Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-20 at 22:06 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-20 at 22:06

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-20 at 22:06

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 HEADLINESWest Bank red alerts at Kfar TapuachIAEA chief warns Iran uranium stockpile crisisTrump claims Ran Gvili hostage locationThe time is now 5:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.Beitar Jerusalem moved into the top spot in the Israeli Premier League after a 3-1 victory over Hapoel Petah Tikva over the weekend, followed by a late 2-1 win for Hapoel Tel Aviv over Hapoel Beersheba at Bloomfield Stadium in a separate match. Tel Aviv’s Amit Lemkin struck deep into stoppage time to clinch the three points, delivering Beersheba’s first defeat since the victory over their rivals earlier in the weekend. Beersheba had taken the lead early as Loizos Loizou finished a miscue by Beersheba goalkeeper Niv Eliasi, but Eliel Peretz and Kings Kangwa helped level the game before Lemkin’s dramatic late strike.In another top-flight affair, Dor Hugi’s late double helped Beitar Jerusalem seal a 3-1 win against Hapoel Petah Tikva, with Yarden Shua giving Beitar a first-half lead that was canceled out by Boni Amian before Hugi’s 93rd-minute goal sealed the result and added an insurance header four minutes later following a Dor Micha cross.Maccabi Haifa also produced a standout performance, pulverizing Maccabi Tel Aviv 4-1 as three late goals finished the job for the Greens. Michael Ohana gave Haifa a lead just before the break; Sagiv Yehezkel equalized for Tel Aviv, but Haifa answered through Pierre Cornud’s cross setting up Guy Melamed for a 2-1 lead in the 79th minute, with Kenji Gorre and Niv Gabbai finishing the scoring. After the game, Haifa coach Barak Bachar underscored the importance of consistency and patience from his side, while Tel Aviv’s coach Zarko Lazetic admitted his team lacked urgency in the first half and paid the price as Haifa pulled away.Bnei Sakhnin edged Maccabi Netanya 2-1, overturning a first-half deficit through a second-half header from Alon Auzgi and a late free-kick from Yusef Mustafa Sheh to complete the comeback. Hapoel Jerusalem defeated Ironi Tiberias 2-0 with Ilay Madmon scoring a first-half penalty and Awaka Ashta adding a late header from a corner to seal the win for the capital club.The other results included Maccabi Bnei Reineh and Ashdod playing to a 0-0 draw, and Kiryat Shmona rallying from an early deficit to beat Hapoel Haifa 3-1, with Rotem Hatuel giving Kiryat Shmona the lead, Yair Mordechai equalizing, Cristian Martinez providing a 76th-minute strike, and Mor Simantov adding a stoppage-time insurance goal.In a broader regional and security context, a West Bank alert centered on the village of Kfar Tapuach prompted red alerts and calls for residents to shelter indoors as security forces tightened perimeter checks following reports of a perimeter breach. The Israel Home Front command issued guidance urging residents to stay inside protected spaces and await official instructions as an intensive security operation continued in the area.Turning to the international arena, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, cautioned at the World Economic Forum in Davos that the standoff over Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium cannot last indefinitely. The IAEA has inspected Iran’s declared nuclear facilities but has not been able to verify inspections at the Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan sites since June. Grossi said Iran must file a special report detailing the fate of the materials and the sites, warning that without timely cooperation he may have to declare non-compliance under the NPT. The agency noted it has continued inspections at non-bombed facilities, but access to some key locations remains blocked, with diplomacy led by US envoy Steve Witkoff seeking broader engagement.In Washington, former US president Donald Trump reiterated claims that intelligence indicates the location of the last Israeli hostage held in Gaza, St.-Sergeant-Major Ran Gvili, and criticized the current administration for its handling of the broader Gaza hostage issue. The remarks followed comments from Hamas regarding why it has not fully complied with prior commitments related to the hostage return deal and ongoing negotiations.On a different front, a Turkish student who moved to Israel to study at Hebrew University faced serious online threats after identifying as Zionist, triggering a wave of harassment in Turkish media and social networks. The student, identified in reports as Avci, described receiving arrest warrants in Turkey amid a broader debate about free speech, national identity, and cross-border tensions in the wake of October 7. Avci, who hopes to pursue journalism in Israel, said she loves Turkey but views the current climate as hostile to dissenting voices.In domestic legal and political life, former Supreme Court president Asher Grunis was hospitalized after a suspected stroke, adding to concerns about health and leadership within the Israeli public sphere as the government continues to navigate...
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