HEADLINES
West Bank gunfire rattles Mount Ebal
Rafah crossing standoff over hostages and remains
US Iraq talks curb Iran influence

The time is now 5:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

Good morning. This is an unbiased briefing of the day’s events in the Middle East as night gave way to dawn, with attention to security considerations, international involvement, and the shifting regional dynamics that shape the glance many nations bring to the region.

Authorities say gunfire targeted an Israeli vehicle near Mount Ebal, outside Nablus in the West Bank, overnight. The Israeli Defense Forces say there were no injuries, and forces are moving to secure the area and search for suspects. The incident is being treated as a developing security event, with investigations continuing and the cross-border situation under review by military planners.

In a separate security matter, Israeli emergency and welfare services responded to the discovery of a one-week-old baby abandoned in a stairwell outside a public office in Hadera. Police say officers took custody of the infant and opened a welfare inquiry while medical teams provided care. Welfare authorities report cooperation with police in locating the child’s parents, and emergency responders note the baby was stabilized and transported for treatment. The incident underscores ongoing social concerns alongside the broader security picture.

On the diplomatic front, Washington pressed Baghdad on its approach to Iran’s influence as Iraq forms a new government. US officials described discussions about Iraq potentially accepting a significant number of ISIS detainees held in Syria, a matter that could stir domestic debate. A Treasury or State Department readout summarized a call between US Secretary of State and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa al-Sudani in which Washington urged a stance that limits Iranian influence and preserves Iraqi autonomy. The talks also touched on broader questions of whether Iraq can realize its own interests while managing regional pressures, including concerns about foreign influence and regional security alignments. The evolving Iraqi leadership, including possible candidates for president and prime minister, remains a central factor in how the United States and its partners structure strategic ties in the Middle East.

In Baku, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar held talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and other senior officials, focusing on deepening cooperation in energy, artificial intelligence, agriculture, water management, defense, and tourism. He led a large business delegation expected to broaden ties in these sectors, with Azerbaijan’s interest in Israeli agricultural technology highlighting a broader push to leverage technology in regional recovery efforts. The visit also included meetings with local Jewish community leaders, given Azerbaijan’s relatively sizable Jewish community, and will continue with a stop in Kazakhstan to engage with leaders on similar themes and to participate in commemorations related to International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Security and law enforcement headlines include the arrest of 17 individuals linked to a soccer club in a long-running match-fixing and illegal gambling investigation. Police say the operation, conducted with the Israel Football Association, targeted a criminal network used to manipulate results and funnel funds through legitimate and illegitimate channels. Those detained include active players and club leaders; investigators say tens of millions of shekels flowed through the scheme, and the case remains under review by prosecutors as remand extensions are considered.

In analysis of broader regional alignment, a major commentary argues that Chief Executive Mohammed bin Salman is recalibrating Saudi strategy by hedging toward Turkey and Qatar even as the Israel–US–UAE axis consolidates. The piece contends that while Riyadh has benefited from informal alignment with the Abraham Accords, it has not formally joined that framework, seeking greater strategic breadth at a time of perceived continuity in the region’s Iran challenge. The analysis notes domestic constraints in Saudi policy, including economic reform efforts and religious dynamics, that shape how Riyadh positions itself relative to an evolving security architecture in which Israel and the United States pursue coordinated defense planning with the UAE. The question it raises is whether Saudi rebalancing will yield long-term influence or expose Riyadh to new forms of regional risk as other powers adjust their roles.

Beyond politics, reflections on Christian Zionism and its reception in the Holy Land appeared in a commissioned analysis that critiques a recent patriarchs’ statement for lacking pastoral sensitivity and theological nuance. The piece argues that genuine pastoral leadership should foster unity and dialogue with diverse Christian communities rather than emphasizing jurisdiction and representation in ways that may deepen divisions among believers. The analysis highlights the historical Christian engagement with the land and notes how local communities interpret their faith in relation to citizenship and national belonging, urging careful consideration of how religious rhetoric intersects with politics.

In the service and community sphere, a joint initiative to expand Jewish service across institutions is described as a meaningful response to rising antisemitism and social fragmentation. The collaboration among more than 60 organizations, including Repair the World, Jewish Federations of North America, and Hillel International, has already engaged hundreds of thousands of participants in service and learning across multiple countries. The effort envisions embedding service into organizational culture—bridging Jewish life with broader communities, and linking service to Jewish holidays, values, and lifecycle moments as a means of resilience and belonging.

On the Gaza front, debate continues over the pace and character of humanitarian and security steps. A plan to reopen Rafah Crossing for pedestrian traffic, under continued Israeli monitoring, depends on progress in locating hostages and remains, including the last known position of St.-Sergeant-Major Ran Gvili. Israeli officials say moves to ease passage are contingent on Hamas returning living hostages and on a 100 percent effort to recover all deceased captives. While some cabinet members argue that an opening could have strategic implications, others warn of the political and security costs in the wake of the war against Hamas. The Israeli military and security services are also conducting a separate operation to recover Gvili’s remains in a Gaza City cemetery, with hundreds of graves opened for forensic identification as part of a long and complex process. Officials say the operation will take days, and authorities caution against spreading unverified information that could affect the family and the investigation.

Separately, the IDF announced an operation to locate Hezbollah’s artillery leadership in southern Lebanon, announcing the elimination of a local chief of artillery in the Arzoun area near Tyre. The military described the target as a key figure who had advanced attacks against Israeli forces and encouraged attempts to restore Hezbollah’s artillery capabilities, while noting the person also worked as a teacher. The strike is one more marker in a broader regional security posture that continues to absorb cross-border tensions.

Amid these developments, a report from the security and political sphere notes that negotiations over a potential reopening of Rafah have confronted a spectrum of views within Israel’s cabinet, including concerns about ground sovereignty and the broader future political arrangement for Gaza. US and allied observers monitor the situation closely, recognizing that any steps in Gaza have implications for the broader regional architecture and for bilateral relationships across the region.

In internal Israeli political news, discussions over the use of media and imagery continue to surface, with parties contesting editorials and social media representations amid a charged election season. Meanwhile, in related regional diplomacy, discussions about safeguarding Jewish life and countering antisemitism persist as part of ongoing bilateral and international exchanges.

As dawn breaks, the situation remains fluid. Investigations and operations in the West Bank and Gaza continue, while regional powers reassess alignments in light of Iran’s posture and domestic considerations. The United States continues its diplomatic engagement with Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Israel’s wider partners, seeking a balance between security needs, humanitarian concerns, and the strategic goal of reducing instability in the broader Middle East. Reporters will update as events develop.

Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.
I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.
Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description.

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