The understandings between Israel and Egypt on the gas deal do not include an Egyptian commitment to withdraw prohibited forces from the Sinai Peninsula. Israel Hayom has learned that accompanying understandings include dialogue on mechanisms to address Egyptian violations. The US has promised to promote handling of the issue, but there is no clear commitment to rectify the situation.

In Israel, officials believe that once gas deliveries begin and Egypt becomes energy-dependent on Israeli gas, this dependence will serve as leverage to deter Cairo from violating the peace treaty. They also argue that had Israel not supplied Egypt with gas, its southern neighbor would have turned to Qatar. According to information gathered in recent years, Egypt has introduced forces into Sinai far beyond what is permitted under the security annex of the peace treaty. It has also built tunnels deep inside Sinai for storing weapons and has suspiciously extended runways at airfields.

A security achievement

As far as is currently known, none of these problems has been fully resolved. The excess Egyptian forces will remain in Sinai, but Egypt has given commitments to limit their activity. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted that Israel achieved several gains on the security front.

Despite the agreement, efforts to politically warm relations with Egypt have so far failed because of the war in Gaza, which has yet to end, and the tense atmosphere between the presidential palace in Cairo and the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem. The Americans examined the possibility of holding a summit meeting between Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, with US President Donald Trump participating, but the Egyptians rejected the idea.

Alongside these issues, the gas agreement enables Israel to achieve several strategic objectives. The first is Egypt's dependence on Israeli gas, which it uses both for domestic energy needs and for liquefaction and export to Europe, a vital source of foreign currency without which Egypt's economy would collapse. Egypt has gas fields of its own, but they are insufficient for these purposes. This dependence constitutes Israeli diplomatic and security leverage over its southern neighbor, though its impact is limited to major strategic issues, chiefly reducing or even eliminating concerns that Egypt might cancel its peace treaty with Israel.

An energy powerhouse?

Israel is consolidating its status as a regional power in the energy sector. It supplies gas to Egypt and also to Jordan, which uses it for a significant portion of its energy consumption. The agreement with Israel comes at Qatar's expense. Doha had been in talks with el-Sisi on building a new gas pipeline from Qatar's giant gas fields to Egypt. Laying such a pipeline would take years, and Egypt did not have the time to wait.

The agreement opens the door to additional energy projects in cooperation with Gulf states, projects that have been on the table for a long time and are expected to advance once an agreement is reached to bring Saudi Arabia into the Abraham Accords, likely not before elections and the formation of a new government in Israel.

In the energy sphere, under the agreement Israel will build an additional gas pipeline between Ramat Hovav and Nitzana, enabling further increases in exports to Egypt. The deal is expected to restart tenders for exploration of new gas fields in the eastern Mediterranean, and the Energy Ministry is set to renew preparations for those exploration bids.

Another reason for the delay in the agreement with Egypt was the Energy Ministry's demand that remaining reserves in existing fields be sufficient for Israeli domestic consumption and remain priced at the current low levels. According to the Energy Ministry, these demands were fully met.

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In a recorded statement, Netanyahu said the total value of the deal was estimated at about 112 billion shekels, roughly $34 billion, with 58 billion shekels, about $18 billion, expected to flow into state coffers.

At the same time as Netanyahu's announcement, NewMed Energy reported to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange that it had received approval to export natural gas to Egypt. The authorization, granted by the Energy Ministry, allows the implementation of the export agreement signed in August, which is valued at approximately $35 billion.

As part of the approval, assurances were given that Israel would maintain attractive domestic natural gas prices and that gas supplies to the local market would be secured. The decision also paves the way for a final investment decision on the expansion of the Leviathan gas field, a move expected to significantly increase production capacity from the reservoir.

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In June, preparations for war were virtually finished, The Washington Post reported. Numerous Israeli agents were positioned within Iran, armed with sophisticated weaponry. Israeli Air Force pilots awaited orders to strike nuclear infrastructure and missile sites. Jerusalem and the US had reached a consensus on Tehran's nuclear progress. Diplomatic ruses were employed to distract the regime.

Security officials knew that lasting damage required eliminating the "brain trust," the scientists whom intelligence agencies believed were mastering the creation of atomic bombs.

At 3:21 a.m. on June 13, Israeli weapons struck Tehran, initiating Operation Narnia. Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, a sanctioned physicist, was killed in his apartment. Fereydoun Abbasi, another key figure, died two hours later. Israel stated it assassinated 11 senior scientists during the campaign.

