HEADLINES
Gaza hostage search renewed amid ceasefire fears
Syria Israel security framework nearing completion
Iran protests widen as regime faces challenge

The time is now 6:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

At six o’clock this morning, we begin with developments across the Middle East and related global concerns that touch Israel and the Jewish world.

In Gaza, the search for Ran Gvili, the remaining hostage, has been renewed in the Zeitoun district on the Gaza side of the Yellow Line, in coordination with Israeli authorities. The operation emphasizes the fragile, ongoing effort to locate and recover hostages while maintaining the delicate border arrangements that separate Hamas-controlled areas from Israeli-controlled zones. The revival of the search underscores the persistence of humanitarian and security concerns in Gaza amid a broader context of coercive diplomacy and ceasefire negotiations.

Across the region, international observers are watching the flow of aid into Gaza. Israel and its partners continue to emphasize the humanitarian dimension of support, even as some voices inside Israel have urged caution about the scale and route of aid deliveries. Reports note that thousands of trucks carrying food and fuel enter Gaza weekly, a level cited by Israeli officials as providing for the civilian population but also drawing scrutiny about how aid funds may be used and how to balance humanitarian relief with security considerations.

In Israel proper, a notable cultural milestone took place as Yehoram Gaon, the beloved Israeli singer, married his partner Ella Lusa at age 86. The ceremony, intimate and attended by close family and friends, reflects the country’s ongoing engagement with public figures and cultural life even as security and political issues dominate headlines.

Turning to the broader security landscape, Iran remains the focal point of regional tension as nationwide protests continue. Iranian demonstrators have returned to streets in multiple cities, with prominent political figures and international observers highlighting the scale of dissent. US and allied commentary has described the protests as a broad challenge to the regime, with authorities reporting arrests and casualties as demonstrations enter an extended phase. Tehran has responded with warnings and security measures, while officials also warn of repercussions for foreign support of the protests.

In parallel, a significant security and diplomatic development concerns Syria and Israel. Reports from Paris indicate that a Syria-Israel security framework is nearing completion, including the establishment of a hotline to prevent misunderstandings and accidental escalations. Some sources suggest that Israel may have moderated autonomy demands related to Syria’s Druze communities as part of these discussions. If realized, the deal would represent a concrete step toward reducing friction on the Golan frontier and in airspace that has seen recurrent clashes.

On the Israeli front, a new military assessment has stressed the possibility of a surprise war along the frontier. IDF leadership has signaled a strategy focused on preventing any militant or proxy force from gaining unchecked advantage on the border, with emphasis on vigilance and rapid response to any escalation near Gaza or along the northern and southern fronts. This approach aligns with ongoing efforts to deter militants while preserving civilian safety and regional stability.

In Jerusalem and the wider security environment, authorities acted after a deadly incident in which a bus rammed into protesters in the Romema neighborhood, killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring several others. Police subsequently prepared aggravated murder charges against the driver, with officials promising a thorough investigation to determine the full set...

HEADLINES
US weighs Greenland purchase including military option
Israel approves 3401 housing units in E1
Iran protests widen as regime vows retaliation

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. Here is your hourly update on the latest developments in the Middle East and related global affairs.

In Washington, the White House confirmed President Trump is weighing a range of options to acquire Greenland, including consideration of military action, a move described as a national security priority aimed at deterring adversaries in the Arctic. White House officials also stressed that no invasion was imminent and that discussions include options to purchase Greenland from Denmark. French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Paris is coordinating with partners on how to respond should the United States act on the Greenland question, and that the topic would be raised with the German and Polish foreign ministers later today.

Turning to Europe’s role in security planning, Cyprus has assumed the rotating presidency of the European Union for six months, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy among those attending a kickoff meeting in Nicosia alongside EU leaders. The development comes as Europe weighs its stance on a range of regional security questions, including a security framework in the Middle East.

