What was Netanyahu’s first thought on 9/11? – Daily Update

, ,
What was Netanyahu’s first thought on 9/11? – Daily Update
September 11 attacks in New York City: View of the World Trade Center and the Statue of Liberty. (Wikimedia Commons)

News roundup for Friday, September 11, 2026, Day 1,072 since Israel began its 2023 genocide on the Palestinian people. 

Compilation of news reports – IAK staff

NEWS & HEADLINES FROM GAZA:

For some basic info on the Palestine-Israel conflict, go here. For more critical context, skim this, this, and this. To read about a remarkable but underreported, 20-month-long peaceful protest in Gaza against Israel, go here.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The number of Palestinians being killed in Gaza is lower since the October 2025 “ceasefire” began, over 330 days ago – about 4 per day, vs. over 100 per day during the 733 days of the “war.” But Israel is actively working (with Trump’s “Board of Peace“) to ethnically cleanse Gaza of its Palestinian population, even as the low-level killing continues. Genocide experts, along with organizations like the United Nations and Amnesty International, maintain that the genocide is ongoing.

One Palestinian was killed and 13 others, including children, were injured in Israeli attacks on Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on Friday, according to medical sources. A second Palestinian died of wounds sustained Thursday.

Gaza hospitals ration electricity as Israeli siege leaves generators without oil, spare parts

Gazans Feel Despair as Israeli Officials Cement Plans for Permanent Occupation: Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has described a plan to remove Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to other countries.

GAZA DEATH TOLL (tentative) since “ceasefire” began Oct. 11, 2025:
Search efforts continue in Jabalia area as International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) personnel, teams from Hamas’ military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, and the Quds Brigades of Islamic Jihad join operations to retrieve the bodies of Israeli hostages in Gaza City, Gaza, on December 03, 2025.
Search efforts continue in Jabalia area as International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) personnel, teams from Hamas’ military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, and the Quds Brigades of Islamic Jihad join operations to retrieve the bodies of Israeli hostages in Gaza City, Gaza, on December 03, 2025. (Hamza Z. H. Qraiqea – Anadolu Agency)

NEWS & HEADLINES FROM THE OCCUPIED WEST BANK/EAST JERUSALEM:

Every day, Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem endure dozens of incidents like the ones below, at the hands of Israeli soldiers and/or settlers. For background on the West Bank, read this and this. For information on the significance of Israeli settlers in the West Bank, read this and this.)

Israeli demolitions threaten schools and homes in Masafer Yatta*: Students pledge to continue learning as demolitions in Masafer Yatta attack homes, schools, and their right to education.

*NOTE: Read about Israel’s near-constant threats against the small cluster of villages that make up Masafer Yatta here.

Qusra marks month of siege as Israeli army allows settlers to roam nearby, intimidating residents: Residents of Qusra told The New Arab that the Israeli army has allowed settlers to remain in the area, while also restricting the movement of Palestinians (read Qusra’s backstory here).

West Bank on Friday: Israeli Colonizers Shoot at Palestinian Farmers; Troops Establish New Military Outpost

Israeli occupiers injure 2 Palestinians, attack homes, steal sheep across West Bank

Israeli army launches surprise military drill in occupied West Bank: Israel tightens military measures on Palestinian movement across West Bank and East Jerusalem during Jewish holidays.

DEATH TOLL SINCE OCT. 7, 2023 – WEST BANK/EAST JERUSALEM (tentative):
Israeli forces look over a Palestinian Shepherd and his flock of sheep
Israeli forces look over a Palestinian Shepherd and his flock of sheep (Days of Palestine/Twitter)

NEWS & HEADLINES FROM ISRAEL:

Israel is a tiny country, about the size of New Jersey, with a population smaller than the US state of Georgia – about 10 million (of which about 20 percent are Palestinians), yet it is in the news constantly. As has been demonstrated again and again, however, mainstream media rarely covers Israel news accurately. IAK gets the facts – sometimes from Israeli media sites, where we can get a glimpse inside this country that is rife with turmoil and contradictions, and that receives $63 million a day from America.

Netanyahu’s first comment after 9/11, and how 9/11 helped Israel sell its war on Palestinians to America: Among the early reactions to 9/11 was one from Benjamin Netanyahu, then a former prime minister of Israel. Asked by The New York Times what the attack meant for relations between the United States and Israel, Netanyahu replied, “It’s very good.”

Then he edited himself: “Well, not very good, but it will generate immediate sympathy,” adding that the attack would “strengthen the bond between our two peoples”. This was his response while ground zero was still smoldering after an attack that had killed nearly 3,000 people.

Electronic Intifada pointed out:

Even after generously allowing Netanyahu to “edit” himself, the Times did not conceal that Netanyahu was not thinking in terms of sympathy for the victims of 9/11 and the United States, nor what a “friend” could do to help America. Rather, he was already thinking on the day it happened about how 9/11 could be manipulated to get America to do more for Israel.

