Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-01 at 04:08 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-01 at 04:08

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-01 at 04:08

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 HEADLINESRafah opens pilot humanitarian corridorIDF strikes Hezbollah assets in LebanonApple buys Israeli Q.ai for $1.6BThe time is now 4:07 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), the Rafah Crossing opened in a pilot phase on Sunday, with dozens of ambulances entering Gaza to evacuate wounded and sick Palestinians as Egyptian Red Crescent vehicles crossed into the Strip and northern Sinai hospitals prepared to receive patients. Israeli security officials said the pilot opening is ongoing and it remains uncertain whether Gaza residents will cross today, while Palestinian officials were seen arriving on the Egyptian side ahead of entry to the Palestinian side to begin operations there. A separate reopening to pedestrians for the first time since October 7 was conducted under the supervision of representatives from Egypt, the European Union, and the IDF’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, with only a handful of crossings expected to rehearse procedures and ensure identification screening systems function properly. About 10 ambulances were prepared to enter Gaza to evacuate the ill and injured, as discussions on disarming Hamas were anticipated to begin after the crossing reopens and a Palestinian technocratic administration is expected to lead negotiations. In Khan Yunis, the IDF released footage of the dismantling of an underground tunnel route containing dozens of weapons, including grenades, magazines, rifles, RPG rockets, an RPG launcher, explosive devices, and military vests. Separately, Spanish authorities arrested a 38‑year‑old Chinese national on suspicion of providing at least €600,000 in cryptocurrency transfers to an entity linked to Hamas, with investigators seizing digital assets, cash, and other property. In political polling, Hamas was reported to be leading over Fatah in Palestinian Authority elections, gaining ground since October 7. Israel also said Doctors Without Borders employs terror affiliates and ordered MSF to exit Gaza, citing safety concerns amid the Gaza war. Taken together, the developments at Rafah, the battlefield briefings from Khan Yunis, and related security and financing matters illustrate a tense balance between humanitarian access and security in the Gaza arena.In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Iranian members of parliament dressed in IRGC uniforms to pass a bill designating European armies as terrorist organizations in a session in Tehran after the European Union labeled the IRGC a terrorist group. The Israeli Defense Forces carried out targeted strikes against Hezbollah terror assets in southern Lebanon, aiming to neutralize positions seen as threats along Israel’s northern frontier. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that if the United States attacks Iran, it would trigger a regional war, a sentiment echoed in reports from Tasnim and other outlets amid ongoing regional tensions. Reports and statements from Tehran and allied observers also highlighted warnings to the West, including cautions from Saudi figures that inaction could embolden Iran, and emphasis on the risk of escalation if Washington or its allies act against Tehran. The overall message from Iran and its proxies remains one of deterrence and the threat of a broader confrontation in the region.In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, an opinion piece argues that antisemitism today extends beyond hatred of Jews and now operates as cognitive warfare that destabilizes democratic societies, erodes trust in information, and blurs lines between Jewish identity, Zionism, and the State of Israel. It contends that hasbara and cognitive warfare are distinct challenges that require different approaches and actors, calling for a reframing of responsibility as the Jewish world navigates threats that are both informational and existential.In Israeli Domestic Politics, minister Dudi Amsalem said he would pay the price after breaking a Likud boycott by giving an interview on Channel 12, drawing sharp online and social media backlash and signaling potential implications for upcoming primaries. Separately, a former senior Mossad official warned that the rumored appointment of Tal Gutlil to replace Ram Ben Barak on the subcommittee for intelligence services would be a grave mistake that could disrupt the committee’s functioning, a stance echoed by critics who argued the move would be ill-advised for oversight of sensitive security matters.In Israeli Economy and Business, Vietnamese-Israeli relations are described as at an all-time high, with Israeli ambassador to Vietnam, Yaron Mayer, telling The Jerusalem Post that Jerusalem-Hanoi ties have remained constructive and that Vietnam views Israel as a top-tier tech partner while supporting a two-state framework. In another development, Apple has acquired Israeli AI startup Q.ai for roughly $1.6...
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