Jerusalem, 27 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics released its report on Israel’s population after the outbreak of the war on October 7, 2023 – “A socio-economic picture of Israel and the Gaza-Lebanon border, 2024: Data from the Face of Society Report No. 16.” Here is the significant data related to tourism in the country.

In the last quarter of 2023 (the quarter began six days before the October 7 massacre) there was a sharp decline in the number of tourist overnight stays, reaching 0.5 million (2.4 million in the last quarter of 2022). The number of Israeli overnight stays increased sharply as a result of the addition of approximately 4.6 million overnight stays by evacuees due to the war.

In 2024, approximately 22.5 million overnight stays were recorded in tourist hotels, a decrease of 13.6% compared to 2023. The number of overnight stays by tourists decreased sharply by 75.9%, reaching 1.9 million. The number of overnight stays by Israelis (excluding evacuees; for vacation and leisure purposes) amounted to 13.2 million (a decrease of 3.8%). The number of overnight stays by evacuees was approximately 7.5 million.

Jerusalem, 27 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Police officers from the Judea and Samaria District rescued an Israeli citizen and three foreign residents who had entered areas under the Palestinian Authority and whose lives, said the police, were in danger.

On Tuesday afternoon a report was received about four Israelis who had entered Jericho, located in the Palestinian Authority in the areas of Judea and Samaria. Officers from the Police Coordination and Cooperation Unit in the Judea and Samaria District, in collaboration with the Civil Administration, acted to locate and rescue them. Upon their transfer to Israeli territory, it was determined that the group consisted of one Israeli citizen and three foreign residents who were unaware of the danger to their lives.

The police said that they, “reiterate and emphasize – the entry of Israeli citizens into areas under the control of the Palestinian Authority is prohibited by law and constitutes a real danger to life.”

Jerusalem, 27 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Today, Tuesday, January 27, in a historic event, a state ceremony was held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, a Muslim nation, to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

The ceremony was attended by Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev, diplomats, senior government officials, members of parliament, heads of religious communities and university rectors in Kazakhstan.

The event was held at the initiative of the Israeli Embassy in Kazakhstan together with the German Embassy and under the leadership of the ICIID (Interfaith and Interreligious Dialogue) under the ministry of Culture of Kazakhstan.

“Unfortunately, the ancient disease of anti-Semitism is once again showing its ugly face,” Sa’ar said at the event. “The new anti-Semitism is trying to undermine the right of the Jewish people to defend themselves. We have already seen what happens when we do not have the ability to do so.”

Saa’r went on to remind the world of the antisemitic slaughter in Australia on Hanukah and the October 7 massacre adding, “That is why I say this today, we have sworn – never again! This oath will not be broken. The Jewish state will defend itself vigorously against any threat. We have no other choice. We will fulfill this vow.”

Earlier, Minister Kosherbayev made the following comments: “Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in April 1992, we have built comprehensive cooperation based on mutual respect and trust and achieved significant progress in political, economic and cultural interaction. Your current visit to Astana is a confirmation of our shared interest in elevating our partnership to a new level.”

Jerusalem, 27 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The Israel Defense Forces on Tuesday confirmed striking Hezbollah terrorists the previous day while they were operating at an underground site in the Nabatieh area of southern Lebanon.

“The activity carried out by Hezbollah terrorists to restore the site constitutes a violation of the ceasefire understandings between israel and Lebanon and poses a threat to the State of Israel,” the IDF said.

The ceasefire requires Hezbollah to withdraw its armed forces from southern Lebanon and prohibits it from operating south of the Litani River.

Jerusalem, 27 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Knesset Labor and Welfare Committee on Tuesday approved for first reading a bill that would abolish the maximum age limit for foster parents, removing the current cap of 56. The legislation, sponsored by MKs Karin Elharer and Yinon Azoulay, aims to address a shortage of foster families, with officials noting that at least 70 children are waiting for placement at any given time.

Committee members and representatives from the ministry of Social Affairs backed the move, saying age alone should not disqualify suitable families. Data presented showed nearly 5,000 children in foster care nationwide, and growing interest from older prospective foster parents currently barred by the limit.

The IDF shares in the family’s sorrow. The IDF will continue to accompany the families and returnees and will act to strengthen the security of Israel’s citizens. In this way, all hostages from the Gaza Strip have been returned.

Throughout the war, the terrorist advanced many terror plots against the State of Israel and the IDF forces, and recently acted to restore the artillery capabilities of the terrorist organization Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The terrorist’s actions constituted a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon. The IDF will continue to operate to remove any threat to the State of Israel.

Jerusalem, 27 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Health and Environmental Protection Ministries reported high levels of air pollution in the center of the country and the Negev on Tuesday. The pollution comes from dust carried by southwesterly winds from North Africa.

Northern regions are expected to be affected later.

The ministries warn that sensitive groups — including the elderly, pregnant women, children and cardiovascular patients — should avoid strenuous outdoor activity, while the general population is advised to limit intense physical exertion outdoors.

According to forecasts, high to very high pollution levels will continue nationwide on Wednesday before subsiding with the onset of rain.

Jerusalem, 27 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Defense Ministry signed a multi-year NIS 570 million ($183 million) agreement with Elbit Systems for air munitions, aiming to strengthen Israel’s defense industrial base and enhance the military’s operational capabilities.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said the initiative “prioritizes growing our domestic defense sector, boosting Israeli manufacturing, and deepening partnerships with local industry,” emphasizing its role in ensuring reliable supply chains and national resilience.