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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-25 at 19:07
Published 1 month ago
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HEADLINES
Rafah crossing debated as hostage search intensifies
Israel's INCD gains permanent cyber authority
CUNY leadership shifts as Jewish presence fades
The time is now 2:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Good afternoon. Here is the latest hourly update on developments affecting Israel, regional security, and Jewish communities around the world.
In Gaza, the Israeli Defense Forces say it is in the midst of a wide-ranging operation to locate the last Israeli hostage, Staff Sergeant Ran Gvili, as the clock underscores the opening of the Rafah crossing. Over the weekend, the IDF conducts clandestine moves aimed at approaching a potential site, with officials noting the operation could take hours or days. Intelligence points to burial sites in northern Gaza, including a cemetery near the Shejaiyya area on the Israeli side of the line, though other possibilities remain under review. Forces are conducting extensive searches, with forensic steps such as dental and fingerprint identifications prepared if remains are found. The government is weighing the broader question of when and how to open the Rafah crossing, a decision complicated by security concerns and regional diplomacy as Israel seeks to balance humanitarian considerations with the risk of further disruption to the region.
On the security and policy front, Israel faces a split within the cabinet as it weighs renewed openings at Rafah prompted by US pressure. Ministers debate the strategic value of reopening the crossing before the return of the last hostage, a move many officials describe as highly significant for humanitarian relief and civilian movement, while others warn of risks to security and to ongoing operations. The debate comes as Israel seeks to manage broader regional dynamics, including negotiations over weapons and cross-border threats. In parallel, discussions continue about coordination with allies and the implications for domestic security and international perception.
In the realm of national cyber defense, Israel advances a potential turning point: a permanent cyber law. The proposed legislation would grant the Israel National Cyber Directorate greater authority to respond to cyber threats and require real-time reporting by the private sector and government agencies in cases of grave risk to critical infrastructure. The plan envisions annual reporting to the Attorney General and the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, establishing oversight to ensure proper use of sensitive information. If enacted, the law would extend reporting requirements to hundreds of additional companies beyond what is currently deemed critical. Former INCD chief Gabi Portnoy has described the shift to a national framework as essential for state-wide protection, and the current director, Yossi Karadi, emphasizes strengthening resilience and protecting the economy and citizens. The path to passage remains contested, with debates over privacy, business confidentiality, and the balance between rapid threat mitigation and safeguarding civil liberties.
Turning to the domestic front, a newly published report by Students and Faculty for Equality at CUNY asserts that the City University of New York system underwent a deliberate shift in leadership composition beginning in the mid-2010s. The report contends that Jewish leadership at the campus level was dramatically reduced and, by March 2023, there were no Jewish individuals in the upper echelons of leadership among 80 positions. SAFE accuses CUNY of embedding anti-Israel and anti-Zionist sentiment within its discrimination processes and notes private communications suggesting favorable ties to certain advocacy groups. The group cites past events and hires cited in the report, and references findings by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2021 alleging discrimination against Orthodo
Rafah crossing debated as hostage search intensifies
Israel's INCD gains permanent cyber authority
CUNY leadership shifts as Jewish presence fades
The time is now 2:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Good afternoon. Here is the latest hourly update on developments affecting Israel, regional security, and Jewish communities around the world.
In Gaza, the Israeli Defense Forces say it is in the midst of a wide-ranging operation to locate the last Israeli hostage, Staff Sergeant Ran Gvili, as the clock underscores the opening of the Rafah crossing. Over the weekend, the IDF conducts clandestine moves aimed at approaching a potential site, with officials noting the operation could take hours or days. Intelligence points to burial sites in northern Gaza, including a cemetery near the Shejaiyya area on the Israeli side of the line, though other possibilities remain under review. Forces are conducting extensive searches, with forensic steps such as dental and fingerprint identifications prepared if remains are found. The government is weighing the broader question of when and how to open the Rafah crossing, a decision complicated by security concerns and regional diplomacy as Israel seeks to balance humanitarian considerations with the risk of further disruption to the region.
On the security and policy front, Israel faces a split within the cabinet as it weighs renewed openings at Rafah prompted by US pressure. Ministers debate the strategic value of reopening the crossing before the return of the last hostage, a move many officials describe as highly significant for humanitarian relief and civilian movement, while others warn of risks to security and to ongoing operations. The debate comes as Israel seeks to manage broader regional dynamics, including negotiations over weapons and cross-border threats. In parallel, discussions continue about coordination with allies and the implications for domestic security and international perception.
In the realm of national cyber defense, Israel advances a potential turning point: a permanent cyber law. The proposed legislation would grant the Israel National Cyber Directorate greater authority to respond to cyber threats and require real-time reporting by the private sector and government agencies in cases of grave risk to critical infrastructure. The plan envisions annual reporting to the Attorney General and the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, establishing oversight to ensure proper use of sensitive information. If enacted, the law would extend reporting requirements to hundreds of additional companies beyond what is currently deemed critical. Former INCD chief Gabi Portnoy has described the shift to a national framework as essential for state-wide protection, and the current director, Yossi Karadi, emphasizes strengthening resilience and protecting the economy and citizens. The path to passage remains contested, with debates over privacy, business confidentiality, and the balance between rapid threat mitigation and safeguarding civil liberties.
Turning to the domestic front, a newly published report by Students and Faculty for Equality at CUNY asserts that the City University of New York system underwent a deliberate shift in leadership composition beginning in the mid-2010s. The report contends that Jewish leadership at the campus level was dramatically reduced and, by March 2023, there were no Jewish individuals in the upper echelons of leadership among 80 positions. SAFE accuses CUNY of embedding anti-Israel and anti-Zionist sentiment within its discrimination processes and notes private communications suggesting favorable ties to certain advocacy groups. The group cites past events and hires cited in the report, and references findings by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2021 alleging discrimination against Orthodo