Live Updates August 24, 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 formatSubscribeAugust 24, 2026RECAP: Pakistani army chief speaks to Trump ahead of Tehran visit; Altalena found at sea after 76 years Here are Monday's latest updates:■ The Israeli military said it struck two Hamas militants in Deir al-Balah overnight into Monday, saying one was a member of Hamas' elite Nukhba force who raided Israeli territory on October 7.■ The Altalena, the immigrant and weapons ship that was sunk off the coast of Tel Aviv 76 years ago, has been found intact at a depth of 503 meters (1650 feet) in the sea, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu said.■ Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir spoke to U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of his visit to Tehran, Reuters reported, citing Pakistani sources. ■ U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday the United States was beginning the "single greatest financial offensive ever marshaled" against Iran, describing it as an "economic D-Day."■ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged right-wing voters not to support small parties, and warned that if Together party chairman Gadi Eisenkot comes to power, "a fascist regime will be established here."■ Senior Democrats party lawmaker Naama Lazimi said Israel should seek a settlement that "will not establish a Palestinian state" during the next government.IDF says it struck two Hamas militants in Gaza strike The Israeli military said it struck two Hamas militants in Deir al-Balah overnight into Monday, saying one was a member of Hamas' elite Nukhba force who raided Israeli territory on October 7In a statement, the IDF said the militants had planned to "advance terror attacks" against Israeli troops operating in the Gaza Strip.Pakistan's army chief set to meet people close to Khamenei during Tehran visit, source says Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir during U.S.-Iran talks at the Burgenstock hotel complex overlooking Lake Lucerne, Switzerland, in June. Credit: Fabrice Coffrini/Pool via Reuters Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir during U.S.-Iran talks at the Burgenstock hotel complex overlooking Lake Lucerne, Switzerland, in June. Credit: Fabrice Coffrini/Pool via Reuters Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir arrived in Tehran on Monday, Pakistan's military confirmed, saying it was "part of Pakistan's efforts to promote regional peace and stability." Munir is expected to meet with people close to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei on Monday, one Pakistani source said.Another Pakistani government source said while U.S.-Iran tensions were a focus of the visit, Munir was also expected to discuss recent attacks by Iran-aligned Houthi fighters on Pakistan's ⁠ally Saudi Arabia as well as the recently signed mutual defence agreement between Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Munir last week ahead of his trip to Tehran, according to three Pakistani sources, with one saying the main U.S. request was to use Pakistan's influence to bring Iran back to negotiations.Pakistan's earlier mediation efforts between the U.S. and Iran resulted in an interim peace agreement signed in ⁠June. But the Islamabad Memorandum quickly faltered, amid new fighting between Iran and the U.S. that has threatened to spiral into a wider regional conflict in recent weeks.China's Xi discusses Palestine in meeting with Jordan's King Chinese President Xi ‌Jinping on Monday said ⁠the Palestinian issue "lies ⁠at the core of the Middle East issue" in a ‌meeting with Jordan's ‌King Abdullah in Beijing. China's President Xi Jinping and King Abdullah II of Jordan gesture after attending a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday. Credit: Andres Martinez Casares/Pool via Reuters China's President Xi Jinping and King Abdullah II of Jordan gesture after attending a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday. Credit: Andres Martinez Casares/Pool via Reuters Xi called for a political solution, the resumption of peace talks between the Palestinians ⁠and Israel and for the "realisation of ‌Palestine's ⁠early establishment ‌as an independent state," according to an ⁠official summary of the meeting broadcast on Chinese ‌state radio.Netanyahu warns voters to avoid small parties, says Eisenkot victory would bring ‘fascist regime’People pose for photos with a cardboard cutout of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of the Likud party primary in Jerusalem in August. Credit: Itay Cohen People pose for photos with a cardboard cutout of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of the Likud party primary in Jerusalem in August. Credit: Itay Cohen Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday