HEADLINES Ran Gvili location exposed Gaza ceasefire frail Bolivia renews ties with Israel visa access Unprecedented drought drives Iran water crisis The time is now 4:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report. This is the 4:00 a.m. global update with a focus on the Middle East and the Jewish world. We begin with developments shaping security, diplomacy, and daily life across the region. In the Gaza theater, Israeli officials say intelligence indicates Islamic Jihad knows the location of the missing hostage Ran Gvili, and authorities say they will not rest until he is recovered for burial in Israel. Officials stressed that no claim from Hamas about the return of all slain captives has been verified, and they urged patience while mediators pursue new intelligence to inform negotiations and potential steps toward a broader stabilization package. The ceasefire process remains fragile, with each side watching for signals that could unlock the next phase of a longer-term arrangement. Across the Atlantic, Washington is pressuring Israel to back the launch of the second phase of the Gaza deal during Prime Minister Netanyahu’s forthcoming visit, according to White House statements. The push reflects the US view that progress on governance in Gaza and secure arrangements for hostages could help stabilize the region, even as questions about disarmament, Palestinian authority governance in Gaza, and the mechanics of any international role remain unsettled. Diplomatically, Bolivia and Israel have renewed formal ties after more than two years of estrangement over the Gaza war. Foreign ministers signed accords in Washington to revive diplomatic relations, with talks to restore ambassadors soon and to resume visa-free travel for Israeli visitors. The move comes as Bolivia, under a center-right government elected this year, signals a broader realignment toward renewed cooperation with Israel and closer engagement with the United States. Observers see the development as part of a regional recalibration that could influence Latin American engagement with both Israel and regional players. In another diplomatic channel, there are ongoing discussions between the United States and Türkiye about Türkiye’s possible return to the F-35 fighter jet program. Washington has said that sanctions over Türkiye’s possession of the Russian S-400 air defense system remain an obstacle, but Turkish officials have indicated a belief that a path forward can be found. US Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack described the current moment as offering one of the most constructive atmospheres for talks on this issue in years, while Turkish officials say progress is possible in the coming months as both sides seek to resolve security concerns and NATO interoperability questions. Iran is contending with an advancing water crisis described by scientists and officials as unprecedented in modern times. Tehran reports indicate that rainfall in the autumn has fallen well short of normal levels—roughly 5 percent of typical autumn precipitation—driving reservoir levels down and prompting water-rationing measures in parts of the capital. The drought has intensified long-simmering tensions over water management, with agriculture consuming a large share of official water use and climate pressures likely to shape policy for years to come. Experts warn that even with improved precipitation in the coming months, Iran faces a persistent shortage, potentially affecting urban life, agriculture, and broader regional stability. Climate analyses link the drought to a combination of arid geography, seasonal shifts, and longer-term climate warming, highlighting the region’s vulnerability to water scarcity and the political sensitivities tied to resource allocation. In North Africa, a deadly incident in Morocco has drawn attention to urban safety and living conditions. A collapse of two residential buildings in Fes has left at least 19 people dead, with emergency responders continuing search-and-rescue efforts. The tragedy follows months of public discourse about rising poverty and strains in public services, prompting renewed calls for infrastructure oversight and housing safety as protests over living conditions have already tested governance in parts of the country. On the security front, reporting from the field highlights persistent sensitivities along Israel’s borders and in the West Bank. Analysts note that attempts to reconstruct or upgrade rocket capabilities in Judea and Samaria have continued in some areas, despite the broader security environment and the IDF’s ongoing presence on the ground. Israeli security officials have stressed that maintaining rapid, unimpeded intelligence and operational freedom inside affected areas is crucial to deterring a return to wider rocket threats similar to the past, and to preventing a destabilizing spillover into neighboring communities. The emphasis remains on deter-and-disrupt capabilit
