Home Front Command

The Finance Ministry warned that the economic shutdown is costing Israel NIS 9.5 billion per week, urging a shift to an alert status and allowing businesses with protected spaces to reopen.

Early morning sirens coincided with the morning of Shushan Purim, as thousands of Israelis gathered, despite a prohibition on public gatherings, to fulfill the mitzvah of hosting a Megillah reading.

This reverses a previous HFC guideline with heavier restrictions, which was to be in place until Saturday evening, lightening the security guidelines, and opening up gatherings.

Israel Police were forced to disperse large Purim crowds on Wednesday as revellers defied Home Front Command orders. Officials slammed the gatherings as "irresponsible" during the ongoing war.

IRGC and its affiliates have spent the last decade collecting the personal data of people from all over the world, not just Israelis, allowing phishing attempts to continue to grow more sophisticated

The security guidelines restricting social gatherings, non-essential workplace activity, and closure of schools until at least Saturday at 8:00 p.m., HFC announced.

The Israeli military emphasized that the situation is dynamic and could evolve depending on threats from Iran and Hezbollah, as well as whether Yemen's Houthis get involved.

With lessons learned from past conflicts, Israel’s preparedness is put to the ultimate test as Iran’s missile barrages push the country’s defense systems.

Such specialized civic infrastructures filled life-and-death gaps during earlier rounds of fighting. What is striking now is less the novelty of the mobilization than its speed and normalization.

Despite Operation Roaring Lion, Israelis continue to celebrate Purim in shelters and homes, with community efforts to ensure the mitzvot are fulfilled, including sending gift packages to the needy.