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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-18 at 15:10
Published 1 month, 1 week ago
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HEADLINES
Canada backs Gaza Board of Peace
Syrian govt seizes Deir al-Zor oil
Iran crackdown kills thousands, internet to return
The time is now 10:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
The following is the hour’s update on the Middle East and related global developments, presented with careful balance and context for an international audience.
Canada has signaled in principle support for Donald Trump’s Gaza Board of Peace, even as details remain to be worked out. Prime Minister Mark Carney said in Doha that he will participate in principle, noting that Canada will do what it can to relieve suffering in Gaza. He added that the structure, financing, and operational details are being worked through in the coming days. The board would include figures such as former British prime minister Tony Blair, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. Nickolay Mladenov, the former UN Middle East envoy, would serve as coordinator for a technocratic Gaza administration. Separately, Major-General Jasper Jeffers has been named commander of the International Stabilization Force to be deployed after a UN Security Council resolution last fall. The arrangement remains controversial internationally, with questions about its impact on UN processes and regional sovereignty. Canada’s stance comes as world powers weigh the potential for a broader governance structure over Gaza and the path to stability in the region.
In Canada, a separate dispute has emerged around a planned public appearance by Israeli comedian Guy Hochman in Toronto. The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) said it would file a criminal complaint against Hochman after labeling him a “war propagandist” who praises Israel’s campaign in Gaza; the Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights (CLAIHR) said it would join in filing. Hochman had announced his Toronto show, while HRF and CLAIHR framed his appearance as potentially provocative amid ongoing hostilities. Hochman, for his part, wrote that he would represent the “optimistic Israeli spirit” and the courage of the IDF in defending Israeli citizens. The incident underscores how cultural events intersect with wartime narratives and legal accountability debates in host societies.
A separate, deeply personal note from the region comes from Yarden Bibas, the father of a Gaza hostage who was abducted as an infant and later killed. In an Instagram post marking his son Kfir’s third birthday, Bibas wrote a brief message of love and mourning, offering a poignant reminder of the human costs of conflict that persist beyond battlefield headlines.
On the broader regional stage, questions linger about Iran’s domestic crisis. Iran continues to grapple with nationwide protests that authorities say are now under control, but rights groups estimate thousands killed in a crackdown and ongoing detentions. Iran’s authorities have indicated plans to gradually restore internet access, which was shut down in mid-January. The blackout, described by rights groups as masking a harsh crackdown, coincided with protests over economic hardship and political repression. International observers continue to monitor the toll and the regime’s response, including warnings of swift trials for those accused of fomenting unrest. The reliability and scope of any proposed restoration remain uncertain as authorities move cautiously.
In neighboring Syria, the power struggle remains fluid and multifaceted. A major government offensive in the northeast has wrested control of strategic terrain and essential resources from the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The government secured Deir al-Zor’s vital oil and gas fields east of the Euphrates and has pushed toward Raqqa and Hasakah, signaling a concerted effort to consolidate control over the country’s central and eastern regi
Canada backs Gaza Board of Peace
Syrian govt seizes Deir al-Zor oil
Iran crackdown kills thousands, internet to return
The time is now 10:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
The following is the hour’s update on the Middle East and related global developments, presented with careful balance and context for an international audience.
Canada has signaled in principle support for Donald Trump’s Gaza Board of Peace, even as details remain to be worked out. Prime Minister Mark Carney said in Doha that he will participate in principle, noting that Canada will do what it can to relieve suffering in Gaza. He added that the structure, financing, and operational details are being worked through in the coming days. The board would include figures such as former British prime minister Tony Blair, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. Nickolay Mladenov, the former UN Middle East envoy, would serve as coordinator for a technocratic Gaza administration. Separately, Major-General Jasper Jeffers has been named commander of the International Stabilization Force to be deployed after a UN Security Council resolution last fall. The arrangement remains controversial internationally, with questions about its impact on UN processes and regional sovereignty. Canada’s stance comes as world powers weigh the potential for a broader governance structure over Gaza and the path to stability in the region.
In Canada, a separate dispute has emerged around a planned public appearance by Israeli comedian Guy Hochman in Toronto. The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) said it would file a criminal complaint against Hochman after labeling him a “war propagandist” who praises Israel’s campaign in Gaza; the Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights (CLAIHR) said it would join in filing. Hochman had announced his Toronto show, while HRF and CLAIHR framed his appearance as potentially provocative amid ongoing hostilities. Hochman, for his part, wrote that he would represent the “optimistic Israeli spirit” and the courage of the IDF in defending Israeli citizens. The incident underscores how cultural events intersect with wartime narratives and legal accountability debates in host societies.
A separate, deeply personal note from the region comes from Yarden Bibas, the father of a Gaza hostage who was abducted as an infant and later killed. In an Instagram post marking his son Kfir’s third birthday, Bibas wrote a brief message of love and mourning, offering a poignant reminder of the human costs of conflict that persist beyond battlefield headlines.
On the broader regional stage, questions linger about Iran’s domestic crisis. Iran continues to grapple with nationwide protests that authorities say are now under control, but rights groups estimate thousands killed in a crackdown and ongoing detentions. Iran’s authorities have indicated plans to gradually restore internet access, which was shut down in mid-January. The blackout, described by rights groups as masking a harsh crackdown, coincided with protests over economic hardship and political repression. International observers continue to monitor the toll and the regime’s response, including warnings of swift trials for those accused of fomenting unrest. The reliability and scope of any proposed restoration remain uncertain as authorities move cautiously.
In neighboring Syria, the power struggle remains fluid and multifaceted. A major government offensive in the northeast has wrested control of strategic terrain and essential resources from the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The government secured Deir al-Zor’s vital oil and gas fields east of the Euphrates and has pushed toward Raqqa and Hasakah, signaling a concerted effort to consolidate control over the country’s central and eastern regi