LiveLive Updates July 28, 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 formatSubscribeJuly 28, 2026UpdatesSecond woman IDF soldier dies by suicide in three daysA woman soldier serving in the IDF's Bardelas Battalion, a combat unit, died by suicide after she was found injured at a base in southern Israel on Tuesday morning and evacuated to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.Another woman soldier who served in a classified role in the Military Intelligence Directorate died by suicide two days earlier.Since the beginning of the year, at least 16 active-duty soldiers have died by suicide. At least nine additional soldiers who served during the war, both in regular service and the reserves, died by suicide this year after completing their active service. The figures point to a further rise in the number of suicides within Israel's defense establishment, continuing a trend that began after the outbreak of the war on October 7.Netanyahu, Trump attend funeral of Sen. Lindsey GrahamIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with his wife Sara, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other officials on the day of the funeral service for late U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham. Credit: Evelyn Hockstein/ReutersIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with his wife Sara, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other officials on the day of the funeral service for late U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham. Credit: Evelyn Hockstein/ReutersPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined U.S. President Donald Trump at the funeral of Sen. Lindsey Graham, where Trump eulogized the late U.S. lawmaker as "extremely hawkish. He never saw a war he didn't like. Only his true friends would understand that."Qatar condemns former PM Bennett's threat to designate Qatar enemy stateQatar sharply criticized former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett after he declared on Monday that, if elected to lead the next government, he would designate Qatar an enemy state.The U.S. Embassy of Qatar said Bennett was "deliberately spreading disinformation about Qatar in an attempt to advance his political ambitions," adding that the country's activities in Gaza were carried out in full coordination with Israel and had helped secure the release of hostages.Responding to the Qatari statement, Bennett, chairman of the Together party, said, "Qatar bears responsibility for the October 7 massacre. Qatar financed October 7. It hosts and shelters the terrorist leaders in Doha to this very day. They have never condemned the October 7 massacre, and on October 7 they celebrated the massacre, the murder and the rape of Israeli civilians. I cannot be bought with money. Qatar is an enemy, and we will declare it an enemy."Response by the State of Qatar’s Media Attaché in the United States Mr Ali Al-Ansari to statements by former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali BennettRECAP: U.S., Israeli lawmakers mark year since Palestinian activist Awdah al-Hathaleen killed by settler, call to 'end occupation'Here are Tuesday's latest updates:■ At the memorial service of late activist Awdah al-Hathaleen, a prominent community activist killed a year ago by a settler in the South Hebron Hills, Hadash MK Ofer Cassif told Haaretz that a Border Police officer pushed him; U.S. Democratic Representative Ro Khanna emphasized that settler violence in the West Bank is "rapidly increasing," adding, "It is our responsibility as Americans to stand up for peace and end this occupation."■ The Carter Center, an NGO founded by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, called upon the United States and the international community to prohibit trade with Israeli settlements and ban settlement products from their markets■ Yemen's ‌Houthis said they ⁠had fired ⁠ballistic missiles at a Saudi oil tanker, accusing the vessel ‌of violating ‌what they described as their maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia in the Red ⁠Sea and ignoring warning calls.■ Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, a long-outspoken critic of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for hosting the Israeli leader at the White House: "Netanyahu has a warrant out for his arrest for committing war crimes. He should be nowhere near the Oval Office."■ Netanyahu met with Trump behind closed doors on Tuesday morning, which the White House called "positive and productive."■ Nearly half of Americans (49 percent) believe that U.S. law enforcement should arrest Netanyahu during his visit to the country, including 74 percent of Kamala Harris voters in the 2024 presidential election and 23 percent of Trump voters, according to a new survey by The Economist/YouGov.NGO of former U.S. President Carter call on U.S., international community to ban trade with Israeli settlementsThe Carter Center, an NGO founded by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, called upon the United States and the international community to prohibit trade with Israeli settlements and ban settlement products from their markets"The United States and the broader international community must take urgent diplomatic, legal, and economic action to pressure Israel to fulfill its obligations under international law to curb settler