Overnight, Houthis fired a missile toward northern Israel, triggering sirens in Haifa for the first time - a significant range extension beyond their previous targets. The missile was successfully intercepted.
Morning brought a serious cabinet crisis as Finance Minister Smotrich threatened to collapse the government over humanitarian aid to Gaza, first attacking IDF Chief Zamir ("we can replace you") then shifting blame to Netanyahu as "the ultimate responsible party." Smotrich drew a clear "red line," saying he wouldn't participate in "providing aid that reaches Hamas."
By afternoon, massive wildfires erupted in central Israel near Jerusalem and the Shfela region, prompting a national mobilization of firefighters and evacuations of several communities as extreme heat and high winds fueled the flames.
As Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremonies began at Yad Vashem, President Herzog warned that "history will not forgive those who divide us from within." Meanwhile, Hamas released a new video of hostage Omri Miran, whose family condemned the timing on Holocaust Eve.