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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-22 at 09:07
Published 1 month ago
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HEADLINES
- Israel court lifts gag on infiltrator's identity
- US ramps up forces to deter Iran
- Hamas demands PA role in Gaza disarmament
The time is now 4:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Good morning. This is the 4:00 AM news update with the latest developments from the Middle East and surrounding region, presented in a steady, factual manner for an international audience.
In Israel, the Supreme Court has ruled to lift the gag on the identity of Assaf Shmuelavitz, the man accused of posing as an IDF captain and infiltrating the Southern Command’s underground center in the days after October 7. The court rejected a bid to seal his name, though it partially upheld the state’s request to keep the identities of senior officers linked to the security breach private. Shmuelavitz faces serious charges including espionage, delivery of secret information, fraud, and trespassing in a military zone. Prosecutors say he exploited the chaos of the early war days to enter the Beersheba base, obtained access through a recruited soldier, and remained for about a week in highly classified meetings he had no authorization to attend. They further allege he recorded sensitive data and discussed it with colleagues, even recruiting others to form an improvised intelligence team. The defense cited privacy and safety concerns, but the court emphasized the public’s right to know amid a national emergency. The defendant’s family says he acted as a patriot, not a spy, and argues the charges are disproportionate; they note a medical evaluation found him mentally unfit at the time but say he chose to pursue the legal process. The decision also maintained anonymity for officers ranked colonel and above, citing security and safety considerations. The court noted that online activity had already spread his name widely, making further secrecy unnecessary in the public interest. In related remarks, Deputy Minister Almog Cohen criticized the lengthy process that led to the ruling, promising continued scrutiny of the case and the broader questions it raises about accountability and security.
Across the region, tensions and policy calculations continue to unfold. In the United States, American military assets and personnel continue to move into the Middle East amid rising tensions with Iran. Open-source assessments in the last 36 hours show at least a dozen heavy US military transports arriving in the area, largely to bases in Jordan, along with additional F-15 aircraft arriving in the region. The posture reflects a broader effort to deter Iran and signal readiness as regional dynamics remain unstable.
On the diplomacy track, Hamas has laid out demanding terms for surrendering arms in Gaza, signaling a contentious path toward disarmament. Israel Hayom reports that Hamas would seek a range of guarantees, including its officials’ participation in Gaza’s incoming administration, the integration of hundreds of its security forces into the Palestinian Authority’s security apparatus, recognition as a legitimate political faction in PA elections, and protections for its leadership against elimination campaigns. Hamas reportedly insists a core contingent of its fighters retain weapons for leadership security, pending what it perceives as ongoing risks. Palestinian Authority counterparts have expressed reservations, and Turkish-led mediators have stressed the need to address senior Hamas security concerns. Washington’s negotiating team—Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner—are expected to resume talks next week with Hamas’ lead negotiator Khalil al-Hayya. Meanwhile, in Davos, US President Donald Trump framed the path to regional peace around Hamas disarmament, asserting that Hamas has pledged to surrender weapons and warning of consequences if it does not comply within days to a few weeks. The broader context remains that Iran’s trajectory and regiona
- Israel court lifts gag on infiltrator's identity
- US ramps up forces to deter Iran
- Hamas demands PA role in Gaza disarmament
The time is now 4:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Good morning. This is the 4:00 AM news update with the latest developments from the Middle East and surrounding region, presented in a steady, factual manner for an international audience.
In Israel, the Supreme Court has ruled to lift the gag on the identity of Assaf Shmuelavitz, the man accused of posing as an IDF captain and infiltrating the Southern Command’s underground center in the days after October 7. The court rejected a bid to seal his name, though it partially upheld the state’s request to keep the identities of senior officers linked to the security breach private. Shmuelavitz faces serious charges including espionage, delivery of secret information, fraud, and trespassing in a military zone. Prosecutors say he exploited the chaos of the early war days to enter the Beersheba base, obtained access through a recruited soldier, and remained for about a week in highly classified meetings he had no authorization to attend. They further allege he recorded sensitive data and discussed it with colleagues, even recruiting others to form an improvised intelligence team. The defense cited privacy and safety concerns, but the court emphasized the public’s right to know amid a national emergency. The defendant’s family says he acted as a patriot, not a spy, and argues the charges are disproportionate; they note a medical evaluation found him mentally unfit at the time but say he chose to pursue the legal process. The decision also maintained anonymity for officers ranked colonel and above, citing security and safety considerations. The court noted that online activity had already spread his name widely, making further secrecy unnecessary in the public interest. In related remarks, Deputy Minister Almog Cohen criticized the lengthy process that led to the ruling, promising continued scrutiny of the case and the broader questions it raises about accountability and security.
Across the region, tensions and policy calculations continue to unfold. In the United States, American military assets and personnel continue to move into the Middle East amid rising tensions with Iran. Open-source assessments in the last 36 hours show at least a dozen heavy US military transports arriving in the area, largely to bases in Jordan, along with additional F-15 aircraft arriving in the region. The posture reflects a broader effort to deter Iran and signal readiness as regional dynamics remain unstable.
On the diplomacy track, Hamas has laid out demanding terms for surrendering arms in Gaza, signaling a contentious path toward disarmament. Israel Hayom reports that Hamas would seek a range of guarantees, including its officials’ participation in Gaza’s incoming administration, the integration of hundreds of its security forces into the Palestinian Authority’s security apparatus, recognition as a legitimate political faction in PA elections, and protections for its leadership against elimination campaigns. Hamas reportedly insists a core contingent of its fighters retain weapons for leadership security, pending what it perceives as ongoing risks. Palestinian Authority counterparts have expressed reservations, and Turkish-led mediators have stressed the need to address senior Hamas security concerns. Washington’s negotiating team—Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner—are expected to resume talks next week with Hamas’ lead negotiator Khalil al-Hayya. Meanwhile, in Davos, US President Donald Trump framed the path to regional peace around Hamas disarmament, asserting that Hamas has pledged to surrender weapons and warning of consequences if it does not comply within days to a few weeks. The broader context remains that Iran’s trajectory and regiona