, mother of Omer Neutra, said it's "heartbreaking" that they got a "warmer hug in the U.S. than in Israel.""We raised a boy with a true passion and love for Israel, almost a naive kind of passion that left everything behind here in the United States and made his way to becoming an officer in the Israeli army together. We couldn't understand the reaction. This is an administration that has not owned the responsibility since day one, yet to date, and I think that's part of the explanation."Yael Alexander, mother of released hostage Edan Alexander, said, "The hug that we felt here, the U.S. administration was a real one. Everyone wanted to meet us, to speak with us. They knew our stories. They were, like, prepared. You come into a meeting, and they know everything about Edan, about Omer. In Israel, it was different. It was very difficult. You felt like no one is really listening, no one is taking responsibility."December 02, 2025Trump had to personally interact with sides to make them sign Gaza deal, Rubio saysU.S. President Donald Trump had to "personally interact" with the sides in order to achieve the Gaza cease-fire and hostage release deal signed in October, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said."What he achieved in Gaza – not just because he hates war and he thinks its a waste of money and lives, but he's the only leader in the world who can," Rubio said."I can't get into the details – the vice president knows what I'm talking about – but that deal doesn't happen without the president's direct interaction with the leaders involved in this decision-making," he added. "Every day is a challenge, but it's been driven personally by the president."RECAP: Israel receives human remains from Gaza; IDF kills three Palestinians in GazaHere are Tuesday's latest updates from Israel, Gaza and the Middle East:■ Human remains that the Red Cross handed over to Israel arrived for examination at the Forensic Institute. Hamas said it handed over a hostage's body.■ The IDF said the Israel Air Force killed three Palestinians who crossed the Yellow Line in the southern and northern Gaza Strip.■ The High Court of Justice ordered Defense Minister Israel Katz and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to explain why Arabs aren't drafted to the IDF.■ U.S. Special Representative to Lebanon Morgan Ortagus arrived in Israel and met with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar in Jerusalem, Sa'ar said, adding that the two had a "good discussion on the situation in Lebanon."■ The IDF said Hezbollah assassinated four Lebanese officials who knew of its role in the Beirut Port explosion, including a Customs Department chief who asked to remove explosive stockpiles from the port.■ German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Germany is ready to participate and support the reconstruction of Gaza during a meeting he had with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.Netanyahu cancels press conference on IDF draft bill; Bennet, Lapid to give speechesPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu postponed a press conference he was expected to hold on Tuesday evening about a bill to draft Yeshiva students, citing "schedule considerations."Netanyahu announced his speech earlier on Tuesday, with former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid also announcing speeches on the matter.The bill legalizes exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Yeshiva students from military service. Bennett and Lapid are expected to speak about the bill later on Tuesday.December 02, 2025Diaspora Minister Chikli says Israel shouldn't intervene in Republican antisemitismIn the Israel Hayom conference in New York Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli said Israel should not intervene in the rise in influence of antisemitic figures like Nick Fuentes within the Republican Party."We should stay out of the fight within MAGA. We should not ask to quiet these voices. It is a fight that needs to be fought here."He said Israel should instead fight who he claims is financing antisemites, claiming Qatar is paying influencers like Tucker Carlson "I believe Tucker is being paid to push Sharia Law."In October, Tucker Carlson hosted prominent far-right influencer Nick Fuentes, a neo-Nazi podcaster and online influencer, on his show, where the two discussed their views on Israel and Judaism. Fuentes is known for saying that "Jews are responsible for every war."Ben-Gvir says AG is 'criminal' who is 'framing' politicians, IDF officersFar-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir says Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara is a criminal after she demanded Prime Ministier Benjamin Netanyahu look into Ben-Gvir's politicization of police."Gali Baharav-Miara is a criminal who disrupted investigative procedures in matters in which the High Court of Justice determined that she had a conflict of interest," Ben-Gvir said."She is framing elected officials, public servants and senior military officers, demonstrably striving to carry out a coup against a democratically elected government, to annul laws, thwart decisions and thwart appointments, and now the climax – an attempt to dismiss elected officials," he added."I will not rest or remain silent until her actions are investigated – Israel will not be a mafia state."AG demands Netanyahu address Ben-Gvir's politicization of police in 'violation of law'Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara demanded that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu address far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's illegal politicization of the Israel Police."Ben-Gvir continues to violate the law, the court's decisions, and the document of principles to which he explicitly committed himself – and is harming the independence of the police," she wrote in a letter to Netanyahu.Ben-Gvir "acts as a kind of 'super-commissioner' or in a way that presents him as such," the letter said, noting his "participation in activities with citizens."Baharav-Miara added that Ben-Gvir is "mixing his own political statements with statements on the police's operational activity" and "creating a connection between police enforcement activities with citizens and political activity."In the NewsDumber Than a 10 Year Old: Are Israeli Students Really That Stupid?The Gift Jews Gave to America on Its 100th Birthday in 1876Ben-Gvir Once Again Cancels U.S. Visit Amid Calls to Prosecute HimIt's Hard to Be a Thinking Person in Israel. 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