Israel Morning Briefing: Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026

By AFNS Research Desk · October 29, 2026 · 2 min read

Summary

Gaza strikes continue despite the ceasefire, Gaza sources say. Iran's Revolutionary Guards claim three tankers hit mines near Hormuz, and CENTCOM says the main lanes are clear. Also: Israeli strikes in south Lebanon, West Bank arrests, the shekel's worst day since October 2023, Volker Türk on the next government, a Reuters report on an Iranian buying network, and the Contship Jet sinking off Bulgaria. For the election count, see the updated results article.

Gaza - at least 4-7 Palestinians killed and 30-40 wounded, per Gaza emergency and medical sources; figures vary by outlet

Iran - the IRGC says three tankers hit mines on an "unauthorized" route through Hormuz; AP couldn't confirm it, and CENTCOM says the main transit lanes are clear of mines

Lebanon - the IDF fired an interceptor at a suspected aerial target; Lebanon's state news agency reports Israeli strikes and shelling on several villages

West Bank - Israeli forces arrested 14 Palestinians in Nablus, Jenin and near Bethlehem, per Wafa

Markets - the shekel fell more than 2% on Wednesday, its worst day since October 2023; the Tel Aviv benchmark dropped 2.5%

UN - Volker Türk hopes the next Israeli government will "change course massively" on international law

Reuters (via X) - about 5,000 entities linked to Iran's Defense Ministry kept bringing in drone and missile parts, explosives and heavy trucks

Black Sea - the Contship Jet sank after a drone attack off Bulgaria; all 18 crew were rescued. No evidence so far that Israel was the target

Election - see the updated results article for the count, now about 96.1%

Status: Daily briefing. Each item names its source. Casualty figures from Gaza come from Gaza emergency and medical sources and vary by outlet. AFNS has not independently verified them.

Gaza strikes continue despite the ceasefire

At least 4-7 Palestinians were killed and 30-40 wounded, according to Gaza emergency and medical sources (Al Jazeera Arabic; Sunday Guardian). The figures come from Gaza sources and vary by outlet.

Al-Mawasi: a drone strike hit a Gaza government post near al-Mawasi that tracks trucks coming through the Kerem Shalom crossing, according to those reports.
Gaza City: artillery fire hit a home in the Tuffah neighborhood, wounding 11, according to the same sources.

Iran: tanker mine claims and CENTCOM's denial

The IRGC's claim: Iran's Revolutionary Guards say three tankers hit mines and caught fire while using an "unauthorized" southern route through the Strait of Hormuz (Arab News). AP couldn't confirm the claim.
What was reported: the UK Maritime Trade Operations center, UKMTO, reported a ship on fire about 9 nautical miles north of Khasab, Oman (AP).
CENTCOM: U.S. Central Command says the main transit lanes are clear of mines. The IRGC dared it to prove that (Gulf News).
Iran's army says Hormuz stays closed until its conditions are met (Iran International).
Diplomacy: Qatar-led mediators are pressing Iran to let UN inspectors back in exchange for some sanctions relief (Anadolu). For the latest on the Qatari plan, the Vance letter and the reported U.S. planning, see Iran after the midterms.

Election: the count nears its end

The count is now at about 96.1%, and seats are unchanged. For the figures, the Shin Bet request on the unproven fraud claims and the coalition maneuvering, see the updated election results article.

Black Sea: Contship Jet sinks

The ZIM-chartered container ship Contship Jet, sailing from Haifa to Constanța, Romania, sank overnight after a drone attack off Bulgaria. All 18 crew were rescued. Bulgaria says the drones' origin is not yet known. There is no evidence so far that Israel was the target (AP; Ynetnews). For details, see the Oct. 28 briefing.

Quick hits

Lebanon: the IDF says it fired an interceptor at a suspected aerial target near its troops in southern Lebanon (Anadolu). Lebanon's state news agency reports Israeli strikes and shelling on Kfar Tebnit, Barashit and Wadi al-Hujair, plus a large demolition in Deir Mimas (Naharnet).
West Bank: Israeli forces arrested 14 Palestinians in Nablus, Jenin and near Bethlehem, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa (via Sunday Guardian).
Markets: the shekel fell more than 2% on Wednesday, its worst day since October 2023, and the Tel Aviv benchmark dropped 2.5% (Guardian live).
UN: UN human rights chief Volker Türk said he hopes the next Israeli government will "change course massively" on international law (Guardian live).
Iranian buying network (Reuters, as posted on X): Reuters reports that about 5,000 entities linked to Iran's Defense Ministry kept bringing in drone and missile parts, explosives and heavy trucks, including during the war and the U.S. naval blockade. AFNS has not reviewed the full Reuters report.