violence, ensure accountability, protect civilians, and end policies that enable settlement expansion and annexation," the Carter Center said in a statement concerning recent violent escalation in the West Bank.Yemen's Houthis say they launched attack on Saudi vessel with ballistic missilesYemen's ‌Houthis said ‌on Tuesday that they ⁠had fired ⁠ballistic missiles at a Saudi oil tanker, accusing the vessel ‌of violating ‌what they described as their maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia in the Red ⁠Sea and ignoring warning calls.The Iran-aligned ‌group's ⁠military spokesperson, ‌Yahya Saree, said the vessel was ⁠forced to turn back.Over 100 protesters rally against settler violence in Tel AvivAbout 150 people are demonstrating against settler violence in Tel Aviv's Habima Square, where police forced protesters into the square and confiscated sound equipment after declaring the demonstration illegal.The protest was organized by Standing Together, Looking the Occupation in the Eye and other organizations, and follows a similar demonstration held on Saturday that ended with the arrest of nine demonstrators who blocked a road.A police officer and a protester at Tel Aviv's Habima on Tuesday. Credit: Moti MilrodA police officer and a protester at Tel Aviv's Habima on Tuesday. Credit: Moti MilrodDemocratic Rep. Ro Khanna says it's Americans' responsibility to 'end occupation'In memory of Awdah Hathaleen, a father, educator, and community leader.U.S. Democratic Representative Ro Khanna marked a year since the murder of Awdah al-Hathaleen, who was killed in the Palestinian community of Umm al-Kheir, and emphasized that settler violence in the West Bank is "rapidly increasing.""I have heard countless stories from Palestinian and Jewish activists about Awdah's kindness and courage," Khanna said. "It is our responsibility as Americans to stand up for peace and end this occupation that has claimed so many innocent lives."Khanna called on Sunday for the arrest of four Israeli soldiers who he said assisted armed Israeli settlers in detaining him during a visit to the West Bank earlier this month.UN refugee chief hopeful about Washington partnership after reports of possible split with Trump administrationThe United Nations High Commissioner ⁠for Refugees Barham Salih said on Tuesday he was hopeful that the organization's partnership with Washington would continue after reports ‌of a possible split with the Trump administration."The ‌United States has been a very important, vital partner to UNHCR for decades. That partnership remains as vital as ever and we are hopeful that this partnership will continue," he told reporters."We are in touch with U.S. colleagues and ⁠we continue our conversations."Earlier, diplomats had told Reuters that the risk of ‌a split had been ⁠averted, citing successful efforts ‌by UN officials and others.The United States has historically been the largest donor to the ⁠UN refugee agency, which provides aid to millions of displaced people around the world and oversees a 75-year-old convention ‌that guarantees their legal protections.MK says Border Police pushed him at memorial of Awdah al-Hathaleen, Palestinian activist killed by settlerAt the memorial service of late activist Awdah al-Hathaleen, a prominent community activist killed a year ago by a settler in the South Hebron Hills, Hadash MK Ofer Cassif told Haaretz that a Border Police officer pushed him.In the community of Umm al-Kheir, Cassif eulogized al-Hathaleen as a "man of non-violent struggle, principled against the occupation and the theft of land by the settlements and outposts. He was murdered exactly a year ago, with his child on his shoulders. His murderer, Yinon Levi, has been free for a year, with the weapon. An outpost was established on the village's land, which was manned in violation of the court ruling at the time.""We arrived at the event today in the community; it was a quiet and respectful event in the presence of the media and many people. Out of nowhere, dozens of Border Police officers arrived." He said the officer presented a closed military area order and said that we had to "evacuate within five minutes or force would be used. He shouted, and I shouted back.""At some point, he pushed me to the ground," he said, emphasizing that he is "very afraid" that settlers will commit an "act of revenge" against the community. "I am afraid that the occupation forces will come in and go wild. This is the routine there these days. I am very afraid for them."In the NewsWailing Fences: Jerusalem Has Become Israel's City of BarriersDon't Let Israel's Democracy Become a Law for Everyone Except the Chosen FewIsrael Police Withheld East Jerusalem Man's Body Over Facebook Funeral PostsFar-right Party Able to Run in Israeli Election After Shin Bet Chief U-turnAll Israel's Leading 'Leftist' Party Can Offer Palestinians Is Selective EmpathyRemembering and rebuilding two years laterICYMIIsrael's Far Right Is Repeating the Sin That Brought Down the TempleAl Jazeera Reportedly Ends Contracts of Over 20 Gazan JournalistsWith the West Bank Primed to Explode, Israel's Government Sees an OpportunityTwo Israelis, Four Palestinians Killed in Clash After Settlers Enter TownThese Young Israelis Are Calling for the Zionist Left to Confront the OccupationIran Strikes on CIA Facilities Prompt Questions About Possible Russian Role