HEADLINES Ashkelon blaze hospitalizes eleven including two children Israel Bolivia renew ties after Gaza rift Nazareth Be’Kari crackdown arrests former mayor The time is now 2:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report. A fire at a residential building in Ashkelon left eleven people hospitalized, including two children. A thirty‑four‑year‑old woman and two children around three years old are in moderate condition, while eight others are reported in mild condition as investigators assess a cause. In Toronto, the hate crimes unit is investigating a series of mezuzah thefts in a seniors’ residence. Residents are largely older, Russian‑speaking Jews who use a small synagogue in the building, and officials say the mezuzahs were firmly fixed to doorframes, suggesting deliberate removal. Police describe the acts as outrageous and vile as they pursue suspects. Israel and Bolivia have renewed diplomatic relations after years of estrangement following the Gaza war. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and Bolivia’s Finance and Economy Minister José Gabriel Espinosa signed the agreement during a meeting in Washington, marking a formal restoration of ties. Storm Byron moved through the region in the predawn hours, the first major winter storm of the season for many. Severe weather alerts are in effect for the next 48 hours, with heavy rain and strong winds forecast. In Gaza, the outlook remains grave for many living in tents, as observers note that the region’s residents are bracing for continuing hardship, and some observers have drawn connections to the war’s symbolism, noting Hamas named its October 7 invasion the Al‑Aqsa Flood and that the biblical imagery has been invoked in discussion of the current crisis. US‑Turkey talks on military ties continue, with a US envoy describing discussions on F‑35 jets and the Russian-made S‑400 air defense system as fruitful. Ankara remains barred from the F‑35 program while it maintains the S‑400, and Washington has stressed the need for Turkey to forgo the Russian system to rejoin the program. Israel has long watched such potential sales closely, given its concerns about regional military balance and its own qualitative edge with the F‑35 in service. In related notes, Turkey is pursuing broader air‑power reinforcements and pursuing deals with European partners as it weighs its options in a changing security landscape. Back in Israel, the Defense Ministry says the defense minister and the chief of staff have agreed to unify supplementary investigations into the October 7 events, with a security system auditor attached as an observer to the investigative team and updates to follow. The focus includes the “Jericho Wall” document and other matters assigned by the defense minister and the chief of staff, with further findings to be reported to the defense minister. In the north, authorities say hundreds of officers conducted arrests in Nazareth and nearby towns as part of a crackdown on the Be’Kari crime organization. Several senior figures are reported to have been detained, including a former mayor and other associates connected to the city’s business community, though police have not yet commented on details. The Israeli hostage situation remains unresolved, with Hamas stating its priority is to finalize the exchange of captives. The last abducted ISM fighter Ran Guoli remains in Gaza according to Hamas, as negotiations and mediation efforts continue with international participation. A separate dispatch notes that an Israeli yacht, the crew and two couples in their fifties, left Ashdod and has since lost contact, prompting concern for the vessel and its occupants amid ongoing regional tensions and weather conditions. In other developments, France’s Jewish community filed a complaint against the mayor of Augignac over antisemitic statements on social media, underscoring a broader pattern of antisemitism being addressed in diverse capitals. And in a broader geopolitical thread, a reference persists to Israel’s security considerations amid shifting regional alignments, including questions about arms sales and alliances in the Middle East and North Africa, as US policy seeks balance with regional partners while protecting strategic interests and the safety of civilians caught in conflict zones. 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 a comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description. SOURCES https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-879827 https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-879826 https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-879824 https://t.me/abualiexpress/110363 https://worldisraelnews.com/trump-pressuring-netanyahu-to-back-launch-of-2nd-phase-of-gaza-deal-this-month-report/ https://t.me/abualiexpress/110362 https://t.me/a
