Aug 20, 2026

Israel News Today: Netanyahu Warns Turkey After Syria Airbase Strike as Guterres Slams Ben Gvir Remarks

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will not tolerate a Turkish military buildup moving south, a day after the IDF struck an airbase near Idlib. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir's suggestion that Israel kill "30 or 40" Gazans a night "appalling," and the IDF announced the funeral of Sgt. First Class Yehuda Katz, missing since 1982.

Netanyahu: No Turkish Buildup Near Israel

Netanyahu said Israel will not tolerate a Turkish military buildup "that descends south because it threatens us," a day after the IDF struck an airbase near Idlib, The Times of Israel reported.

Zamir: No Hostile Forces Along Our Borders

Visiting troops in the Israeli-held buffer zone in Syria, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said the military "will not allow hostile forces to establish themselves along our borders," The Times of Israel reported.

Guterres Condemns Ben Gvir

"These remarks are appalling. They're outrageous. They're dehumanizing, and they're dangerous," Guterres said of Ben Gvir's suggestion that Israel kill "30 or 40" people in Gaza every night, The Times of Israel reported.

Board of Peace Silent on Gaza Strikes

The Board of Peace had yet to comment on the week's deadly IDF strikes in Gaza, which came immediately after its envoys and US special envoy Jared Kushner urged Netanyahu to respond only to imminent threats, The Times of Israel reported.

Funeral for Soldier Missing Since 1982

The IDF announced a funeral in Jerusalem for Sgt. First Class Yehuda Katz, whose remains were returned to Israel after he went missing in the 1982 Battle of Sultan Yacoub, The Times of Israel reported.

US Funds Gaza Peacekeeping Force

The Trump administration told Congress it is sending more than $206 million for a proposed Gaza peacekeeping force, Reuters reported, The Times of Israel reported.