The Washington Post and PBS "Frontline" revealed these details based on interviews with officials. Experts say the program has been set back years, though this contradicts President Donald Trump's claim that it was "completely and totally obliterated."

Amir Tehranchi told Frontline regarding his brother: "With the killing of these professors, they might be gone, but their knowledge isn't lost to our country."

Israel had previously killed scientists using deniable methods. In June, however, it acted openly, emboldened by successes against proxies in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. An Israeli Air Force general stated they finally had an "operational opportunity to do it."

For Operation Narnia, analysts identified the 100 most critical scientists, narrowing the list to about a dozen. The Washington Post and Bellingcat verified 71 civilian casualties in the strikes.

One attack on the Professors Complex killed 10 civilians. Another strike targeted Mohammad Reza Sedighi Saber but killed his son. Saber was later killed in Astaneh-ye Ashrafiyeh.

"One of the major considerations for the planning of Operation Narnia was to try to minimize as much as possible the collateral damage," a senior Israeli officer said.

Brig. Gen. Elad Edri noted Iranian retaliation killed 31 Israelis. Tehran claimed 1,062 deaths from the Israeli campaign. The wider campaign, Rising Lion, destroyed over half of Iran's missile launchers and decimated air defenses. US B-2 bombers and Tomahawk missiles participated. Inside Iran, Mossad mobilized agents equipped with a "special weapon" for precision attacks.

"This operation is unprecedented in history," the official said. "We mobilized our own assets and agents to go close to Tehran and launch the ground operation before the [Israeli] Air Force could enter Iranian airspace."

Israel had long contemplated this assault. Obstacles vanished after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack. The ensuing war in Gaza and operations against Hezbollah changed the strategic landscape. The collapse of the Syrian regime in 2024 also contributed.

"Plans changed along the years, but they became very concrete after those two events," the Israeli Air Force general said. While the US and Israel agreed Iran was seeking a weapon, intelligence assessments varied.

Netanyahu presented Trump with four attack scenarios. Planning continued despite Trump's desire for diplomacy. "The thinking was, if talks fail, we are ready to go," a source said.

The Iran-Israel war took place in June 2025 (Pictured: The Iranian flag next to a missile in Iran in 2008) / AP Photo/Fars News Agency, Vahid Reza Alaei

In April, Trump gave Iran 60 days to agree to a deal. As the deadline passed, he and Netanyahu used deception to mask the coming strike.

"All the reports that were written about Bibi not being on the same page with Witkoff or Trump were not true," the source said. "But it was good that this was the general perception, it helped to move on with the planning without many people noticing it."

The Trump administration made a final push even as bombing began, secretly transmitting a proposal. The terms included Tehran ending support for proxies and "replacing" the Fordow facility and "any other functioning facility". In return, the US would lift "all sanctions placed on Iran."

"What Iran did not know is that this overture would be its final opportunity before Trump approved US firepower joining Israel's," The Post reported.  Tehran rejected it, and Trump authorized US strikes, a diplomat told the Post. 

Officials say damage is severe. "Overall, the damage caused by airstrikes to numerous nuclear sites was extensive and, in many cases, catastrophic," the Institute for Science and International Security stated.

Israel claims the program is "significantly delayed". IAEA chief Rafael Mariano Grossi told Frontline damage is "very substantial," though the uranium stockpile "is where it was by and large."

"Obviously, without having physical access to a place, any evaluation is partial," Grossi said.

Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani told Frontline: "Iran's nuclear program can never be destroyed... Because once you have discovered a technology, they can't take the discovery away."

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Sofia and Boris Gurman

Boris Gurman, 69, and his wife, Sofia Gurman, 61, had shared 34 years of marriage before terrorists killed them. Their relatives described the couple as honest and industrious individuals who extended kindness to everyone they encountered. Dashcam video captured Boris Gurman fighting with one of the gunmen in the attack's opening moments. The footage shows Gurman seizing control of the terrorist's firearm for several seconds during their confrontation on the street, before the terrorist shot the couple at point-blank range. Eyewitnesses reported they died in each other's arms.