In the tech and defense spheres, Nvidia showcased a new generation of Israeli-connected hardware at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The Rubin graphics processing unit will operate within data centers that integrate Israel-developed components, including a Vera core processor, the NVLink 6 Switch, the ConnectX-9 high-performance adapter, the BlueField-4 DPU, and the Spectrum-6 Ethernet switch, developed at Nvidia’s Yokne’am center. Nvidia credited Israeli collaboration and Mellanox’s contributions for advancing communications efficiency in large-scale AI deployments. The company also highlighted partnerships with Mercedes-Benz on autonomous vehicle technology and noted support for open inference models, with Israeli firms like Lightricks contributing AI-based video capabilities.

In Jerusalem, court proceedings concluded in the 2024 car-ramming and attempted shooting in the Romema neighborhood. Two perpetrators, Hebron residents, were convicted of four counts of attempted murder and related offenses and were sentenced to 28 years in prison each. The attack, which occurred during an anti-conscription demonstration in April 2024, wounded several people, including a 14-year-old, and was part of a broader wave of politically and socially tense violence in the capital.

In related security news from Israel, a separate violence spike in Arab communities continued into the new year. Three Arab Israeli men were shot dead in Shfaram early today, bringing the week’s toll in the Arab sector to 11 fatalities as a violent feud between local crime groups, notably the Hawalad and Sawad networks, persisted. The victims included residents of Shfaram and from Bir al-Maksur, with authorities pursuing a number of suspects in a nationwide crackdown. The surge in violence has drawn renewed calls from President Isaac Herzog for urgent action toward public safety and social equity, and he has convened an emergency meeting with Bedouin and Jewish regional leaders in the south to address the crisis.

In the same wave of security concerns, a medical student who had returned from Georgia died after a shooting in Ar’ara Banegev, attributed to a family feud linked to a broader pattern of violence in the Bedouin communities. Police said multiple suspects were arrested in connection with that shooting, underscoring a broader policing challenge in Arab towns.

Separately, Israel approved a major infrastructure decision in the capital’s outskirts. After decades...

HEADLINES
Shfaram triple killings ignite Arab feud
Iran protests rise as crackdown claims lives
Israel approves E1 housing near Jerusalem

The time is now 4:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

At 4:00 a.m., new violence in Israel’s Arab communities draws attention to a troubling pattern as police investigate a triple killing in Shfaram. Three men were shot dead at a construction site shortly after 7:00 a.m. local time, in what investigators describe as a criminal hit tied to a feud between rival crime groups operating in the area. The victims were Yasser Hujirat, 53, from Shfaram; Fathi Hujirat, 55, from Bir al-Maksur; and Khaled Gadir, 62, also a Bir al-Maksur resident. Authorities say the shooting appears connected to long-running feuds between local groups, with police launching a manhunt for suspects and considering patterns of blood revenge seen in past cycles of violence. The incident comes as Arab communities in Israel report eight fatalities so far in 2026, according to Abraham Initiatives, with violence in this sector already outpacing early-year levels from the previous year. In the same week, a separate overnight killing in Ar’ara claimed the life of Mahmoud Jasser Abu Arar, a 20-year-old medical student who had just returned from Georgia; police say the shooting is linked to family feuds and blood revenge, and ten suspects have been arrested. Earlier in the week, a father and son were killed in Nazareth, another sign that the January period has seen a wave of fatal encounters linked to crime and inter-family disputes. Police emphasized ongoing investigations and said additional arrests were being pursued as part of broader security efforts in the Arab sector. Community voices have urged governance and stronger security measures, with critics pointing to perceived gaps in policy responses and resource allocation. President Isaac Herzog framed the surge as a national challenge requiring urgent action to restore personal security for Arab citizens and to uphold the rule of law.

Turning to developments beyond Israel, Iran entered its eleventh day of nationwide protests that have drawn thousands into the streets in multiple cities. The crackdown has left at least 34 protesters dead and more than two thousand people arrested, according to human rights groups and Iran’s judiciary-linked outlets. Demonstrations have spread to at least 92 cities across 27 provinces, with Iranians continuing to challenge the Islamic Republic’s leadership despite a sustained security response. Videos from Abdanan in Ilam province show demonstrators chanting anti-regime slogans, including calls that translate to “Death to Khamenei.” In parallel, Iranian Kurdish parties issued a joint call for a general strike on Thursday and Friday to back the protests, highlighting organized opposition across the country. In a separate development, Iran’s judiciary announced the execution of Ali Ardestani for espionage in favor of Israel’s Mossad, reporting that the Supreme Court approved the sentence. Iranian authorities have long argued that such arrests and executions reflect a broader struggle against external interference, including actions by the United States and its allies. The events in Iran come as regional observers watch for how the protests and the regime’s response could affect its posture toward Israel, the United States, and Western powers.

