LiveLive Updates August 26, 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 26, 2026UpdatesBoard of Peace envoy tells UN Hamas agreed to disarm, hand over Gaza controlNickolay Mladenov in Davos, in January. Credit: AFP/FABRICE COFFRININickolay Mladenov in Davos, in January. Credit: AFP/FABRICE COFFRINIThe Board of Peace's High Representative for Gaza Nickolay Mladenov said Hamas and other factions in Gaza have agreed to hand over their weapons and control of the Gaza Strip to a UN-recognized transitional government.Speaking at the UN Security Council, Mladenov addressed Israel's continued restrictions on humanitarian aid, warning that "winter is around the corner, and Israel's present policy on quality shelter is not acceptable. The Board of Peace urges the State of Israel to allow better shelter into the Strip, for dignity, for health and for safety."Mladenov also criticized continued Israeli strikes in Gaza, saying a cease-fire "under which civilians are still buried is not yet one that the people of Gaza can really feel." He added that any use of force that is not in response to an imminent threat risks undermining the process.Mladenov said Gaza's armed factions' "full governing authority, civilian and security" will be handed over to the transitional government, praising what he called an opportunity to "dramatically improve life in a sustainable way" for Gazans and "provide durable security" for Israelis.For the process to move forward, the International Stabilization Force must deploy, Israel must implement its commitments under the Sharm el-Sheikh Protocol and Hamas must honor its commitments, Mladenov said. Mladenov said he met with Netanyahu to address his government's concerns. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office recently made clear that it did not approve the deployment of the ISF. IDF says it detained Palestinian who planned stabbing near West Bank settlementA kitchen knife that the IDF says it found after detaining a Palestinian woman in the northern West Bank on Wednesday. Credit: IDF Spokesperson's UnitA kitchen knife that the IDF says it found after detaining a Palestinian woman in the northern West Bank on Wednesday. Credit: IDF Spokesperson's UnitThe Israeli military said it "apprehended a terrorist" near the Shavei Shomron settlement, northwest of the Palestinian city of Nablus in the northern West Bank, saying she was planning a stabbing.The IDF didn't provide details on the suspect's age or condition and said it detained her "after information was received regarding her intention to carry out a stabbing attack."The army said she was "armed with a knife" when detained, adding that she was "transferred to the security forces for further handling."United Arab List leader, ex-deputy police minister near deal on joint election runUnited Arab List Chairman Mansour Abbas (left) and former Deputy Public Security Minister Yoav Segalovitz (right), Wednesday. Credit: United Arab ListUnited Arab List Chairman Mansour Abbas (left) and former Deputy Public Security Minister Yoav Segalovitz (right), Wednesday. Credit: United Arab ListUnited Arab List Chairman Mansour Abbas and former Deputy Public Security Minister Yoav Segalovitz have agreed on most details regarding Segalovitz joining Abbas' party ahead of the upcoming election, sources close to both politicians told Haaretz.Abbas and Segalovitz met earlier on Wednesday to discuss the joint election run, saying they will continue their talks in the coming days."The move is intended to serve the interests of all Israeli citizens and strengthen the fabric of Jewish-Arab relations," the politicians said in a joint statement, citing the challenges facing the country and the need to offer Jews and Arabs "a viable political alternative."They added that the move is based on "the values of civic partnership and the vital need to advance it."Iran says it reached agreement with Oman on Strait of Hormuz, revenuesIran and Oman have reached agreements concerning their respective shares of the Strait of Hormuz and its revenues, a spokesperson for Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Wednesday, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.The spokesperson also accused the United States of obstructing negotiations between Iran and Oman, saying the talks had been delayed as a result.Iranian president says U.S. will achieve ‘nothing’ with new sanctionsIranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Wednesday that a new round of U.S. economic sanctions would fail to pressure Tehran into changing its policies."The United States will achieve nothing with economic pressure at this stage, just as it was unable to achieve anything in the war," Pezeshkian said, according to the Iranian news agency ISNA.An Iranian woman walking past a portrait of Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian last month. Credit: Anjum Naveed/APAn Iranian woman walking past a portrait of Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian last month. Credit: Anjum Naveed/APPezeshkian said Iran's government had prepared economic measures to counter the sanctions, adding that Tehran's preferred approach remained negotiations."Our principle is understanding and resolving issues through interaction and negotiation," he said, while adding that Iran would continue to resist economic pressure.IDF soldiers tried to block left-wing Israeli lawmaker from West Bank village, staged assaultIsraeli soldiers tried on Tuesday to prevent lawmaker Ofer Cassif of the left-wing Hadash party from visiting Palestinian families in the West Bank village of Qusra, with footage from the scene showing one soldier apparently pretending that Cassif had assaulted him.The incident came hours after IDF forces provided security for a "monument tour" by far-right Religious Zionism lawmaker Tzvi Succot, during which he smashed a memorial in the Palestinian village of Madama, south of Nablus.Cassif with his hands clasped behind his back in Qusra, Tuesday. Credit: Used in accordance with Section 27A of the Copyright LawCassif with his hands clasped behind his back in Qusra, Tuesday. Credit: Used in accordance with Section 27A of the Copyright LawIn footage from Qusra, soldiers are seen blocking Cassif as he stands with his hands behind his back. One soldier then slips and begins shouting, "He hit me, my head." According to Cassif, the troops eventually allowed him and two companions to reach the families after senior officials intervened. The IDF has yet to respond to the incident.Cassif had traveled to Qusra to visit three Palestinian families who have faced severe restrictions on their movement for more than two weeks, after settlers established an outpost near the entrance to their homes and began besieging them.Read the full articleIDF says it struck Hamas site near hospital and school in northern GazaThe Israeli Air Force struck a Hamas site in the northern Gaza Strip on Tuesday, which the IDF says was located near a hospital and a school.The facility in Jabalia was used by Hamas as an "ambush position" and to store weapons, according to an IDF statement. The military said Hamas operatives had recently used the site to plan attacks against Israeli troops and attempt to restore the group's military capabilities.Several Hamas operatives were killed in the strike, according to the IDF.#عاجل‼️بالقرب من مستشفى ومدرسة: جيش الدفاع دمر مبنى استخدمه مخربو حماس كنقطة كمين بالقرب من الخط الأصفر