Israel's war economic aid package to be bigger than during COVID

srael's government was preparing an economic aid package for those impacted by attacks by Hamas militants that will be "bigger and broader" than during the COVID-19 pandemic, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters, Smotrich said Israel's economy and fiscal position - such as a low debt-to-GDP ratio - was strong enough to support the military and civilian war efforts as needed.

"We have money and we will use it now for everything that is needed with a generous hand," Smotrich said. "We have stopped everything that is not important in the budget and we are diverting everything to the needs of the war and supporting the economy."

He added that in the coming days Israel would increase the budget framework in parliament to create "maximum flexibility for ourselves."

Defense Ministry to conduct exercise on Highway 35 on Sunday afternoon
Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow forces airport closure, Russia says
US condemns shooting of Colombian presidential candidate Miguel Uribe
Israeli man arrested in Albania after trying to leave with undeclared €194,000 - report
IDF Arabic Spokesperson Avichay Adraee issues evacuation notice to residents north of Gaza City
Fire breaks out in Haruvit Forest, not yet contained
France's Armed Forces Minister reaffirms no weapons being sold to Israel
IDF arrests PIJ Jenin Battalion commander during West Bank operation
Twenty live hostages, two undetermined, 33 dead, says Israeli source
North Korea internet hit by a major outage, analyst says