IDF Eases Wartime Restrictions as Finance Ministry Pushes to Reopen Businesses

The Israeli military announced Wednesday night that wartime restrictions on gatherings and workplaces would be relaxed beginning Thursday afternoon, following pressure from the Finance Ministry to allow businesses near protected spaces to reopen. The Finance Ministry argued that lifting the restrictions would cut economic losses by approximately 5 billion shekels ($1.6 billion) weekly, citing the significant economic toll of maintaining a widespread economic shutdown during the conflict.