Episode Details
Back to Episodes
Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-28 at 16:07
Published 1 month ago
Description
HEADLINES
- Hebron clashes as female officer assaulted
- Silwan evictions favor Ateret Cohanim
- Rafah crossing to reopen with checks
The time is now 11:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In Hebron, West Bank, clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces were dispersed after reports that several Palestinians assaulted an Israeli civilian and stole part of his flock and personal equipment. The IDF confirmed injuries to an Israeli civilian and three Palestinians, with additional confrontations reported as Israeli civilians returned to the area. A female IDF officer was assaulted during crowd dispersal, sustaining facial injuries. Palestinian authorities say 12 residents were arrested and houses searched in the area. The operation was part of ongoing efforts by the IDF, Shin Bet, Border Police, and Israel Police to enforce security in Hebron, including a related operation in the Jabal Johar neighborhood last week that saw searches of hundreds of structures, the capture of dozens of suspects, and the seizure of firearms and knives.
In east Jerusalem, the Silwan neighborhood saw eviction actions affecting dozens of Palestinian families. Eviction orders have been issued in favor of a Jewish settler group, with families including Kayed Rajabi given deadlines tied to the Ramadan period to depart. Supporters of the settler group, including the NGO Ateret Cohanim, say the land predates 1929, while residents dispute the narrative and note long-standing residence since 1967. The Supreme Court’s involvement and the ongoing transfer of homes have become a flashpoint in the broader dispute over east Jerusalem, where Israel maintains that settlements bolster security, while Palestinians seek East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state. The eviction drive follows a broader pattern of settler activity and government-backed efforts in contested areas near sensitive sites, including the al-Aqsa compound.
In Washington, a heated exchange over the wartime supply of arms drew sharp public scrutiny. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that an arms embargo from the Biden era contributed to Israeli soldier fatalities in Gaza, a claim described by the US administration as False and ungrateful to American support. Former US special envoy Amos Hochstein replied that Netanyahu’s remarks were not only incorrect but also disloyal to a US President who provided substantial military aid and support. The exchange intensified long-running questions about aid, ammunition, and timing of weapons deliveries during the Gaza war, though US officials have repeatedly said military procurement decisions were designed to avoid hampering operations and to prevent misuse.
In a legal and institutional clash of its own, Israel’s Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara urged the High Court to convert an interim order into a final ruling against government steps to sever ties with Haaretz and TheMarker. The government contends that measures to halt state advertising and other engagements with the newspapers were lawful, while Baharav-Miara argues such moves threaten press freedom and violate procurement rules. The dispute centers on actions taken in late 2024 and 2025 and could determine whether state advertising and contracting powers may be used to affect coverage of government actions.
Across the border, attention turned to the Rafah crossing as Israel signaled plans for its reopening with tight security checks in place. Ministers explained that Gaza returnees would face daily caps, with a European-run crossing and Palestinian Authority presence, while Israel would conduct security verifications at adjacent checkpoints before travelers move into Gaza’s Hamas-run sector. The arrangement aims to manage humanitarian and security concerns as the crossing resumes operations after a period of closure and intense fighting.
In Me
- Hebron clashes as female officer assaulted
- Silwan evictions favor Ateret Cohanim
- Rafah crossing to reopen with checks
The time is now 11:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In Hebron, West Bank, clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces were dispersed after reports that several Palestinians assaulted an Israeli civilian and stole part of his flock and personal equipment. The IDF confirmed injuries to an Israeli civilian and three Palestinians, with additional confrontations reported as Israeli civilians returned to the area. A female IDF officer was assaulted during crowd dispersal, sustaining facial injuries. Palestinian authorities say 12 residents were arrested and houses searched in the area. The operation was part of ongoing efforts by the IDF, Shin Bet, Border Police, and Israel Police to enforce security in Hebron, including a related operation in the Jabal Johar neighborhood last week that saw searches of hundreds of structures, the capture of dozens of suspects, and the seizure of firearms and knives.
In east Jerusalem, the Silwan neighborhood saw eviction actions affecting dozens of Palestinian families. Eviction orders have been issued in favor of a Jewish settler group, with families including Kayed Rajabi given deadlines tied to the Ramadan period to depart. Supporters of the settler group, including the NGO Ateret Cohanim, say the land predates 1929, while residents dispute the narrative and note long-standing residence since 1967. The Supreme Court’s involvement and the ongoing transfer of homes have become a flashpoint in the broader dispute over east Jerusalem, where Israel maintains that settlements bolster security, while Palestinians seek East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state. The eviction drive follows a broader pattern of settler activity and government-backed efforts in contested areas near sensitive sites, including the al-Aqsa compound.
In Washington, a heated exchange over the wartime supply of arms drew sharp public scrutiny. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that an arms embargo from the Biden era contributed to Israeli soldier fatalities in Gaza, a claim described by the US administration as False and ungrateful to American support. Former US special envoy Amos Hochstein replied that Netanyahu’s remarks were not only incorrect but also disloyal to a US President who provided substantial military aid and support. The exchange intensified long-running questions about aid, ammunition, and timing of weapons deliveries during the Gaza war, though US officials have repeatedly said military procurement decisions were designed to avoid hampering operations and to prevent misuse.
In a legal and institutional clash of its own, Israel’s Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara urged the High Court to convert an interim order into a final ruling against government steps to sever ties with Haaretz and TheMarker. The government contends that measures to halt state advertising and other engagements with the newspapers were lawful, while Baharav-Miara argues such moves threaten press freedom and violate procurement rules. The dispute centers on actions taken in late 2024 and 2025 and could determine whether state advertising and contracting powers may be used to affect coverage of government actions.
Across the border, attention turned to the Rafah crossing as Israel signaled plans for its reopening with tight security checks in place. Ministers explained that Gaza returnees would face daily caps, with a European-run crossing and Palestinian Authority presence, while Israel would conduct security verifications at adjacent checkpoints before travelers move into Gaza’s Hamas-run sector. The arrangement aims to manage humanitarian and security concerns as the crossing resumes operations after a period of closure and intense fighting.
In Me