urged right-wing voters not to support small parties, warning that those that fail to cross Israel's electoral threshold could help bring the left to power."Don't waste your vote on small parties that may not pass the electoral threshold and bring the left to power," Netanyahu said in a social media post.He warned that if Together party chairman Gadi Eisenkot comes to power, "a fascist regime will be established here."Netanyahu pointed to the 1992 election, when the Labor Party under Yitzhak Rabin defeated Likud. He blamed the loss in part on right-wing voters who backed smaller parties that failed to cross the electoral threshold.Rabin's first move was to bring Yasser Arafat and other Palestinian leaders from Tunis, Netanyahu said, leading to the establishment of Palestinian entities in Gaza and the West Bank. "The rest is known," he said, citing the thousands of Israelis killed and wounded in subsequent violence.Senior Democrats party MK says Israel should separate from, not establish a Palestinian stateThe Democrats party lawmaker Naama Lazimi responded to remarks by United Arab List chairman Mansour Abbas on Monday, saying that Israel should seek a settlement that "will not establish a Palestinian state" during the next government.Senior Democrats party lawmaker Naama Lazimi speaks at the TheMarker conference in Tel Aviv on Monday. Credit: Moti MilrodSenior Democrats party lawmaker Naama Lazimi speaks at the TheMarker conference in Tel Aviv on Monday. Credit: Moti MilrodSpeaking to Kan public radio, Lazimi added that a future settlement should lead to the separation of Israel and Palestine and give Israel peace and security.Her statement comes in response to United Arab List chairman Mansour Abbas, who called on Saturday for an end to the occupation and the recognition of a Palestinian state. At the party's general conference, Abbas said that Israel and the United States should recognize a Palestinian state because most countries already recognize it. Iran will respond to Trump's economic threats, Foreign Ministry says Iran will use all bilateral capabilities to confront the United States' economic sanctions, Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday. His remarks come after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday that the United States will begin a financial offensive against Iran.Baghaei said Iran has issued warnings regarding cooperation with the United States on its economic pressure on Tehran.Bessent warned of a forthcoming "economic D-Day," saying the United States was "entering the endgame" of the war with Iran. He said that countries cooperating with Iran "would do well to consider the consequences."Tanker reportedly struck by unknown projectile off the coast of the Red SeaA tanker was struck by an unknown projectile west of Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, off the coast of the Red Sea, the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency said Monday, citing a security officer.The Saudi Arabian city of Yanbu, marked in red, off the Red Sea coast.The Saudi Arabian city of Yanbu, marked in red, off the Red Sea coast.The UKMTO said the strike caused a fire on the vessel's main deck. The agency added that all crew members are safe and accounted for, and no environmental impact has been reported.4 hours agoAltalena, symbol of Irgun underground militia, found intact 500 meters underwaterThe Altalena Credit: Teddy Brauner/GPOThe Altalena Credit: Teddy Brauner/GPOThe Altalena, the immigrant and weapons ship that was sunk off the coast of Tel Aviv 76 years ago, has been found intact at a depth of 503 meters (1650 feet) in the sea, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu said Monday.According to the statement, the ship, which arrived in 1948 carrying Irgun fighters, was found after a months-long operation using special sensors and advanced survey systems.Roni Sadeh of the Maritime Mapping Department of the Survey of Israel said the team succeeded in locating the ship thanks to advanced technologies and the work of a professional and dedicated team at sea.A press conference will be held later Monday, where additional findings will be presented.In the NewsU.S. Envoy Walks Back Golan Heights Comments That Contradicted Trump's PositionA Desperate Netanyahu Is Firing at All Fronts to Win the ElectionFrom Armenia to Gaza: The Language of Denial That Make Atrocities PossibleFood Lovers Wait All Year for This Druze Farmer's Heirloom EggplantAltalena Shipwreck Found Intact Underwater 78 Years After IDF Sank Irgun VesselRemembering and rebuilding two years laterICYMIIDF Marks Detained Palestinians With Numbers as Northern West Bank Raids ExpandAn Israeli Startup Is Reinventing Salmon Farming. 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