Live: Major clashes break out near Bethlehem after Israeli raid

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s submission of a pardon request to President Isaac Herzog over his ongoing corruption charges has sparked a fiery debate among politicians, journalists and social media users in Israel. 

The premier, who is facing charges of fraud, bribery and breach of trust, submitted a 111-page legal document alongside a personal letter to the president on Sunday. 

Netanyahu said his pardon would be in the "public interest", as it would “bring about reconciliation" in Israel. 

Yet the move appeared to further underscore divisions in Israeli society, as crowds of angry demonstrators, including politicians, gathered outside the president’s residence on Sunday in protest.

Herzog acknowledged on Monday that the application “stirred controversy”, adding that he "will consider solely the best interests of the State of Israel and Israeli society."

"Violent discourse does not affect me," he said, referring to the protests and debates triggered by Netanyahu’s request.

Read more: Netanyahu's request for pardon over corruption sparks debate in Israel

The Eurovision Song Contest faces a major test this Thursday as members of the body that organises the contest may vote on whether Israel can compete in 2026.

European Broadcasting Union members will convene to discuss new rules designed to prevent governments and third parties from disproportionately promoting songs to influence voters - after controversy earlier this year over Israel finishing runner up.

If members are not convinced the rules are adequate, there will be a vote on participation, the EBU said, without naming Israel specifically.

Public broadcasters from Slovenia, Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands have all threatened to boycott the event, scheduled for May in Austria, if Israel is allowed to take part, citing concern over its killing of Palestinians in Gaza.

This year, critics accused Israel of unfairly boosting the second-place finish of its entrant Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas.

The Israeli foreign ministry did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.

If a vote against Israel were successful, Germany would probably withdraw and not broadcast the contest, a broadcasting industry source told Reuters. German broadcaster ARD did not comment. Austrian host broadcaster ORF also wants Israel to compete.

Sources within Israeli broadcaster Kan told Reuters it believed discussions about excluding Israel were unjustified, asserting that Kan was in full compliance with EBU rules.

Russia has been excluded from Eurovision since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Reporting by Reuters 

Israeli settlers stormed Palestinian agricultural land south of Hebron in the occupied West Bank on Monday, destroying hundreds of olive and grape trees, vandalising infrastructure and bulldozing fields. 

According to local media outlets and Bedouin rights group Al-Baydar, about 850 olive and grape trees were uprooted in Khirbet Khallat al-Homs, southeast of Massafer Yatta.

Al-Baydar said that settlers from the Susya settlement bulldozed and destroyed large tracts of agricultural land in the area.

Approximately 500 grapevines and 350 olive trees belonging to the Obeid al-Masri family were damaged by the settlers.

"The Khallat al-Homs area has long witnessed daily violations," the organisation said, noting that settlers have used Palestinian land for grazing their own livestock.

The organisation warned that settler attack threaten "the stability of farmers and directly affects their livelihoods".

Read more: Israeli settlers uproot hundreds of trees belonging to Palestinian in West Bank

Hamas said it was handing over the remains of one of the two last captive bodies still in Gaza on Tuesday, and Israel said it was preparing to receive "findings".

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement that forensic testing would be done after a transfer via the Red Cross to Israeli forces in Gaza.

The two remaining deceased captives are Israeli police officer Ran Gvili and Thai national Sudthisak Rinthalak, both kidnapped during Hamas' surprise attack on Israel on 7 October 2023.

Earlier on Tuesday, an Israeli air strike killed Palestinian journalist Mahmoud Wadi in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

Another Palestinian journalist was wounded in the Israeli strike, Palestinian health authorities said.

The Oxford Union, one of the world’s most prestigious student societies, has elected its first Palestinian president. 

Arwa Hanin Elrayess was elected to head up the union for the trinity (summer) term in 2026. 

She was elected with 757 first preference votes, which was 150 more than the runner-up. 

Turnout was 1,528, which was distinctly higher than the previous term’s election, according to the Oxford Student. 

Elrayess studies philosophy, politics and economics, and belongs to the St Edmund’s Hall constituent college. 

Reacting to the election, her father Mohamed Elrayess wrote on LinkedIn: “Very proud of my daughter… for making history as the first Arab female, the first Palestinian, and the first Algerian to be elected President of the Oxford Union.” 

The president-elect was involved in the production of a documentary called Heart of a Protest, which focused on protests in London in solidarity with Palestinians. 

Read more: Oxford Union elects Palestinian president

The head of a police force at the centre of a row over a ban on Israeli football fans has defended his decision in front of British MPs.