In Yemen, the regional crisis took another turn as Aidarous al-Zubaidi, leader of Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council, reappeared in Aden after earlier unexplained absences that had fueled questions about his whereabouts during crucial talks in Riyadh. The STC, backed by the United Arab Emirates, has been at odds with Yemen’s Saudi-backed government, and the day’s reporting indicated that Zubaidi was overseeing security operations in Aden while signaling a broader realignment among Gulf...

HEADLINES
Shfaram killings spark Arab violence crisis
Iran protests hit day eleven 36 dead
US-backed framework to regulate Israel Syria

The time is now 3:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

Three men were shot dead while on their way to work in Shfaram, the northern Arab city, early Wednesday, as Israel marked at least 11 murders in Arab society since the start of 2026. The victims, all in their fifties, were found in the street with gunshot wounds and pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the background appears criminal and a manhunt has been launched for suspects. Shfaram has long been buffeted by a feud between two extended Arab families, the Su’ad and Khaldi clans, a conflict that has spilled into neighboring communities and, in some cases, claimed nonparticipants as victims. Earlier in the night, in the Bedouin town of Arara in the Negev, Mahmoud Jasser Abu Arar, a 20-year-old medical student who had recently returned from Georgia, was shot dead. Police said the killing is suspected to be linked to a blood feud, and ten people have been arrested in connection with the incident. The three killings pushed the Arab society murder total for the year to 11, echoing a grim trend that last year saw a record number of fatalities in this community. President Isaac Herzog, addressing the surge in violence, described it as a national crisis and urged stronger enforcement and the dismantling of criminal networks so that citizens in Arab society and across Israel can live in security.

In Iran, protests moved into their eleventh day on Wednesday, with rights groups saying the death toll reached at least 36 and more than two thousand people have been arrested. Reports from Abdanan in the Kurdish-majority Ilam province and from Neyriz in Fars province showed demonstrations continuing, sometimes under heavy live-fire and clashes with security forces. Iranian authorities have announced harsh measures in response to the protests, which have broadened beyond Tehran to dozens of cities. Separately, Iran executed a man identified as Ali Ardestani on charges of espionage for Israel, an event highlighted by rights groups as part of a broader pattern of detentions and executions tied to the security crackdown surrounding the demonstrations. The protests have drawn international attention as Iranians express discontent over economic conditions and political restrictions.

In Yemen, the southern separatist leadership, the Southern Transitional Council, faced a fresh setback as its head Aidarous al-Zubaidi fled ahead of planned talks in Riyadh aimed at resolving the south’s deep rift with the government in Sanaa. The disappearance followed delays and indications of mobilization among STC forces. The Saudi-led coalition meanwhile carried out limited preemptive airstrikes in al-Dhalea, the birthplace of Zubaidi, as part of ongoing efforts to manage the conflict and prevent a broader regional confrontation. The episode underlines how Gulf dynamics—long shaped by competition between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates—continue to influence Yemen’s already fragile political landscape.

Across the region, a new, US-backed mechanism has been proposed to regulate Israel–Syria relations. The framework would facilitate immediate coordination on intelligence and military matters to reduce misunderstandings, with Israel agreeing to subject its actions to American oversight while pressing for demilitarization in southern Syria. Damascus has sought a firm timetable for IDF withdrawal, but Israel’s position remains conditioned on maintaining the Druze community’s security and preventing jihadist spillover, complicating any withdrawal. The arrangement signals a cautious step toward managing a volatile border triangle among Israel, Syria, and Iran-backed forces, while keeping options open for security actions if threats emerge.Show more...