Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-26 at 06:07 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-26 at 06:07

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-26 at 06:07

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 HEADLINES- Gaza Phase II advances with security guarantees- IDF strikes Hezbollah near Israel border- Iran clamps down on unrest info onlineThe time is now 1:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.This hour’s briefing covers the shifting dynamics shaping the Middle East and the broader security and political landscape that matters to Israelis, Jews worldwide, and international partners.In Washington, the phase II pillar of the Gaza peace concept advances despite reservations voiced in Jerusalem. The plan, tied to a broad framework offered by a recently formed Board of Peace, emphasizes demilitarization, governance reforms, and reconstruction as steps toward a stable Gaza. Yet Israeli leaders warn the arrangement hinges on real security guarantees and close coordination with partners, including questions over the role of Hamas in any rebuilding process. Central to the debate is the condition that hostages’ bodies or remains be resolved before moving forward with certain provisions, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has pressed for explicit assurances and a robust security umbrella before Phase II gains momentum. In Davos and beyond, the Trump administration has framed the effort as a transition toward a “day after,” but Jerusalem has cautioned that its security red lines must be respected and enforcement mechanisms tested in practice. The plan also signals continued involvement by regional actors, with Qatar and Turkey named as participants in the broader stabilization effort, a development Netanyahu has described as challenging to Israel’s security calculus.On the ground in Gaza and along Israel’s northern front, the Israeli military reports ongoing operations aimed at degrading capabilities linked to hostile networks. In Lebanon, the IDF says it has struck Hezbollah infrastructure, including weapons depots and a facility linked to the Radwan unit, as part of efforts to remove threats near Israel’s borders. The cross-border dynamic remains a persistent risk as regional actors calibrate their moves in response to evolving assessments of threat and opportunity.Meanwhile, a major diplomatic and security thread runs through the hostage issue linked to Ran Gvili. The Israeli government announced, after a late-night cabinet discussion, that the Rafah crossing would be opened to Gazans traveling under Israeli supervision as part of a broader push associated with the Trump plan. The decision came without a cabinet vote, and officials underscored that the crossing’s operation would be managed to reflect security concerns and hostage return conditions. Family members of hostages have urged caution not to advance to a second phase without securing their loved ones’ safety and return, highlighting how closely security concerns and humanitarian considerations remain intertwined in policy discussions.In regional diplomacy, Washington has pressed partners to align on a coherent approach to stabilizing Gaza and countering militant networks, while the broader Board of Peace moves forward with a calculus that includes Qatar and Turkey in shaping post-conflict governance and security arrangements. The precise balance of influence among international actors and the series of tradeoffs with Israel’s security needs continues to be a focal point for policymakers in Jerusalem and their allies.In parallel, security actions against non-state threats continue to shape the risk environment. The Israeli military states that it will act to remove threats to the state and will persist with operations against groups that threaten civilians and soldiers alike. The Lebanese theater remains tense, with cross-border activity reported by Israeli authorities as part of ongoing deterrence and response measures.In a broader international context, Iran tightened controls over information as authorities imposed a stringent crackdown. The regime announced that disseminating images or videos from unrest and violence would be a criminal offense, with penalties including lengthy prison terms and, in extreme cases, the death penalty under a charge of Moharaba. The government has also endured a long internet blackout to limit exposure of casualty figures, drawing concern from human rights organizations that warn the lack of information masks a larger toll.In Europe, authorities in Berlin canceled a Palestinian culture festival after officials said imagery in the event invitation violated regulations, reigniting debate about free expression versus incitement and the boundaries of political discourse in public life.Across the Atlantic, antisemitism concerns persist in public life. A Holocaust survivor in the United Kingdom spoke to The Telegraph about rising anti-Jewish sentiment, noting security anxieties for Jewish communities and performers abroad in the wake of anti-Israel protest movements. The challenge of safety for artists traveling internationally has ...
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