West Midlands police banned fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv from attending the club's fixture against Birmingham-based club Aston Villa on 6 November over fears of violence in the city.

Chief Constable Craig Guildford and Assistant Chief Constable Mike O’Hara appeared before the British parliament's Home Affairs Select Committee to explain their decision to ban Maccabi fans.

The decision sparked outrage within government and amongst the right-wing media establishment, with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy making unfounded claims that the decision was influenced by antisemitism.

Guildford said the decision was not taken lightly and it was a "necessary tactic with a legitimate aim, absolutely not antisemitic, rather a carefully considered, legitimate and necessary measure to ensure public safety".

Read more: British police chief reiterates 'legitimate' decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans

Israeli forces killed Palestinian photojournalist Mohammed Essam Wadi in Khan Younis on Tuesday, as drones and artillery fire continued to pound the southern Gaza Strip, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.

Local sources said the drone strike aslo wounded journalist Mohammed Abdel Fattah Aslih, the brother of slain journalist Hassan Aslih.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally requested a pardon from President Isaac Herzog to end his ongoing corruption cases. 

Netanyahu faces charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three separate cases launched in 2019. 

The longest-serving prime minister in Israel’s history, he is also the first to be criminally charged while in office, and could face up to 10 years in prison if found guilty. 

Netanyahu denies all wrongdoing and has branded the corruption allegations a “witch-hunt” led by his political opponents.

He also called for “national unity” amid Israel’s wars, which many accused him of prolonging to divert attention from his charges. 

Read more: Netanyahu corruption trials: What are the charges and will he be pardoned?

Israeli forces have ordered the closure of the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC) office in el-Bireh after storming the site on Monday, in another sweeping move against Palestinian civil institutions under occupation.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced the raid, describing it as “part of a systematic policy aimed at undermining civil and developmental work” in the occupied Palestinian territory, and said the action violates international laws that protect humanitarian organisations and local institutions.

The ministry stressed that Israel has “no sovereignty over our land”, pointing to last year’s advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice, which stated that Israel’s continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory is unlawful and must end “as rapidly as possible”.

Israel said on Tuesday that it is preparing to receive “findings” transferred from Gaza by the Red Cross, which will then undergo forensic examination, according to the prime minister’s office.

Two bodies of captives remain in Gaza: Israeli national Ran Gvili and Thai national Sudthisak Rinthalak

Israeli settlers forced their way into the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Tuesday while Israeli occupation forces cordoned off and guarded the compound, reported the Palestinian news agency Wafa.

Local sources said 631 settlers entered the site and staged provocative tours across the courtyards under the protection of Israeli soldiers, in yet another violation of the status quo at the holy site.

Qatar says it is pressing for a rapid shift to the next phase of negotiations after Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire in October, raising cautious hopes for progress in a territory still under Israeli occupation and siege.

"We think that we should be pushing the parties to stage two very, very soon," said Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said on Tuesday.

He added that the next round of discussions would tackle unresolved issues, including Hamas fighters who remain in tunnel networks located in areas of the Gaza Strip currently under Israeli control.

The American pro-Israel group StopAntisemitism has included children’s content creator Ms Rachel on its “Antisemite of the Year” list, targeting her for highlighting the suffering of Palestinian children.

StopAntisemitism has repeatedly attacked Ms Rachel on social media for sharing content with her more than 20 million followers showing starving Palestinian children and highlighting the plight of youngsters who have lost limbs in Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

She was listed alongside nine other media personalities who have consistently criticised Israel’s war on Gaza and its influence over US politics.

Rachel Griffin Accurso, widely known as Ms Rachel, is best known for her YouTube series Songs for Littles, which teaches toddlers nursery rhymes and early learning concepts.

The pro-Israel organisation even has even urged US Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate whether Accurso is receiving foreign funding to promote anti-Israel messaging and influence public opinion. There has been no evidence provided such accusations.

Glamour magazine recognised Ms Rachel as one of its 2025 “Women of the Year” for championing early childhood learning and campaigning to help children affected by war worldwide.

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that an Israeli quadcopter dropped explosives on a home in Aitaroun, southern Lebanon, shortly after midnight.

The drone, launched from a newly established Israeli post in Jabal al-Bat, targeted the residence in the early hours, the agency said.

Since the Hezbollah-Israel ceasefire a year ago, nearly 10,000 Israeli violations have been recorded in Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of more than 127 civilians.

The Palestinian Prisoners Club reported that the Israeli occupation army have arrested approximately 21,000 Palestinians in the West Bank since the start of Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza on 7 October 2023.