Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-01 at 10:04 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-01 at 10:04

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-01 at 10:04

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 HEADLINESRafah crossing shortfall imperils Gaza aidHezbollah clashes as US weighs Iran responseBritannica replaces Israel with Palestine on mapsThe time is now 10:03 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), reporting on the Rafah crossing indicates daily movement expectations: exits from the Gaza Strip would total 150 people per day (50 patients and 100 companions, with two companions per patient), while entries into the Strip would be limited to 50 people per day, creating a daily shortfall of about 100 people. The identity of those entering and leaving is described as subject to Israeli security clearance. The figures are framed as contingent on ongoing agreements and the crossing not operating every day of the year, which would amount to a projected annual gap of roughly 30,000 people if conditions hold. The descriptions emphasize these are negotiated numbers and depend on security approvals, with potential changes if operations shift.In the conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, heavy clashes erupted this morning in south Lebanon’s Al-Qasr as residents clashed with the Lebanese Army when security forces attempted to seize a Hezbollah vehicle. Lebanese sources also reported casualties in a Israeli unmanned aerial vehicle strike on a vehicle in the Abba al-Duair area of Nabatieh, with injuries to several others. Israel’s Chief of Staff, Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir, conducted a secret weekend visit to Washington to present intelligence and discuss military options against Iran, including concerns about ballistic missile production and the handling of negotiations over uranium enrichment versus missile threats. A high-ranking Houthi official warned Israel that patience is running out and that aggression could open “gates of hell” from Yemen. Separately, Israel carried out a targeted UAV strike in Al-Dweir, south Lebanon, eliminating Ali Amits, a Hezbollah operative, with three others injured. The Israeli Defense Forces in Lebanon reported that the 769th Brigade has been dismantling Hezbollah-infrastructure and weapons storage facilities, including an anti-tank missile storage site and a facility used to shoot missiles toward Israeli territory. Washington and Jerusalem have signaled readiness for a potential confrontation with Iran, including the deployment of THAAD and Patriot batteries to bolster defenses, while Iranian officials have warned of consequences if strikes occur. After a US warning, Iran reportedly stepped back from planned exercises, with a Reuters interview in which an Iranian official said there are no current plans for exercises or live-fire in the Hormuz strait or Gulf area. A Wall Street Journal report is cited as saying the United States is not yet ready to launch the kind of strike President Trump has asked for, though limited airstrikes could be possible if ordered; the piece notes a need for broader air defenses to protect Israel and regional partners in case of Iranian retaliation.In the Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate topic, Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama told The Jerusalem Post that while friendship with Israel is natural, it is an honor to be considered a close friend of Israel, invoking the Talmudic teaching that saving a single life saves the world and arguing antisemitism is an attack on humanity itself. Rama described his stance as shaped by his upbringing and his long association with Israel, framing the issue in moral terms beyond politics. Separately, Encyclopedia Britannica faced controversy for replacing Israel with Palestine on maps, drawing criticism from observers who say the action erases the state and shifts a long-standing reference point in public scholarship.In Israeli Domestic Politics, Israel saw a rise in online abuse reports, with the National Center for Protecting Children Online reporting a 71 percent increase in 2025 and a record 16,292 incidents, of which 54 percent were filed directly by child victims themselves. Unit 105, a joint effort of the National Security Ministry and Israel Police, logged the rise and noted that child-reported cases represent more than half of all submissions, while parents accounted for 27 percent and educational staff five percent. In Kiryat Shmona, post-war recovery funding was approved, including a plan to purchase up to 120 apartments for mission-driven groups and educators, with similar housing efforts in Ofakim as part of a broader education budget increasing by tens of millions and totaling around 280 million shekels. Government discussions also included a package of economic measures tied to power and resources for the north and the Gaza envelope in the aftermath of the conflict, alongside a separate report noting a 2,500-shekel grant intended to support residents in a northern city’s reconstruction. In Beitar Illit, a 30-year-old Jerusalem resident was arrested on suspicion of ...
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