The family statement read: "Devoted to their family and to each other, their absence has left a void that cannot be filled... In the moments before their passing Boris, with Sofia courageously beside him, attempted to intervene to protect others. This act of bravery and selflessness reflects exactly who they were: people who instinctively chose to help, even at great personal risk."

Rabbi Eli Schlanger

Rabbi Eli Schlanger had led his congregation for 18 years and directed the Chabad mission in Bondi, where he assisted numerous individuals ranging from elderly residents to incarcerated people. He is survived by his spouse and several young children, including an infant just two months old, along with his mother and siblings.

"A devoted rabbi and chaplain, working tirelessly … to support Jewish life in the Bondi community," Chabad's statement read.

Matilda

Matilda, a 10-year-old girl, attended the Hanukkah by the Sea event alongside her family members, including her sister, when a terrorist shot her.

Her parents, Valentyna and Michael, surnames withheld on family request, immigrated to Australia from Ukraine before Russia's invasion, The Guardian reported. "We came here from the Ukraine … and I named her Matilda because she was our firstborn in Australia. And I thought that Matilda was the most Australian name that could ever exist. So just remember – remember her name," the parents stated, articulating heartbreak too vast to fully comprehend.

"Imagine you see your beautiful little sister that you love just being killed in front of you. They were like twins. They've never been separated … Matilda was very friendly. She loves school, has a lot of friends … She's just a happy kid, always gives me cuddles," her aunt Lina shared.

Dan Elkayam

Dan Elkayam, a French citizen, relocated to Australia last year to seek an engineering job. Elkayam played football passionately, and the Rockdale Ilinden Football Club in west Sydney described him as "an integral member" of its premier league squad in a Facebook statement. The club characterized him as "an extremely talented and popular figure amongst teammates. Our deepest and sincerest condolences to Dan's family, friends, and all that knew him. He will be missed," the club's statement read.

"I have learned with deep sadness of the death of our fellow citizen Dan Elkayam in the antisemitism terrorist attack in Sydney," French President Emmanuel Macron wrote. "My thoughts are with his family and loved ones, and I extend to them the full solidarity of the nation."

Peter Meagher

Peter Meagher completed 34 years of service with the NSW Police Force before retiring with the rank of detective sergeant. He volunteered as a first-grade manager for Randwick Rugby. The club mourned the devastating loss of "Marzo" in a statement, saying, "He was one of the heart and soul figures of Randwick Rugby… He spent so long in the dangerous front line as a police officer and was struck down in retirement while taking photos … Rest in Peace 'Marzo'. We all love you and will miss you greatly. We are devastated." Meagher worked as a freelance photographer at Sunday's Hanukkah event.

"Our family is heartbroken by the loss of our beloved Peter. He was a cherished brother, husband, and uncle whose kindness, generosity, and love touched everyone who knew him. Our lives have been changed forever," his family said.

Tibor Weitzen

Tibor Weitzen, 78, was a father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who perished while protecting his family members from the gunfire. He immigrated to Australia from Israel in 1988, and his relatives characterized him as vibrant and full of vitality.

"My grandfather was truly the best you could ask for," his granddaughter, Leor, said. "He was so proud of us … and loved us more than life itself. He only saw the best in people and will be dearly missed." 

"He was the congregation's beloved 'candyman' who brought joy and smiles to everyone," Chabad's statement read.

Alexander Kleytman

Alexander Kleytman survived the Holocaust as a child, struggling through a brutal Siberian winter alongside his mother and younger brother to survive. Following the war's conclusion, he departed Ukraine for Australia to pursue a career in civil engineering. His children and grandchildren also attended the Bondi Hanukkah celebrations. Alexander's wife, Larissa, stated her husband of 57 years was murdered while attempting to shield her from gunfire.

"He died shielding her from the gunman's bullets," Chabad's statement read. "In addition to his wife, he leaves behind two children and 11 grandchildren."

Edith Brutman

Edith Brutman was a cherished figure within Sydney's Jewish community. "Our beloved Edith was a woman of integrity who chose humanity every day," her family shared. "She met prejudice with principle, and division with service. Our family mourns her deeply, but we ask that her life, not the senseless violence that took it, be what endures. We hope her memory calls us as a nation back to decency, courage, and peace."

