HEADLINES
IDF Galei Tzahal to shut by 2026
Satellite imagery reveals Gaza devastation widens
Trump backs Israeli pullout for Syria deal

The time is now 3:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

This hour in your international briefing, Israel’s defense establishment moves to wind down Army radio, with Defense Minister Israel Katz announcing that broadcasts from Galei Tzahal, the IDF’s radio network, will end by March 1, 2026. A professional team within the Defense Ministry will be formed to implement the decision, addressing every facet of the shutdown, with particular attention to protecting civilian employees who work for the station and ensuring they exit on fair terms. The plan also preserves Galgalatz, the music and traffic service, retaining its character and original mission, including continued emphasis on road safety awareness. The defense chief underscored that Galei Tzahal was created to serve as aVoice for soldiers and their families, not as a platform for political commentary, and he argued that continuing civilian broadcasting under military oversight has no equivalent in democracies and risks dragging the IDF into political contention and undermining its nonpartisan standing.

The decision follows months of review and recommendations from a committee appointed by the minister to assess the station’s future. Public officials and security commentators have noted that the station’s long history intertwines with the political and social dimensions of national service, and the government says the move is intended to preserve the army’s civilian trust and its role as a unifying institution.

Within Israel, members of the journalism community have weighed in on the transition. The Israeli Journalists’ Association has proclaimed that no media outlet in the country will be shuttered as a result of this process, and it has pledged to contest any steps that appear to close or curtail press access. The association has reiterated support for a free, independent press and for the crucial role that the country’s broadcasting landscape plays in public life, particularly during periods of conflict and national security concerns.

On the security front, the IDF has reported continuing friction near the West Bank city of Tulkarem, where around a hundred youths linked to the hill movement took part in protests and clashes yesterday. The army said several Palestinians were injured, four by some accounts, and that three suspects were detained for questioning while others fled toward the nearby Braun industrial area. The events reflect ongoing sensitivity around security operations in the area and the delicate balance authorities seek to maintain between allowing protests and protecting civilians and security personnel.

In other regional developments, a significant diplomatic exchange has surfaced from Washington regarding Syria. Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former Syrian leader, has told The Washington Post that US President Donald Trump supports the Syrian position that Israeli forces must withdraw from Syrian territory as a condition for a broader security arrangement between the two countries. Sharaa, who met Trump in Washington, said the president’s stance will be pressed as quickly as possible toward a settlement. The Syrians maintain that any demilitarized zone along the southern approaches to the Golan Heights would, in their view, create instability should it be used as a launching pad for further attacks on Israel. Israel, for its part, has repeatedly highlighted security concerns tied to Iranian and Hezbollah presence in Syria and has argued that any lasting deal must address these forces and ensure its own security interests.

The international security environment also continues to be tracked through open-source imagery. Satellite reviews conducted by BBC journalists have highlighted extensive destruction in parts of Gaza, including neighborhoods east of Rafah and Khan Younis, and in portions of Gaza City. In some cases, districts that appeared relatively unaffected before a ceasefire were shown as largely leveled, underscoring the ongoing humanitarian and reconstruction challenges in the region even as conflict dynamics evolve. Observers say these images raise questions about the temporary nature of ceasefire arrangements and the longer-term implications for civilian life, displacement, and reconstruction in Gaza.

On the defense diplomacy front, France has informed Israeli officials that Israeli defense firms will be eligible to participate in a major defense exhibition after what was described as an earlier impediment. The reversal, communicated by the French Foreign Ministry to Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has been seen as a potential sign of warming ties and a willingness to advance collaboration on defense matters between Paris and Jerusalem, even as the broader regional security landscape remains unsettled.

Meanwhile, regional security coverage continues to be shaped by ongoing reporting on the broader war and its regional reverberations. The Times of Israel has framed the moment as part of Day 767 in the IDF’s campaign, noting that Israeli forces are preparing for continued operations in multiple theaters, including potential contingencies in Lebanon. The reporting reflects the sense of an enduring conflict environment in which strategic communications, political messaging, and battlefield realities intersect, influencing both internal debates over national security policy and external perceptions of Israel’s approach to deterrence and defense.

In Washington, US officials continue to emphasize coordinated security interests with Israel, underscoring the importance of alliances and shared objectives in counterterrorism and regional stability. While public pronouncements from Washington reaffirm support for Israel’s security needs, the Syrian and broader regional narrative remains complex, with multiple stakeholders pursuing arrangements that can address immediate threats while laying groundwork for longer-term diplomatic solutions. As events unfold, observers will be watching how the upcoming government deliberations on Galei Tzahal’s closure will reflect a balance between preserving institutional memory, sustaining public access to information, and safeguarding the nonpartisan character of the IDF, even as new forms of media engagement and civilian outreach increasingly arise in a rapidly shifting regional landscape.

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.

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