Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-08 at 22:07 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-08 at 22:07

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-08 at 22:07

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 HEADLINES- Weekend storm threatens Israel with floods- US judge blocks Gaza emergency rescues- Israel strikes Lebanon after Hezbollah breaches ceasefireThe time is now 5:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.Five o’clock update from the regional desk: A severe storm is forecast to strike Israel on Friday, bringing heavy rainfall, winds up to 100 kilometers per hour, and high waves along the coast. Former Deputy Fire Commissioner Aharon Godiner told Ma’ariv that if the forecast holds, significant localized flooding could overwhelm infrastructure in several cities. He warned that strong winds could topple trees and power lines, damage road signs and traffic lights, and hurl debris into streets. Residents are urged to secure items on balconies, stay away from beaches, and exercise caution in walking or driving as rain and wind can conceal potholes. He also cautioned about underground parking garages and the risk to people using elevators during power outages, and advised turning off electric blankets or avoiding space heaters that obstruct ventilation. He stressed the importance of following meteorological updates and the guidance of national fire and rescue services as the storm develops.In the United States, a federal judge in Chicago dismissed a lawsuit filed by Palestinian Americans seeking emergency rescues from Gaza. The judge ruled that the court could not adjudicate delicate foreign policy decisions and noted that the plaintiffs had either been evacuated or offered options that did not cover immediate family members. Lawyers for the plaintiffs did not immediately comment, and the State Department did not respond to requests for comment. The ruling underscores the limits of the judiciary when foreign policy and wartime evacuation decisions are at stake.On the Gaza border, the Israeli Defense Forces borrowed farming equipment from Israeli civilians for land clearing inside Gaza, a move that drew internal criticism within the Southern Command over implications for future control of the territory. The military said the activity did not amount to agricultural use of captured land.In the Lebanon front, the Israeli Defense Forces conducted a second strike in twenty-four hours in southern Lebanon in response to Hezbollah violations of ceasefire understandings, the army said. The strike targeted a Hezbollah drone operator described as Alaa Hourani, who played a role in re-establishing Hezbollah’s infrastructure and coordinating its intelligence gathering. Lebanon’s army said it had gained full operational control south of the Litani River, with the exception of areas under Israeli control, while Israel warned that Hezbollah remains capable of anti-tank fire and infiltration. Israel rejected Lebanon’s claim that Hezbollah has been disarmed, citing ongoing Iranian support for the group. The broader implication is continued risk of spillover as tensions persist along the border.Diplomacy and peacemaking were in focus as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with former United Nations Mideast envoy Nickolay Mladenov, who has been designated as the director-general of the board overseeing the Gaza ceasefire process. The board is meant to supervise the second phase of the ceasefire, including disarmament of Hamas, deployment of an international security presence, and further pullbacks by Israeli forces, with a Palestinian technocratic committee also involved. Washington has signaled plans for an intermediate executive committee that would be closely involved in oversight, and Mladenov’s on‑the‑ground role was described by officials as central to the arrangement, though there was no immediate official confirmation from the United States. President Isaac Herzog also met with Mladenov in Jerusalem.In Washington, Senator Jacky Rosen of Nevada described Iran as a global danger and called for a technology-based lifeline for Iranian protesters, including expanded access to the internet and coordinated sanctions to choke Tehran’s revenues. She said Congress must act to sanction oil revenues, financial networks, arms transfers, and third-party actors that enable Iran’s activities, and she stressed the importance of deeper United States–Israel coordination on defense matters, including integrated air and missile defense, maritime security, and space and cyber capabilities as part of the broader alliance framework. Rosen emphasized that these tools are necessary to reinforce Israel’s security and to support regional stability.Across the region, Iran’s protests and the regime’s response remain a central backdrop to Israeli security concerns. Reports describe ongoing demonstrations and official responses, with observers monitoring the situation closely. In a related development, the satellite internet company Starlink reportedly activated service in Iran during the internet blackout to provide access and information flow outside the ...
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