Israel Weekly News Roundup: June 6, 2025

5 Things you need to know

Israel at War - Day 608 (81 years after D-Day, 58 years after the 6-Day War)

1. Israeli Army Intensifies The War In Gaza; Worldwide Criticism Grows

The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) intensified the attacks on Gaza, causing much more damage to the remaining buildings in the Strip. The IDF called on the Palestinians in Gaza to evacuate themselves to three humanitarian areas where they can be safe, and intends to take control, or actually occupy the rest of the Gaza Strip. Israels government doesn’t have any plan or idea of what to do in Gaza, and PM Netanyahu’s rhetoric is still about eliminating Hamas, and bringing back the hostages. On the other hand, he does not explain how this plan plays out and what is the meaning of eliminating Hamas.

Meanwhile negotiations on the hostage deal are not progressing. The gap between the Israeli stance that refuses to end the war, and Hamas stance that insists on a formula according to which Israel will end the war, evacuate all its forces from Gaza with Hamas then releasing all the hostages. American special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, drafted a deal, which Hamas rejected, and he is now putting a lot of pressure on them to accept the deal.

In addition there is growing anger among world leaders and people of the international community, especially countries that are considered to have good relations with Israel, that weigh taking operational steps against Israel to put pressure on the government to end the war. The renewal of the war in Gaza, on March 18th resulted in an extremely high toll of human lives. The ratio between civilians - mainly children - and Hamas operatives is much higher than before. Those figures are not reported in the Israeli mainstream media, and the majority of the Israeli public is oblivious to the reality on the ground in Gaza.

The war continues to take a higher toll on Israeli soldiers. This week 4 soldiers died in combat, after long weeks without casualties.

2. Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza Continues as Challenges to Aid Distribution Prevail

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza intensified this week amid ongoing Israeli military operations, and prevailing challenges in aid distribution in a manner that would ensure the safety of civilians.

Throughout the week, local and international media reported that dozens of Gazans were killed and dozens more injured due to IDF shooting at a Rafah aid distribution compound in Gaza. The compound is run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a newly established and controversial aid group supported by Israel and the U.S., which recently replaced U.N. agencies in distributing aid. The GHF has faced criticism for its centralized aid distribution model, which requires Gazans to travel long distances to reach aid centers secured by U.S. contractors and the Israeli military. Aid groups and the United Nations have raised concerns that this system undermines humanitarian principles and increases risks for civilians.

The Israeli media reported that the Israeli government has reportedly allocated 700 million shekels (approximately US$190 million) to fund the new humanitarian aid mechanism in Gaza. According to one Israeli media source, the funds were transferred to the "security establishment," and officials have attempted to keep the allocation under the radar. This contradicts previous statements by government officials denying Israeli involvement in funding Gaza aid.

The situation has drawn international attention, with the United Nations and various humanitarian organizations calling for unimpeded access to aid and condemning the militarization of aid distribution.

3. IDF Recovers Bodies of Couple Held Hostage in Gaza Since October 7^th

In a joint overnight operation, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet recovered the bodies of Gadi Haggai, 72, and Judi Weinstein-Haggai, 70, from the Khan Younis area in southern Gaza. The couple, who held dual U.S.-Israeli citizenship, were longtime residents of Kibbutz Nir Oz.

On the morning of the attack, Gadi and Judi Haggai were on their routine daily walk in the fields of Nir Oz when they were ambushed by Hamas militants. Weinstein managed to make an emergency call, describing her husband's injuries, but both were ultimately killed, and their bodies taken to Gaza. Their remains were identified by the National Center for Forensic Medicine and have been returned to their family for burial.

According to media reports, the successful recovery operation was made possible thanks to accurate intelligence, including information obtained from interrogations of captured militants.

The Haggai family expressed gratitude to the IDF, the Shin Bet, the Israeli government and the U.S. administration for finally retrieving the bodies of their loved ones from Gaza to Israel, where they can be brought for proper burial. They also emphasized that their hearts remain heavy until all hostages are brought home.

4. Haredi Policial and Rabbinical Leaders Threaten Coalition Stability

During an attempt by the government to legislate a bill that will deal with the inequality of the draft to the army, the two Haredi parties in the coalition threatened to leave the coalition, a step that threatens its’ stability.

For context: at the time of the establishment of the state, back in 1948, the founding father and the first PM, David Ben Gurion, reached an agreement with the leading Rabbis of the Haredi community, in which he allowed a small amount of Yeshiva students (400 at the time) to be exempt from the mandatory draft to the army. Over the years this figure grew exponentially with the Haredi population, and today stands at approximately 66,000 draft eligible men who are exempted. Many petitions that were filed with the Supreme Court ended in rulings that the state has to draft all who are eighteen years old, or legislate a new bill that gives the exemption legal validity. But no government has been able to do so, because none of the proposed legislation could meet the requirements for universality and equality, on the one hand, and satisfy the wish of the Haredi to allow every eighteen year old man to join a Yeshiva and receive a subsidized stipend from the state. The last ruling of the Supreme Court gave very specific instructions, and in addition there was no more tolerance from the serving sectors of society to accept that thousands of Haredi Yeshiva students would not share the national burden of the war in Gaza which has exacted a high price. In the last few months there were endless attempts to draft a bill, and endless events of violent demonstrations by Haredi groups against the draft. All legislative attempts have failed mainly due to coalition members refusal to allow the Haredi to be exempt from the draft, while their constituents continue to serve. On the other hand, the Haredi Rabbis and political leaders refuse to be flexible.

In the last few weeks the Haredi parties implemented a parliamentarian “strike”, and refused to vote. This step froze the legislative process for all pending legislation.

Earlier this week the clash intensified, and PM Netanyahu was directly warned that some of the Haredi members of the government will leave the coalition. This may not cause the coalition to fall, but it thretens the current stability of the political system. PM Netanyahu has to deal with it himself and he started intensive talks with the leading Rabbis to give him more time. Basically he needs to survive until the summer recess, starting July 27th that will last until October. PM Netanyahu wants to buy time till July 27th.

It is still unclear where this political crisis is going, especially since the Haredi parties don’t have any other option to keep their political power with all the accompanying benefits. This move looks like a power game on the part of the Haredi coalition partners.

5. Two Palestinian Bus Drivers Assaulted by Jewish Soccer Club Fans in Jerusalem

Earlier this week, two Palestinian bus drivers were violently assaulted in Jerusalem by a group of Beitar Jerusalem soccer fans following the team's loss in the National State Cup final. The drivers, Ahmad Qara’in and Mohammad Siaj, both residents of East Jerusalem working for the Superbus company, were attacked near Malha Mall, close to the stadium where the match took place. According to eyewitness accounts, the assailants hurled racist slurs, including "Death to Arabs," and physically assaulted the drivers. Qara’in reported that police arrived approximately 20 minutes after the incident began.

The attacks have drawn widespread condemnation. President Isaac Herzog denounced the violence, stating, "It is not possible for employees who perform their duties with dedication to fear for their lives just because of their identity." The Superbus company and the Koach LaOvdim labor union have also called for increased protection for transit workers, highlighting a concerning rise in assaults against bus drivers in Jerusalem.

According to the media, no arrests have been made in connection with the assaults. The Israel Police have stated that an investigation is ongoing.