Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-31 at 04:06 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-31 at 04:06

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-31 at 04:06

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 HEADLINESHamas escalates guerrilla fighting amid ceasefireUS mulls Iran decapitation strike amid warningsUS approves $6.5B Israel arms saleThe time is now 4:05 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), as Israel enters the second phase of the ceasefire, the military and security services say Hamas is stepping up attempts to draw Israeli forces into guerrilla-style fighting, signaling the group is not laying down arms and remains operationally motivated. A sequence of Gaza incidents illustrates a continued Hamas readiness, even as fighting ebbs and flows. Reports from the southern Gaza Strip indicate an Israeli strike hit the administration building of a Gaza camp on Khan Younis, with an evacuation warning issued beforehand. In the pre-dawn hours, Israeli strikes across the enclave were said to have left 12 dead: seven members of the Abu Hadid family were killed in an attack on a tent in the Mowati area of Khan Younis, five others were killed when a home near the Al-Abbas junction in western Gaza was struck, and a strike in Jabalia in the north produced injuries. The army also attacked additional targets in central Gaza with no casualties reported. Officials described the strikes as a response to a Hamas violation, and observers note the episode has fed the sense of fragile and ongoing conflict. One reference in the coverage notes a separate report signaling a potential $6.5 billion arms deal that could help cover gaps in the air force.In the conflict with Iran and its regional proxies, US officials say President Trump could authorize a strike on Iran as soon as tomorrow under a decapitation-style model targeting leadership and key Revolutionary Guard assets, with potential to inflict hundreds of American casualties if miscalculated. Iran responds that any American action would provoke a broad regional reaction, with estimates suggesting hundreds of American deaths and an expansion of conflict to include Israel and US bases. Iran’s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi told CNN in Turkey that there is no serious basis for negotiations with the United States at present and that any real talks would require removing the climate of threats and pressure, warning that negotiation cannot be conducted through conditioned terms and that claims of regime change are illusionary. An Associated Press briefing cited Iran’s warning of a naval drill near the Strait of Hormuz that could disrupt shipping, highlighting the potential for disruption in a critical chokepoint. Saudi officials have weighed in, with the defense minister warning that failure to strike could embolden Tehran, while reports in other outlets describe a reversal of posture in Riyadh, arguing that avoiding action could strengthen the Iranian regime. The Houthis have released footage from a drone/missile factory after signaling they could join fighting if Iran were attacked. Within analysis and commentary, pieces discuss how Qatar’s influence and regional dynamics shape Western narratives, and how observers compare Turkish and Qatari approaches to governance and power, including detours through historical analogies. On the ground inside Iran, opposition sources describe heightened security at checkpoints, with reports of phones being checked and people being moved to different assignments as part of a broader readiness posture.The US Policy Concerning Israel section: The US State Department has approved more than $6.5 billion in potential military sales to Israel, including $1.98 billion for Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, $3.8 billion for AH-64E Apache helicopters, and a third contract valued at $740 million.In Israeli Economy and Business, Israel faces a looming liquified gas shortage even as the government assures supply stability. The country currently maintains minimal security stockpiles of LPG, leaving sectors such as heating, energy production, and manufacturing exposed as winter approaches. Industries from food production to hospitality are racing to secure gas, with prioritization given to institutional users and private consumers seeing delays. A gas ship arrived at the Ktsaa terminal after earlier draws from emergency reserves, but officials say this will not fully resolve the issue. Meanwhile, Moody’s updated Israel’s credit outlook from negative to stable, keeping the rating at Baa1. The agency notes reduced geopolitical risk and resilient economic performance, with growth expected to rebound in 2026, but cautions that security risks remain and could spark renewed tensions.In Other News, the day brings a broad mix of developments. The US government entered a likely brief shutdown after the Senate passed a spending package by 71 to 29, but the House, out of town, is not expected to consider the measure until Monday. A group of Iranians attending the film “Melania” with Donald Trump voiced their support for the US president,...
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