Netanyahu’s approach is the same: ask not what Israel can do for the United States, but what the United States can do for Israel – regardless of the cost to the United States and the rest of the world.

Netanyahu’s Likud party suffers ‘historic collapse’ ahead of Israeli elections: Poll

IRAN, LEBANON, & SYRIA – NEWS & HEADLINES:

IRAN

It can not be overemphasized that Israel is the impetus behind US policies and actions vis-a-vis Iran. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has been pushing the US to attack Iran for decades, using lies and deception. Under President Trump, he got his wish.

US defense chief vows to ‘finish this fight’ with Iran: Addressing 9/11 anniversary ceremony, Hegseth warns: ‘There are still enemies who hate us.’

Many Iranians Forced to Take Out Loans to Pay for Daily Essentials

 
LEBANON

Israel has invaded Lebanon seven times in the last half century. Between 1978 and 2000, Israel maintained an 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon — Hezbollah was formed to fight that occupation.

Israel demolished what it claimed was a large Hezbollah facility in southern Lebanon, triggering a 4.1 magnitude earthquake.

SYRIA

Although Israel is not at war with Syria, the Israeli army has reportedly carried out over 1,600 violations inside Syrian territory since August 2025, and demanded the demilitarization of southern Syria – but also vowed to permanently occupy some areas.

Israeli forces shell outskirts of Beit Jinn in southern Syria for 2nd time

DEATH TOLL – WARS ON IRAN & LEBANON (tentative):
  • United States: 18 since Feb. 28, 2026
  • Iran: at least 3,636 since Feb. 28, 2026
  • Lebanon: at least 4,381 people since March 2, 2026
  • Arab states: at least 154 (including Palestine, excluding Lebanon)
  • Israel: at least 60 people (Iran killed 20 civilians; Hezbollah killed 40 soldiers, 4 civilians)

MORE NEWS & HEADLINES:

Democrats are in a ‘death match’ with the Left over Israel. How will it impact the midterms? Political consultant Peter Feld breaks down the primaries, AIPAC’s losses (and wins), the attacks on Hasan Piker, and why a demoralized GOP and Democratic infighting could both shape the midterms in unexpected ways.

‘Horrible to Say’: Clinton Says Netanyahu May Have Had Advance Warning of Oct. 7

Hegseth Says Iran ‘Cheered on 9/11’ — What Does the Historical Record Show? Contemporary reporting from September 2001 does not support the broad assertion that Iran — whether understood as its government or its population — “cheered” the attacks. Instead, reports published immediately after September 11 documented official Iranian condemnations of the attacks, public expressions of sympathy for the victims and candlelight vigils in Tehran.

In Gaza, we’ve seen horror unfold with global powers’ support. Is that a blueprint for elsewhere? For now, it is Palestinians who are being killed and displaced. But ideologies of supremacy and domination threaten us all.

Palestinians gain more sympathy than Israelis among US voters for the first time: Poll: The poll found that 38 percent of US voters said they were more sympathetic to the Palestinians, while 35 percent named the Israelis. The remaining 27 percent had no opinion.

Israel will not give Greece the source code for air defense system: Report

ICYMI, A SELECTION OF YESTERDAY’S HEADLINES:

Gaza amputees to Adidas: You ignored the victims and celebrated the killer

Israel arrests 100 Palestinians in a week as West Bank pogroms continue

Israeli attacks damage 22.5% of agricultural land in southern Lebanon

US pressures NATO allies to destroy International Criminal Court

(Read yesterday’s daily update here.)

The bodies of Palestinians, including children, killed in the Israeli attack are taken from the morgue of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, on September 10, 2026.
The bodies of Palestinians, including children, killed in the Israeli attack are taken from the morgue of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, on September 10, 2026. (Saeed M. M. T. Jaras – Anadolu Agency)

STATISTICS OCTOBER 7, 2023 – SEPTEMBER 11, 2026*:

  • At least 74,871 Palestinians killed, 187,652 injured – including:
  • Gaza: at least 73,669 killed (~22,000 children, 33,000 women and girls), 174,652 injured.
  • West Bank/East Jerusalem: at least 1,202 killed (~251 children), 13,000 injured

*NOTE: Thousands of remains in Gaza have yet to be identified, and as many as 15,000 more are still buried under rubble; others are reportedly missing. 

Reported Israeli death toll from October 7, 2023 – September 11, 2026: ~1,663 – including ~1,139** on October 7, 2023 (~36 children), 472 military forces during the ground invasion of Gaza, about 52 military and civilians (by one count, there have been 59 victims) in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Israel (these numbers do not include deaths from the conflicts with Lebanon or Iran). 

**NOTE: It is unknown at this time how many of the deaths and injuries of Israelis on October 7 were caused by Israeli soldiers.

Hover over each bar for exact numbers. Source: IsraelPalestineTimeline.org

Enter your email address below to receive our latest articles right in your inbox.

You might also like: