Israel Briefing: Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026

Status: Daily briefing. Each item names its source.

Update, 5 PM CT — Gaza, al-Shati (separate from morning item): WAFA reports an Israeli airstrike Thursday evening near Martyrs Square in al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City, killed three Palestinians and wounded others (WAFA; also carried on Al Jazeera live blog). This is separate from the morning central/southern Gaza deaths (Bureij, Deir el-Balah, Khan Younis).

Update, 5 PM CT — Iran: Trump Oval Office remarks and Reuters Iran-via-Qatar nuclear proposal item are on Trump Says You Will Know Soon Enough on Iran; Report: Pentagon Ready if He Orders.

Update, 3 PM CT: Herzog finished consultations and is delaying the mandate decision until Sunday, Nov. 8 (Ynet). Details: Herzog Delays Mandate Decision Until Sunday as Eisenkot Leads 67-46.

Update, 11 AM CT: Medical sources told Al Jazeera that Israeli strikes and gunfire killed at least four Palestinians in central and southern Gaza on Thursday, including a child in Bureij (Al Jazeera).

Update, 9 AM CT: The Joint List recommended Eisenkot, lifting him to 67 recommendations vs 46 for Netanyahu (Ynet). Details: Herzog Delays Mandate Decision Until Sunday as Eisenkot Leads 67-46. Also: Herzog 11 AM update — consultations end tonight.

For the full consultation timeline, see Herzog Delays Mandate Decision Until Sunday as Eisenkot Leads 67-46.

Ra'am backs Trump's Gaza plan

Mansour Abbas told President Herzog that Ra'am fully supports Trump's Gaza peace plan and disarming Hamas, and urged quick formation of a government (Jerusalem Post live updates). Otzma Yehudit demanded that every party condemn Hamas before recommending a candidate. With 19 Arab-party seats, whether Eisenkot relies on them remains the central coalition question.

Fallout from Trump's plan to end U.S. military aid

Trump says roughly $4 billion a year in U.S. military aid to Israel stops after this year, that arms sales continue, and that Netanyahu agreed (Reuters, AP, NY Post). The current agreement runs to September 2028, so AP and Reuters say an abrupt cutoff is unlikely without Congress. A U.S. official told the NY Post the phase-down was negotiated for months and could begin in October 2027. Full story: Report: Trump Says U.S. Military Aid to Israel Will End This Year.

Iran: quiet small strikes while talks drag on

Update, 11 AM CT: The New York Times reports U.S. forces are poised to resume major combat against Iran if Trump orders it (unnamed Pentagon officials; not confirmed by the White House). Full story: Trump Says You Will Know Soon Enough on Iran; Report: Pentagon Ready if He Orders.

The Wall Street Journal has reported that the U.S. carried out small, unpublicized airstrikes on Iran, including on Qeshm Island on Nov. 2 (JINSA update, AP). Trump told the Financial Times he has no plans to strike Iran because "we seem to be getting everything we want." Qatar is still mediating; Iran wants China to guarantee any deal. U.S. officials remain skeptical of Israel's chemical-weapons warning. Related: U.S. Officials: Limited 'Defensive' Strikes Hit Iranian Missiles on Qeshm Island.

Quick hits

• Lebanon/Gaza: Kan says Israel asked Lebanon, via U.S. mediators, to deploy troops and checkpoints in Hezbollah-held areas. An Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon killed one; Gaza strikes killed at least two (JINSA). See also Israeli Drone Strike Near Qabrikha in Southern Lebanon Kills One.
• Election funding claims: Election officials reject Netanyahu's claim that Qatar "stole" the election by funding Arab turnout; an investigation is open but would not invalidate the result. Former Joint List leader Ayman Odeh is suspected of receiving foreign funds, according to coverage of the probe (American Israelite, Jerusalem Post).
• Hebron: The IDF ended an 11-day Hebron operation that followed a deadly checkpoint shooting (Times of Israel daily briefing).
• Other: Beilinson Hospital performed Israel's first robotic lung transplant, and the Defense Ministry signed a $170 million deal with Elbit for an artillery training center (American Israelite).