Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-13 at 22:06 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-13 at 22:06

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-13 at 22:06

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 HEADLINESUS designates Muslim Brotherhood branches global terroristsIran crackdown sparks global alarm, US tariffGaza ceasefire hinges on Ran Gvili's bodyThe time is now 5:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.Five o’clock update. The United States designated three branches of the Muslim Brotherhood—Egyptian, Lebanese, and Jordanian—as global terrorists, a move announced by the Treasury Department after years of sanctions escalation. Officials say the chapters have supported or encouraged violent attacks against Israel and United States partners, including Hamas. Egypt welcomed the designation as a step reflecting what it called the group’s extremist ideology and a direct threat to regional and international security. The Lebanese branch, known as Jamaa Islamiya, rejected the action as a political decision with no legal impact in Lebanon. The designation follows Washington’s move to label the organizations as specially designated global terrorists, a status that can trigger sanctions and other constraints on the groups and their networks.Turning to Iran, a sweeping wave of protests continues to roil the country and has drawn a broad international response. Estimates of the death toll vary widely: Iranian authorities have acknowledged around two thousand deaths, while rights groups and some foreign outlets have reported higher figures, with hundreds of thousands detained or swept up in security operations. The United Nations’ top human rights official has said the violence is horrifying and urged an end to the crackdown, while warning that a cycle of repression cannot endure. In Washington, President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned that the United States would act decisively if protesters are hanged, though he has not specified concrete steps. He also announced a 25 percent tariff on countries trading with Iran, a move that drew swift reaction from Tehran and questions about its potential economic impact. Separately, discussions in Washington and allied capitals have focused on options ranging from targeted strikes or cyber actions against Iran’s security apparatus to calls for Internet access restoration for protesters. There have been reports of private engagement with Iranian opposition figures, including discussions involving an exiled royal figure, but public indicators of a broad shift against the clerical leadership remain limited. European Union members summoned Iran’s ambassador in Brussels to protest the crackdown, while France, Germany, and the United Kingdom expressed concern over state violence. The protests have spanned more than a dozen provinces and have become a test of the regime’s ability to control the narrative and maintain legitimacy amid sanctions and economic distress.In Gaza and neighboring areas, the Israeli military confirmed the killing of at least two gunmen in a firefight in Rafah, near the border, a development that Israel says violates a fragile ceasefire arrangement. The ongoing tension comes as the second phase of a United States-brokered ceasefire framework is anticipated to begin in the coming days, with discussions about longer-term governance and security structures for the enclave. Israel says it remains focused on recovering the remains of Ran Gvili, the final hostage held in Gaza, a goal it says informs its posture in the negotiations and in military operations. Israeli officials emphasize that the return of Gvili’s body is a prerequisite for advancing the ceasefire framework, while acknowledging ongoing negotiations and intelligence efforts with mediators and American counterparts.Separately, the United Nations has warned Israel that it could face referral to the International Court of Justice over laws affecting the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, UNRWA, and the seizure of agency assets. Israeli officials have rejected what they describe as a selective focus on UNRWA while issues tied to security concerns and terrorism are treated differently, arguing that the organization has links to violence and incitement in some of its programming. The disagreement underscores a broader debate about the role of UNRWA in Gaza and the West Bank and the balance between humanitarian needs and security concerns.In Israel’s domestic sphere, the debate over recognition of troops who died after service continues. A lone soldier, Joshua Boone, is the subject of a campaign to recognize him as a fallen soldier with a formal military funeral, despite the Defense Ministry not yet applying that status under current rules. Boone, who served in the Golani Brigade and accumulated substantial reserve time, had recently died in Beersheba; his family and supporters say he should be honored with full military rites, arguing his service and sacrifice extended beyond the formal end date of active duty.On the security and policy horizon, the regional and international dynamics are ...
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