Jerusalem, 28 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — The Israeli government revealed Sunday evening that, in what it called “a blow to Hamas’ infrastructure in Europe,” Israeli assistance with information and evidence for law enforcement in Italy led to the investigation and arrests of Muhammad Hanun, the Hamas leader in that country, and six other senior people in the organization there, including a senior figure in Hamas’s leadership in Europe and a member of Hamas’s leadership on the continent.

A joint task force of the Economic Counterterrorism Headquarters (ECT) in Israel’s Ministry of Defense, the Intelligence/CEO Division of the Israel Police, the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) Intelligence Division, and the Shin Bet (Israel’s anti-terror General Security Service), transferred information and evidence to law enforcement authorities in Italy, through accepted and agreed channels, as part of an investigation targeting Hamas infrastructure in Italy.

During the operation, Italian law enforcement authorities seized assets, money, and property. It is suspected that those involved systematically worked to collect and transfer funds to the civilian and military arms of the declared terrorist organization Hamas.

“Hamas terrorists and all those who seek our harm do not and will not have a safe haven – neither in the Middle East nor in Europe,” said Israel’s Minister of Defense Israel Katz. “The State of Israel will act resolutely to reach every terrorist and everyone who aids terrorism that acts against it. Anyone who thinks they can finance terrorism and hide overseas is mistaken.”

Jerusalem, 28 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — The Bank of Israel reported that in the third quarter of 2025, the balance of the public’s financial assets portfolio increased by approximately 265.1 billion Shekels ($82 billion or 4%), to about 6.9 trillion Shekels ($2.15 trillion).

The increase in the portfolio’s value in the third quarter was mainly due to increases in the balance of equities in Israel (6.8%), in the balance of corporate bonds (6.6 percent), and in the balance of investments abroad (5.9%).

The balance of the asset portfolio managed by institutional investors increased in the third quarter by approximately 143 billion Shekels ($44 billion or 4.7%), to approximately 3.2 trillion Shekels ($1 trillion) at the end of the quarter.

The scope of the portfolio managed by mutual funds in Israel increased by approximately 46.4 billion Shekels ($14 billion or 6.9%) in the third quarter, to a level of 722 billion Shekels ($226 billion). There were net new investments, mainly in funds specializing in domestic bonds, shekel money market funds, and in funds specializing in domestic equities.

Jerusalem, 28 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israel Fire and Rescue said it is in heightened preparation for a stormy and unusual weather system expected tomorrow (Monday) across the country, with an emphasis on the central, Sharon (north of Tel Aviv), Shephelah (South of Tel Aviv) and the greater Tel Aviv regions.

According to updated forecasts, starting in the early morning hours, very heavy rains are expected to fall in a short period of time, with unusual amounts of precipitation of up to 150 mm in a few hours, mainly in the Yarkon (Tel Aviv) and Alexander (from western Samaria to the coast) basin areas. The peak of the system is expected between 9 AM and 2 PM.

During these hours, there is a real risk of widespread flooding in cities and towns.

The Israel Fire and Rescue Service is on full alert, with reinforced forces deployed in advance in sensitive areas.

The Ministry of Health is issuing a swimming advisory for Carmel Beach (North and South) in Haifa, following abnormal seawater test results.

The Ministry continues to monitor the situation.

The Ministry reminds the public that swimming is permitted only at designated beaches.

Jerusalem, 28 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — After reporting to the reserves since the beginning of the war and operating in Gaza, Lebanon, and now in Syria, forces of the IDF’s (Israel Defense Forces) 55th “Spearhead” Brigade have completed more than 100 days of operation in the region and their mission.

They have been operating for the past three months in the defense of the Golan Heights and in the security area in southern Syria. During the activity in the sector, the brigade forces completed dozens of proactive activities that affected the sense of security of the residents of the Golan Heights.

The brigade forces will be replaced in the coming days by another reserve brigade forces that will continue their activities in the southern Syria and Golan Heights area.

Jerusalem, 28 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Jerusalem Police officers arrested a resident of eastern Jerusalem suspected of hitting a police officer during a traffic enforcement operation in the Atarot area in northern Jerusalem and fleeing the scene on foot.

The driver’s vehicle aroused the suspicion of the police operating the traffic enforcement and they acted to stop it.

At a certain point, the vehicle’s driver began to flee the scene, accelerating in a reckless and dangerous manner, hit a police officer who was operating at the location, exited the vehicle, and fled on foot.

As a result of the incident, the officer was slightly injured and evacuated to receive medical treatment at the hospital. Central Unit traffic police together with additional forces that arrived quickly at the scene—and began what the police described as “extensive searches” for the suspect and, within a short time, a suspect was arrested by police forces along with several additional suspects.

There is no word yet if this was a terror attack or a criminally motivated one.

Jerusalem, 28 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — The Israel Police reported that Sunday morning a police officer was slightly injured (according to medical sources) when a driver hit him with his car in the Atarot area in northern Jerusalem and fled the scene on foot.

A large police force was called to the scene and is conducting searches for the suspect.

Jerusalem, 27 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — The police announced that two masked individuals had infiltrated the Givot Bar community in the Negev last night, smashing the windows of parked vehicles and setting many of them on fire. Prior to this incident, officers from the Rahat station and members of the Sahar Brigade had raided criminal targets in the nearby village of Tarabin arresting five suspects. According to the police, an officer was lightly injured during the operation. Following the raid on Tarabin and allegedly in response to it, two suspects, who are residents of the village carried out what authorities described as ‘revenge attacks’, causing damage ‘to dozens of vehicles’. In the wake these incidents, the police said, operational activity in the village continues, suspects are being arrested and forces are conducting raids on additional criminal targets.

The Prime Minister’s Office, this afternoon (Friday, 26 December 2025):

The Prime Minister announced today the official recognition of the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state.

Prime Minister Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Sa’ar, and the President of the Republic of Somaliland signed a joint and mutual declaration.

This declaration is in the spirit of the Abraham Accords, signed at the initiative of President Trump.

Prime Minister Netanyahu congratulated the President of Somaliland, Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdallah, and praised his leadership and commitment to promoting stability and peace. The Prime Minister invited the President to pay an official visit to Israel.

The President thanked Prime Minister Netanyahu for his historic declaration and expressed appreciation for the Prime Minister’s achievements in fighting terrorism and advancing regional peace.

The Prime Minister thanks Foreign Minister Sa’ar, the Head of Mossad David Barnea and the Mossad, for their contribution to today’s development and wishes the people of Somaliland success, prosperity, and freedom.

The State of Israel plans to immediately expand its relations with the Republic of Somaliland through extensive cooperation in the fields of agriculture, health, technology, and economy.