Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-19 at 10:08 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-19 at 10:08

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-19 at 10:08

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 HEADLINESPutin Invited to Gaza Peace BoardIsrael Debates Politicized Oct seven CommissionIran Protests Wane After Weeks of CrackdownThe time is now 5:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.The following is your hour-by-hour briefing, prepared for an international audience with careful balance toward Israel’s security concerns and American policy stances, along with broader regional context.In Washington, new details emerged about the Gaza peace framework being shaped around President Trump’s administration. The Kremlin said on Monday that President Vladimir Putin has been invited to join what Moscow calls Trump’s “Board of Peace” for Gaza, and that Moscow is studying the proposal with the aim of possible contact with Washington. The report also noted that Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was reportedly invited to join the board, though the White House did not publicly confirm individual members. Kazakh officials described their president as accepting the invitation and expressing a desire to contribute to a lasting peace in the Middle East and to regional stability. The White House has framed the Board of Peace as part of a broader set of mechanisms and advisers accompanying a US-backed Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, including a Gaza executive board and other senior advisers. The plan has been in discussion since late 2025, with UN endorsement accompanying the pathway toward a phased sequence of governance, reconstruction, and security arrangements. Israel’s leadership has watched these developments closely, balancing support for a credible international framework with concerns about who will govern Gaza, how disarmament would be verified, and what role external powers would play alongside or in opposition to Israeli security priorities. Turkish participation has become a particularly sensitive issue in Israeli briefings, given long-standing Turkish disputes with Israel over Gaza governance, and Israeli officials have warned that any arrangement perceived as sidelining Jerusalem from strategic decisions could complicate security calculations, especially around Hamas disarmament and hostage issues such as Ran Gvili’s status.On the domestic front in Israel, bereaved families and opposition lawmakers gathered in the Knesset for a debate on a government bill to create a politically appointed commission to investigate the October 7 attacks. Bereaved families and relatives of hostages attended a panel protesting the push for a less independent investigative structure. The bill, introduced by Likud MK Ariel Kallner, would set up a six-member investigative panel selected through a Knesset process, with a potential supermajority requirement and a mechanism for appointing opposition members if consensus cannot be reached. Critics say the bill would represent a departure from the traditional state commission model, which is staffed by the Supreme Court’s chief justice and designed to operate outside political influence. Prime Minister Netanyahu has faced intensified scrutiny over accountability for the attack, and the debate has deepened a broader rift between the government and the judiciary. The discussion comes amid a high-stakes political environment as Israel continues its campaign against Hamas in Gaza and weighs security and governance questions in parallel with domestic political pressures.Turning to the wider regional picture, Iran’s latest wave of protests appears to be winding down after weeks of widespread demonstrations against the regime. Estimates from human rights groups and activists note thousands of deaths and tens of thousands of arrests in a crackdown that has drawn international concern. Iran’s internet access has been severely restricted for days, with authorities gradually moving to limit external communication while maintaining some internal connectivity, a development described as an effective information firewall as Nowruz approaches. Observers point to enduring economic strains, environmental and energy challenges, and persistent popular discontent among a young demographic that participated heavily in the latest demonstrations. Some Iranian opposition voices have urged renewed pressure on Tehran’s leadership, while external actors face questions about what form of support—if any—could meaningfully influence change inside Iran. Among Iranians abroad, demonstrations in American cities have reflected sympathy with protesters while raising debates about external involvement, sanctions, and the contours of any future accord with Tehran.In Gaza and the West Bank, Israeli security forces continue targeted counter-terror operations aimed at dismantling infrastructure used by militants. A multi-day operation was announced in Hebron’s Jabal Johar neighborhood to disrupt terror networks, seize weapons, and bolster civilian security in the area. The operations reflect ongoing efforts to limit ...
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