Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-07 at 13:12 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-07 at 13:12

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-07 at 13:12

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 HEADLINESRafah raid by Israeli-backed militia escalates GazaUN accuses Israel of apartheid West BankRan Gvili remains fuel for hostage diplomacyThe time is now 8:04 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.Good morning. Here is your on the hour update with context for an international audience about the Middle East and related global developments.In southern Gaza, an Israeli‑backed Palestinian militia known as the Popular Forces says it carried out a raid in Rafah and killed two Hamas operatives who allegedly refused to surrender, while detaining a third. The group also released a photo it says shows one of the slain men. Hamas did not comment on the claim, and Reuters was unable to independently verify the report. Rafah is part of the Gaza enclave that remains under Israeli control under the terms of the October accord between Israel and Hamas, and the Popular Forces—believed to be the largest of several such groups operating in Israeli‑controlled zones—have gained attention for challenging Hamas while drawing criticism from Gazan residents who view these militias as destabilizing forces. Israel has publicly supported anti‑Hamas groups in these areas but has provided few details about incentives or coordination, and the new force has expanded the political and security pressures on Hamas as it tries to reestablish control over Gaza.In the Israeli legal arena, Military Advocate General Itay Offir rejected a lenient plea deal for IDF Sergeant Aviad Frija in the November 2023 killing of Yuval Kestelman, a case that has polarized public opinion and politics in Israel. Frija shot at attackers during a Palestinian shooting incident near Jerusalem’s Givat Shaul neighborhood, then, believing Kestelman to be a terrorist, fired on him as he was unarmed and surrendering. The case has evolved through lengthy negotiations over charges, with a trial now in prospect. Offir’s move to move forward with the indictment, after only 41 days in office, has prompted debate about how the military justice system should handle high‑profile incidents involving soldiers in chaotic combat situations and the political pressures surrounding them. Observers say this could influence forthcoming decisions in related matters, including potential actions in other controversial cases, and it will be watched closely by military, legal, and political circles as a signal about the balance between accountability and public sentiment in the current security climate.In health and science, Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv is inaugurating the Roman Abramovich Theranostics and Nuclear Medicine Center at its Tel Hashomer campus. The 4,700‑square‑meter facility will house an on‑site cyclotron and four dedicated units focused on molecular imaging and targeted therapies, including PET/CT, PET/MRI, SPECT/CT, and a theranostics unit for personalized cancer treatment. The project is designed to speed diagnostic capabilities, expand access to radiopharmaceuticals, and enhance participation in clinical trials and international collaborations. Officials said the center will serve more than 16,000 patients annually and will position Israel at the forefront of imaging and targeted therapies in the region, complementing ongoing partnerships with industry leaders in AI and medical technology.On hostage diplomacy and conflict management, reports indicate that coordination between Israel and Hamas continues in the search for the remains of Ran Gvili, the last Israeli hostage killed in Gaza. In Zeitoun, northern Gaza, the search—conducted with Israeli involvement—reflects a difficult trade‑off in which Israel uses limited cooperation to press for the return of remains and political concessions tied to the crisis surrounding the Rafah crossing. Earlier statements from Israeli officials tied any broader steps on the Gaza deal to progress on the hostage remains issue, underscoring the sensitive link between security aims and humanitarian considerations in diplomacy.The United Nations rights office released a report accusing Israel of maintaining an apartheid system in the West Bank through decades of discrimination and segregation. The report alleges systematic restrictions on Palestinians’ access to water, education, healthcare, and movement, and it cites unequal enforcement of law and widespread settlement expansion. Israel rejected the charge as unfounded and argued that Palestinians in areas with limited autonomy have been granted certain powers and that security concerns and the history of terrorism shape policy. The report calls for dismantling settlements and ending restrictions, while noting the number of settlers in the West Bank and the continued violence that has intensified since the Gaza war began in 2023. The UN’s assessment adds to a broad international debate over rights, sovereignty, and security in the territory, and it is likely to influence international diplomacy and aid...
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