Marika Pogany

Marika Pogany volunteered to transport kosher meals for COA, an organization serving Jewish seniors. "She lifted the room simply by being in it," the organization shared in a statement. "She asked for nothing and gave everything...She took the time to know every person on her route. She chatted. She listened. She noticed the small things. She changed light bulbs, literally bringing light into people's homes. Her joy and spirit carried people through their week and through their loneliness...We are shattered by her loss. Marika gave real love to this community, and her impact runs deep."

Boris Tetleroyd

The fatal shooting of Boris Tetleroyd occurred while he attended Hanukkah by the Sea alongside his son, Yakov. While Yakov sustained gunshot wounds and continues receiving treatment for severe injuries, his father succumbed to his wounds. Boris, a Soviet immigrant, is described as a loving and devoted father.

A fundraising campaign was established by his niece, who described the family's mourning over his "sudden and violent" death. "Our family is facing an unimaginable tragedy after the sudden loss of Boris Tetleroyd in the Bondi attack," his niece, Leia Roitour, said. "He was a loving husband and father, and his absence has left a void that words cannot express. My aunt is now navigating life as a widow, and my cousin is recovering in the hospital from injuries sustained during the attack."

Online social media profiles reveal Tetleroyd's passion for nature, where he documented wildlife encounters from his hiking excursions.

Reuven Morrison

Reuven Morrison was a businessman who escaped the Soviet Union as a teenager in the 1970s and built his life in Bondi. Following a 2024 terror attack on a Melbourne synagogue, he informed the ABC he had become constantly alert, and expected Australia would offer Jews security.

In an interview with ILTV, his daughter recounted her father's heroism, throwing bricks at one of the terrorists to try and stop him. "My dear father was shot dead for being Jewish," his daughter, Sheina, said in pain. "He had jumped up the second the shooting started. He managed to throw bricks, he was screaming at the terrorist, and protecting his community," she added. "If there was a way for him to go on this earth, it will be fighting a terrorist."

"Most beautiful, generous man who had a gorgeous smile that would light up the room. He built a life here in Australia for his family and was an active member and generous contributor to both Melbourne and Sydney Jewish communities," Rabbi Gabi Kaltman said.

The list will be updated as more names are released.

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Holiday foods: Hanukkah is associated with foods fried in oil – sufganiyot (jelly donuts) with various fillings and levivot (potato pancakes). In recent years, innovative recipes have driven social media trends. In our food section, you'll find all the hottest trends and recipes to make your holiday special.

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According to the outlet's digital forensics team, which included a video posted on their X account, there is reason to believe Naveed Akram and his father, Sajid Akram, were present at the demonstration featuring the "Gas the Jews" chant on October 9, 2023.

Video: Member of the public overpowers terrorist / Credit: Social media

Campaign Against Antisemitism recalled that Australian law enforcement claimed during that period – in opposition to witness accounts – that the mob was chanting "Where's the Jews", implying this nuance somehow ameliorated the offense.

While the Campaign Against Antisemitism assigned a medium level of confidence to this identification, it released the raw footage to allow viewers to form their own conclusions.

Were the Bondi beach terrorists at the 'Gas the Jews' protest in Sydney two days after October 7th?

Our online investigators believe that Naveed Akram and his father Sajid Akram may have been present at the 'Gas the Jews' protest in Sydney on 9th October 2023.

(At the time,… pic.twitter.com/wSxHFFktXU

— Campaign Against Antisemitism (@antisemitism) December 16, 2025

If confirmed, posited this would serve as undeniable evidence – particularly for Western law enforcement officials who seem last to understand – that a direct trajectory exists between these hate marches and the murder of Jews.

"If it is true, it would represent some of the clearest evidence yet – to those, such as police chiefs across the West, who seem to be the among the last to grasp it – that there is a direct line between the hate marches and demonstrations and the murder of Jews," it said.

Video: The site of the shooting in Bondi Beach / Credit: Social media

Western governments should have dismantled this infrastructure of incitement years ago, CAA asserted. "The authorities across the West should have clamped down on the incitement years ago. It is too late for the dead, and, if they do not finally act, it will soon be too late for the West as well."

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A confidential source indicated that while the framework remains tentative, the investment could exceed $10 billion. The Information originally broke the story on the developing alliance.

These talks follow an October reorganization at OpenAI that defined its Microsoft partnership boundaries, granting the startup greater latitude to court investors and collaborate across the AI ecosystem, according to CNBC.

