Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-25 at 23:09 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-25 at 23:09

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-25 at 23:09

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 HEADLINESRafah Reopens After Hunt for Ran GualiliIsrael Strikes Hezbollah as Border Tensions EscalateMinneapolis Shooting Sparks Demand for Federal OversightThe time is now 6:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.Good evening. Here is your briefing on the day’s developments in the Middle East and related global issues, with focus on Israeli and Jewish perspectives for an international audience.Israel says Rafah crossing will reopen for people only after the operation to locate the last Israeli hostage in Gaza is completed. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that reopening the crossing will follow the conclusion of the search and recovery efforts for the missing hostage, Ran Gualili. The statement emphasizes that Israel remains committed to recovering hostages and to a comprehensive effort by Hamas to locate and return all hostages and remains. In parallel, the Israeli military said it is carrying out a focused operation to gather actionable intelligence as part of the hunt for Gualili, and the government cautioned that any decision to re-open would come only after those efforts are concluded and validated with the United States. The development underscores how hostage retrieval remains a central driver of policy decisions around Gaza crossings.Across the border, Israeli forces conducted strikes in southern Lebanon targeting Hezbollah infrastructure, in what the army described as responses to repeated ceasefire violations. The military said it carried out airstrikes against Hezbollah sites in Lebanon, including in the Bir al-Sansal region and the Bekaa Valley, and it reported the killing of two Hezbollah operatives linked to weapon production and artillery activities. The Israeli account framed these strikes as violations of ceasefire understandings and a response to Hezbollah attempts to rebuild its capabilities. In the same frame, Israeli fire and broader regional activity have been accompanied by reports of casualties on the Palestinian side in Gaza and new reconnaissance and warning activities as the region remains on high alert. The Lebanese and wider border dynamics continue to be a major factor shaping Israel’s security calculations as well as regional diplomacy.In Gaza, Israeli forces conducted airstrikes targeting a weapons production site and other Hezbollah-linked infrastructure in southern Lebanon were reported, while in Gaza City, local health authorities affiliated with Hamas said Israeli airstrikes wounded several people and killed two Palestinians in separate incidents. The Israeli military did not comment on those Gaza incidents, but the broader pattern of cross-border violence and escalations remains a concern for regional stability and civilian safety. The status of civilian protection and humanitarian access in Gaza continues to be a pressing issue for international observers and aid agencies.In the United States, the immigration-enforcement posture under the previous administration continues to influence current policy debates. Reports indicate that the Trump administration slowed the expansion of ICE body cameras and sharply reduced oversight staffing as enforcement was expanded in multiple cities, including Minneapolis. The story notes that some Border Patrol agents at recent incidents wore body cameras, though it was not always clear whether cameras were activated. The discussion also highlights broader tensions over how to balance enforcement with accountability, particularly in high-visibility operations that trigger public scrutiny after video evidence contradicts official narratives. White House officials have defended law enforcement conduct in some instances, and the ongoing debate intersects with funding decisions in Congress.Politically, a dispute over funding for the Homeland Security Department and immigration enforcement influenced congressional dynamics. A major spending package in the House provided funding for ICE and Border Patrol cameras, but lawmakers in the Senate and administration officials face a challenging path to consensus ahead of the January 30 government funding deadline. The debate reflects competing priorities in the United States over security, civil rights, and the appropriate scale of enforcement in border and interior operations.In Minneapolis, video and eyewitness accounts surrounding the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents drew significant attention. Local authorities and lawmakers faced questions about how the operation unfolded, the sequence of events, and whether the official narrative aligned with what footage suggested. Community leaders and some senators have called for thorough investigations and a reassessment of federal deployments in the city, arguing that the presence of federal agents should be targeted and transparent to prevent further harm and preserve civil liberties. The episode has added to a broader conversation about federal involvement in ...
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