HEADLINES
Iran conducts Mashhad missile drills signaling deterrence
Palestinian 16-year-old shot during Qabatiya raid
Gaza ceasefire hinges on Palestinian-led authority 2026

The time is now 9:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

Iranian media report that the Islamic Republic conducted missile drills near Mashhad and other cities, a display described as part of ongoing deterrence and signaling in a period of heightened regional tension. The outlets cited the Revolutionary Guard as the organizer and noted launches involving ballistic missiles. The development follows Israeli warnings to the United States about what Israel views as a renewed threat in the region. The reports underscore a broader pattern of regional posture and signaling by Iran at a time of elevated vigilance among Israel and Western partners.

In the Golan Heights and along the border, Israeli forces conducted a population exchange of sorts, returning two Israelis who had crossed into Syria illegally. This marks the second such incident in as many days, a reminder of the fragile cross‑border dynamics in a volatile border area. Israeli authorities detained the civilians and handed them over to Israel Police for processing, as officials cautioned that border breaches can escalate security concerns on multiple fronts.

In the occupied West Bank, new evidence has emerged about a fatal confrontation during a raid in the town of Qabatiya. A video released by CCTV appeared to show a 16‑year‑old Palestinian, Rayyan Mohammad Abu Mualla, not actively posing a threat at the moment he was shot by Israeli soldiers. The Israeli military said the person was suspected of throwing a brick and that the shooting is under review, while Palestinian officials and witnesses raised grave questions about the sequence of events. Since January, Palestinian health authorities have recorded a rising number of minors killed in the context of Israeli raids, with the toll for 2025 reaching well into the dozens.

Meanwhile, in Jerusalem, the cabinet has approved a plan to shut down the national Army Radio by March 1, 2026. Proponents say the move is intended to preserve the military’s nonpartisan character, but critics warn that it would reduce the range of independent public broadcasting in Israel. The attorney general warned that the proposal raises concerns about free expression, and opposition voices have signaled they will challenge the plan in court. The decision forms part of a broader set of proposed reforms affecting Israel’s public media landscape, including measures aimed at strengthening regulatory controls and broadening emergency powers in ways that have drawn international and domestic scrutiny.

In East Jerusalem, a four‑story residential building in the Silwan neighborhood was demolished, leaving around a hundred residents displaced and facing an uncertain future. The action, based on a permit‑related dispute, occurred in a context of longstanding friction over building permits and land use in the city’s eastern sector. Palestinian officials characterized the demolition as part of a broader pattern of displacement in areas claimed by Israel as part of its expanding urban footprint, while municipal and security authorities emphasized enforcement of planning regulations. The situation in Silwan reflects the enduring fragility of East Jerusalem’s status and the daily pressures faced by residents in neighborhoods at the center of the broader conflict.

On the Gaza front, Turkey’s foreign minister said the second phase of a ceasefire deal could begin in early 2026, following talks in Miami with United States, Qatari, and Egyptian officials. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stressed that any next phase would hinge on Gaza being governed by a Palestinian‑led authority. The remarks come as regional and international actors continue to pare back divisions over the Gaza ceasefire process and seek to align governance with a durable Palestinian voice on the ground.

Turning to Syria, a Reuters investigation into detention practices since the fall of President Bashar al‑Assad portrays a system that remains deeply troubled. The report describes dozens of facilities reopening under the new leadership, with thousands of detainees held without formal charges, reports of torture and harsh conditions, and ongoing extortion and abuse allegations. The document cites hundreds of interviews and lists that indicate the scale of detentions may be greater than publicly tallied. The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights documented distressing accounts of executions, disappearances, and other abuses over the past year, while a US official said Washington remains committed to a Syria that is stable, unified, and at peace with its neighbors. The Syria story underscores the enduring humanitarian and political complexities in a country still in transition and under international scrutiny for its governance and security practices.

In a related political development, policymakers in Israel advanced a bill to create a government‑led commission of inquiry into the October 7 attack, a plan critics say would curtail judicial independence and channel too much influence over the investigative process into the hands of the current government. Protests gathered near the Prime Minister’s Office as activists pressed for a truly independent inquiry, arguing that any commission chosen by the government would lack public trust. Supporters of the bill said it would provide a clear framework for accountability, while opponents warned that it could become a political instrument rather than a means to uncover the full truth.

Across the region, the pattern of tensions remains evident: Iran’s military signaling, cross‑border security concerns on Israel’s frontiers, the fraught treatment of detainees in Syria, ongoing disputes over media freedom and public broadcasting in Israel, and the fragile steps toward a Gaza ceasefire framed by regional dynamics and Palestinian governance. The United States continues to balance its alliances in the region, weighing security commitments against humanitarian and political considerations, as allied governments and regional partners seek stability in a landscape defined by competing narratives and persistent insecurity.

This hour’s briefing will continue to monitor whether Iran’s drills translate into new forms of pressure or deterrence, how cross‑border incidents affect daily life and security plans along the Golan Heights, and how Gaza’s governance arrangements influence the next phase of any ceasefire. It will also track developments inside Israel’s public media policy and the evolving political calculus surrounding investigations into the October 7 attacks, as domestic debates about transparency, accountability, and democracy shape policy choices at the highest levels.

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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<a href="https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/artic