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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-05 at 06:02
Published 1 month ago
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HEADLINES
Iranian Guards Detain Gulf Fuel Ships
Zini Indicted Over Gaza Smuggling Ring
Petition to Block Hamas Linked Jerusalem Hotel
The time is now 6:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In the conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, according to official Iranian media, a force of the Revolutionary Guards detained two ships in the Persian Gulf carrying more than a million liters of smuggled fuel and 15 crew members.
In The Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), Bezalel Zini, the brother of Shin Bet chief David Zini, was indicted on Thursday for his role in a Gaza smuggling operation. He and others were charged with aiding the enemy during wartime, prohibited dealings in property for terror purposes, obtaining something by aggravated fraud, and accepting bribes. Prosecutors say Zini was approached by a soldier during his time as a commander in the IDF in August 2025, offered and allegedly accepted a bribe that allowed goods to be illegally smuggled into Gaza. The operation centered on tobacco products and cigarettes but also included mobile phones, batteries, vehicle parts, communication cables, heating and electrical equipment, and other supplies. Prosecutors say cigarettes were particularly profitable, generating hundreds of millions of shekels for Hamas since the start of the war and aiding its financial footing and control over the population. In another assessment, Maariv’s Avi Ashkenazi, speaking on 103FM, argued that the IDF’s conduct in Gaza represents a complete failure, adding that Hamas has learned guerrilla tactics from Hezbollah and is applying them in Gaza, with yesterday’s incident resulting in an officer being wounded and prompting calls for a different approach inside the Strip. Separately, two indictments in Be’er Sheva District Court describe an organized, systematic, and sophisticated smuggling operation of various goods into Gaza during the summer of 2025, bypassing normally regulated crossings and processes despite ongoing IDF activity and hostages still held by Hamas. The case portrays the smuggling as a substantial financial enterprise, with tobacco and other goods moving in exchange for profit. In a related development, families of October 7 victims petitioned Prime Minister Netanyahu to halt a building permit in Jerusalem for a hotel associated with Hamas financing, led by Palestinian businessman Bashar al-Masri, who faces a US trial. Al-Masri, credited with financing Rawabi in Judea and Samaria, is at the center of the petition supported by relatives of those killed in Hamas’ attack and other prominent figures, as the district planning committee prepared to consider the land grant opposite the Old City.
In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, hundreds of New York City area high school students were targeted by antisemitic threats when a teenage student was arrested after allegedly sending antisemitic emails announcing plans for the mass murder of Jews at his Queens high school.
In Uplifting News, Melania Trump hosted former hostages Aviva and Keith Siegel for a White House visit. Aviva, who was held hostage for 51 days after being captured by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and her husband Keith, held for 434 days, met with the former first lady, who noted the gathering was not a promotion for a film. The visit followed the release of Aviva’s biographical documentary, Melania, in which Aviva appears. Melania said the meeting was to thank the Siegles and to celebrate the hostages being home with their families. Aviva presented Keith’s two books to the former first lady, who shared them with her husband during the visit.
Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.
I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.
Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for
Iranian Guards Detain Gulf Fuel Ships
Zini Indicted Over Gaza Smuggling Ring
Petition to Block Hamas Linked Jerusalem Hotel
The time is now 6:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In the conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, according to official Iranian media, a force of the Revolutionary Guards detained two ships in the Persian Gulf carrying more than a million liters of smuggled fuel and 15 crew members.
In The Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), Bezalel Zini, the brother of Shin Bet chief David Zini, was indicted on Thursday for his role in a Gaza smuggling operation. He and others were charged with aiding the enemy during wartime, prohibited dealings in property for terror purposes, obtaining something by aggravated fraud, and accepting bribes. Prosecutors say Zini was approached by a soldier during his time as a commander in the IDF in August 2025, offered and allegedly accepted a bribe that allowed goods to be illegally smuggled into Gaza. The operation centered on tobacco products and cigarettes but also included mobile phones, batteries, vehicle parts, communication cables, heating and electrical equipment, and other supplies. Prosecutors say cigarettes were particularly profitable, generating hundreds of millions of shekels for Hamas since the start of the war and aiding its financial footing and control over the population. In another assessment, Maariv’s Avi Ashkenazi, speaking on 103FM, argued that the IDF’s conduct in Gaza represents a complete failure, adding that Hamas has learned guerrilla tactics from Hezbollah and is applying them in Gaza, with yesterday’s incident resulting in an officer being wounded and prompting calls for a different approach inside the Strip. Separately, two indictments in Be’er Sheva District Court describe an organized, systematic, and sophisticated smuggling operation of various goods into Gaza during the summer of 2025, bypassing normally regulated crossings and processes despite ongoing IDF activity and hostages still held by Hamas. The case portrays the smuggling as a substantial financial enterprise, with tobacco and other goods moving in exchange for profit. In a related development, families of October 7 victims petitioned Prime Minister Netanyahu to halt a building permit in Jerusalem for a hotel associated with Hamas financing, led by Palestinian businessman Bashar al-Masri, who faces a US trial. Al-Masri, credited with financing Rawabi in Judea and Samaria, is at the center of the petition supported by relatives of those killed in Hamas’ attack and other prominent figures, as the district planning committee prepared to consider the land grant opposite the Old City.
In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, hundreds of New York City area high school students were targeted by antisemitic threats when a teenage student was arrested after allegedly sending antisemitic emails announcing plans for the mass murder of Jews at his Queens high school.
In Uplifting News, Melania Trump hosted former hostages Aviva and Keith Siegel for a White House visit. Aviva, who was held hostage for 51 days after being captured by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and her husband Keith, held for 434 days, met with the former first lady, who noted the gathering was not a promotion for a film. The visit followed the release of Aviva’s biographical documentary, Melania, in which Aviva appears. Melania said the meeting was to thank the Siegles and to celebrate the hostages being home with their families. Aviva presented Keith’s two books to the former first lady, who shared them with her husband during the visit.
Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.
I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.
Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for