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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-23 at 17:08
Published 1 month ago
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HEADLINES
IDF vows swift return of Ran Gvili
UN probes Iran crackdown, US slaps sanctions
Poland trip links memory to Israeli leadership
The time is now 12:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
This is your hourly news update prepared for a global audience. At noon in the region, events unfolding across the Middle East and beyond continue to shape security, diplomacy, and human stories on the ground.
In Tel Aviv, IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir stopped at the Kirya complex to speak personally with the parents of Ran Gvili, the last Israeli hostage held in Gaza. He told them that the army is doing everything possible to bring Ran back and that the mission to recover him is a priority across the force, from the chief of staff to the last soldier. The message underscored that the South Command and all units remain actively engaged in efforts to secure his return as quickly as possible. The exchange came amid ongoing public demonstrations by families demanding progress on Gaza negotiations and the return of hostages, punctuated by a Friday rally at Hostages’ Square. IDF spokespeople reiterated that there have been no changes to Home Front Command instructions and urged the public to rely only on authorized sources for updates, to avoid rumors.
Beyond the hostages issue, the IDF and the wider Israeli defense establishment emphasize a sustained commitment to security along the southern front and to keep pressure on Hamas through multiple fronts as talks continue. The broader context includes Israel’s insistence that any phase two of a Gaza ceasefire be conditioned on real and tangible steps toward the return of hostages, while domestic voices insist that security and deterrence remain the bedrock of policy.
Turning to prospects for historical memory and training the next generation of leaders, a significant report from The Jerusalem Post describes a post-October 7 journey by Israeli commanders to Poland. Colonel Yoni Dahan, who led the Nahal Reconnaissance Battalion from the early days of the war, and Colonel Nati Keren, a track commander in training courses, reflected on the visit to Holocaust sites and the discovery of a copy of Mein Kampf found in the home of a Hamas commander. The trip, described as a memorial and educational mission, aimed to imprint on a new generation the lessons of Holocaust memory and the imperative of a state with the means to defend itself. Dahan spoke of the responsibility he carries as a father and officer, and how the memory of those who perished informs decisions and leadership today. Keren emphasized that the link between past and present is conceptual rather than direct equivalence, noting that the encounter strengthens a commitment to the IDF, to the Jewish people, and to the State of Israel. The report frames the journey as a way to translate memory into leadership and readiness on the battlefield, while also acknowledging the ongoing responsibility to teach future commanders about vigilance, resilience, and the moral dimensions of defense.
In other regional developments, the international community remains focused on Iran’s domestic crisis and its external posture. The United Nations Human Rights Council held an urgent session on Iran’s crackdown on nationwide protests, with UN rights chief Volker Türk describing the use of live ammunition and the killings of peaceful protesters, including in universities and medical facilities. He urged Iran to halt repression, release detainees, and impose a moratorium on the death penalty. The session reflected broad concern over internet outages that have complicated verification of casualties and events on the ground. Estimates of fatalities vary widely among rights groups, with figures ranging from thousands to higher counts, highlighting the scale and controversy over what is happening inside Iran. The UN sess
IDF vows swift return of Ran Gvili
UN probes Iran crackdown, US slaps sanctions
Poland trip links memory to Israeli leadership
The time is now 12:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
This is your hourly news update prepared for a global audience. At noon in the region, events unfolding across the Middle East and beyond continue to shape security, diplomacy, and human stories on the ground.
In Tel Aviv, IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir stopped at the Kirya complex to speak personally with the parents of Ran Gvili, the last Israeli hostage held in Gaza. He told them that the army is doing everything possible to bring Ran back and that the mission to recover him is a priority across the force, from the chief of staff to the last soldier. The message underscored that the South Command and all units remain actively engaged in efforts to secure his return as quickly as possible. The exchange came amid ongoing public demonstrations by families demanding progress on Gaza negotiations and the return of hostages, punctuated by a Friday rally at Hostages’ Square. IDF spokespeople reiterated that there have been no changes to Home Front Command instructions and urged the public to rely only on authorized sources for updates, to avoid rumors.
Beyond the hostages issue, the IDF and the wider Israeli defense establishment emphasize a sustained commitment to security along the southern front and to keep pressure on Hamas through multiple fronts as talks continue. The broader context includes Israel’s insistence that any phase two of a Gaza ceasefire be conditioned on real and tangible steps toward the return of hostages, while domestic voices insist that security and deterrence remain the bedrock of policy.
Turning to prospects for historical memory and training the next generation of leaders, a significant report from The Jerusalem Post describes a post-October 7 journey by Israeli commanders to Poland. Colonel Yoni Dahan, who led the Nahal Reconnaissance Battalion from the early days of the war, and Colonel Nati Keren, a track commander in training courses, reflected on the visit to Holocaust sites and the discovery of a copy of Mein Kampf found in the home of a Hamas commander. The trip, described as a memorial and educational mission, aimed to imprint on a new generation the lessons of Holocaust memory and the imperative of a state with the means to defend itself. Dahan spoke of the responsibility he carries as a father and officer, and how the memory of those who perished informs decisions and leadership today. Keren emphasized that the link between past and present is conceptual rather than direct equivalence, noting that the encounter strengthens a commitment to the IDF, to the Jewish people, and to the State of Israel. The report frames the journey as a way to translate memory into leadership and readiness on the battlefield, while also acknowledging the ongoing responsibility to teach future commanders about vigilance, resilience, and the moral dimensions of defense.
In other regional developments, the international community remains focused on Iran’s domestic crisis and its external posture. The United Nations Human Rights Council held an urgent session on Iran’s crackdown on nationwide protests, with UN rights chief Volker Türk describing the use of live ammunition and the killings of peaceful protesters, including in universities and medical facilities. He urged Iran to halt repression, release detainees, and impose a moratorium on the death penalty. The session reflected broad concern over internet outages that have complicated verification of casualties and events on the ground. Estimates of fatalities vary widely among rights groups, with figures ranging from thousands to higher counts, highlighting the scale and controversy over what is happening inside Iran. The UN sess