Despite Microsoft's $13 billion support since 2019, an October release stated the software giant no longer possesses a right of first refusal for OpenAI's computing requirements. The report noted the firm may now co-develop products with third parties.

Amazon previously directed at least $8 billion toward Anthropic, yet CNBC suggests the retailer seeks further exposure to the generative AI sector. Microsoft similarly pledged up to $5 billion to Anthropic last month, joining Nvidia's $10 billion targeted investment.

AWS has engineered custom silicon since roughly 2015, providing essential hardware for model training. The provider introduced its Inferentia chips in 2018 and unveiled the newest Trainium processors earlier this month, the outlet reported.

Recent months saw OpenAI commit over $1.4 trillion to infrastructure, partnering with Broadcom, Advanced Micro Devices, and Nvidia. CNBC noted the company also finalized a $38 billion chatapacity deal with AWS last month, its inaugural pact with the cloud leader.

During October, a secondary offering totaling $6.6 billion allowed OpenAI staff to divest shares at a $500 billion valuation, the report concluded.

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The scope of the deal is estimated at approximately $3.1 billion and is expected to complete the sales contract that Israel and Germany signed about two years ago, valued at approximately $3.6 billion. The two deals together are estimated at approximately $6.7 billion (over 20 billion shekels), Israel's largest-ever defense export deal.

Defense Ministry Director-General Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Baram said, "The Arrow deal expansion is another significant milestone in the deepening strategic relations between Israel and Germany, our central partner in Europe. The massive deal, valued at over $3 billion, embodies, in practical terms, the Defense Ministry's strategy to increase defense exports. The deal will strengthen Israel's position in the world as a defense superpower, will expand and accelerate Arrow production for the IDF as well, and will channel billions into strengthening the defense industries and developing the next generations of defense systems."

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Chilling footage released on Wednesday captured the final moments in the lives of Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, and 10-year-old Matilda, who were murdered in the shooting attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney. The video showed Rabbi Schlanger placing tefillin on a passerby, with Matilda standing nearby, just minutes before terrorists opened fire on those celebrating the first Hanukkah candle.

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To substantiate its claim, the group released several files, photos, and documents allegedly verifying the breach under the title "Operation Octopus".

Following an inquiry by Israel Hayom, Bennett's office initially stated that he was "unaware of such an event." However, after political commentator Amit Segal reported that the phone had indeed been breached, Bennett's team rushed to issue a statement clarifying that the matter was being handled by relevant security and cyber officials and that the device in question is not currently in use.

Bennett did not stop there and issued yet another clarification, suggesting it is possible the phone was not breached at all. Amid the confusion, Israel Hayom contacted Shai Nahum, CEO of the tech firm CYGHT and a cyber warfare expert.

"According to forensic analysis of the leaked files, there is a high probability that this is not Bennett's phone, but apparently that of one of his associates," Nahum said.

He noted that the leaked photos and video clips had been processed by editing software known as Handbrake, "most likely to change the video format and edit various data points, including metadata."

Nahum added that an analysis of the leaked contact list indicates it does not belong to Bennett himself, but rather to someone likely close to him. For example, contacts are saved under names such as "Bennett's Minister," "Revital Bennett Comms," and even "Naftali Bennett."

"It appears there is an attempt here to portray Bennett as weak, as someone who does not know how to deal with cyber threats or analyze risks properly," Nahum emphasized. "It is understood that this is a group with political and regional interests operating under Iranian sponsorship."

"Sophistication level has risen"

Itay Schwartz, co-founder and CTO of the cyber company MIND, added: "Even before asking if Bennett's phone was truly hacked, one must understand what this event signals: The level of sophistication of cyberattacks in our region has risen dramatically. In recent years, we see actors like Hezbollah and Iran improving capabilities, after the Syrian Army's cyber unit also operated here for years. The enemy is simply improving.

"From the details published, it seems this is an old device that was not updated – exactly the type of weakness attackers know how to exploit. But it is important to emphasize: Even if there was a hack here, it does not mean the hackers received full access to all information. The moment an attacker enters a personal device, he can try to spread to additional assets, because everything is connected, but there is no certainty he succeeded," he added.

"The central lesson is that information security no longer stops at the device itself. A single civilian device today holds huge amounts of sensitive, personal, and sometimes classified information. To prevent such events, one needs not only to protect the phone – but to detect early when information starts moving to a place it shouldn't reach," Schwartz concluded.

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