HEADLINES
Rafah reopens under Israeli oversight mechanism
Israel legalizes 140 Judea and Samaria farms
Witkoff meets Netanyahu as Phase II begins

The time is now 7:02 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), Rafah’s reopening and the question of Gaza’s rehabilitation frame Israel’s emerging postwar strategy. Rafah crossing, Gaza’s border with Egypt, will reopen on Sunday after being shut down by Israel for nearly two years, reflecting a tension between international pressure to ease Gaza’s isolation and Israel’s security concerns. For Palestinians, Rafah is the exit from Gaza not controlled by Israel and has functioned as a route for medical treatment abroad, family reunifications, and relief from humanitarian hardship. A statement from Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office said the opening of the crossing is part of the implementation of Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan, and the crossing will be limited solely to people with a full Israeli oversight mechanism, with various Israeli media outlets reporting different estimates on how many Palestinians would be allowed through.

Israel to legalize 140 farms in Judea and Samaria. In a bid to block Palestinian land grabs, Israel’s Defense Minister announced plans to recognize 140 Jewish farms across Judea and Samaria.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, US envoy Witkoff to meet Netanyahu, IDF chief Zamir as Phase II begins in Gaza. US President Donald Trump’s senior envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to visit Israel for meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, with the visit anticipated to begin on Tuesday as tensions with Iran rise and the administration pushes ahead with its plan to end the Gaza war. Phase II has officially begun, and Israel fully reopened the Rafah Border Crossing between Gaza and Egypt for people on foot, a day after a limited pilot opening to address logistical issues. Two senior diplomatic sources said Zamir’s Washington visit included discreet meetings with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other senior officials, highlighting a significant working channel in Israel-US relations. Separately, Trump has dispatched the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz to the Middle East.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Bankstown Nurses Accused of Anti-Israeli Threats Plead Not Guilty. The two nursing staff at Sydney’s Bankstown Hospital who boasted about harming Israeli patients faced a District Court arraignment and entered not-guilty pleas, with their trial date set for August 31; the admissibility of video evidence is a central issue for their defense, and outside court a supporter attacked reporters as coverage continued.

Lyons trial opens to determine motive in killing of elderly Jewish man. In Lyon, France, Rachid Kheniche admits murdering René Hadjadj but denies any antisemitic intent, and the trial has opened to determine the motive behind the killing.

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.

SOURCES
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-885320
https://worldisraelnews.com/israel-to-legalize-140-farms-in-judea-and-samaria/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-885326
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/68336
https://www.israellycool.com/2026/02/02/bankstown-nurses-accused-of-anti-israeli-threats-plead-not-guilty/
https://worldisraelnews.com/lyons-trial-opens-to-determine-motive-in-killing-of-elderly-jewish-man/