HEADLINESGaza floods kill infant as 850000 displacedCarmel and Haifa drenched as Byron floodsUS NDAA backs Iron Dome fundingThe time is now 8:06 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.This morning, 8:05 AM, here is the latest hourly update on the Middle East and related developments for an international audience.Torrential rains across the Gaza Strip have flooded hundreds of tents housing families displaced by more than two years of war, and medics say an eight‑month‑old girl died from exposure when water inundated her family’s tent in Khan Younis. Civil defense and municipal authorities say they lack the equipment and fuel to cope, a consequence of the conflict’s disruption of Gaza’s infrastructure. A United Nations report warns that about 761 displacement sites, sheltering nearly 850,000 people, are at high risk of flooding, with agencies saying as many as 300,000 additional tents are urgently needed for those still displaced. Hamas authorities fault Israel for not allowing sufficient aid into Gaza, while Israel says it is meeting its obligations and that bottlenecks stem from inefficiency and theft by Hamas.In Gaza, the ceasefire that has broadly held since October has reduced the intensity of fighting, but violence continues. Palestinian health authorities report that Israeli strikes have killed hundreds of people in Gaza since the truce began, while Israel says its own casualties are smaller, with three soldiers killed since the ceasefire began. On Thursday, medics said two Palestinian women were killed by Israeli tank fire in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip. The humanitarian picture remains bleak as aid organizations plead for unhindered relief and shelter materials.Across Israel, Storm Byron has delivered heavy rainfall and powerful winds, causing localized flooding in major urban centers. In the Carmel and Haifa regions, rainfall totals have topped the national charts, with several towns reporting more than six inches of rain over the past two days and ongoing downpours expected to push central and southern areas toward flood risk through Thursday. In Tel Aviv, flooding affected major streets such as King George, and flood warnings have been issued for the coastal plain, the Judean Desert, and parts of the Dead Sea region. Authorities have activated full storm protocols, with pumping and drainage teams deployed and emergency centers on standby to handle road closures and rescue operations.On the diplomatic front, Iran has appealed to the United Nations to intervene over what it calls a tightening of restrictions on its diplomatic mission to the UN in New York. Tehran says the US State Department has moved to curb the movement and activities of Iranian diplomats, including limits on travel between the UN, the Iranian mission, and the ambassador’s residence. The United States previously imposed tight limits on the Iranian delegation during the General Assembly in September, part of broader tensions following a series of indirect talks on Iran’s nuclear program and a period of heightened military activity in the region.In a separate diplomatic flashpoint, Ghana’s foreign minister signaled retaliation in a tit-for-tat deportation dispute with Israel. He warned that if Israel deported 10 Ghanaian nationals, Ghana would respond with 10 expulsions, escalating a dispute over the treatment of nationals abroad at a time of wide‑ranging regional tensions.Domestically in Israel, a new education policy will ban cellphones from elementary school grounds starting February. Education Minister Yoav Kisch said the aim is to foster a healthier, distraction‑free learning environment and to strengthen social and emotional development. The policy aligns with global trends toward limiting smartphone use in schools as part of broader educational and welfare considerations.In Washington, the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act advanced through the House with a distinctly pro‑Israel tilt. The bill includes $500 million for US–Israel missile defense cooperation (Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Arrow), $80 million for joint anti‑tunneling efforts, $35 million for AI and cybersecurity collaboration, and increased funding for drone defense. The measure also backs Israel’s participation in the National Technology and Industrial Base and calls for a review of the impact of international arms embargoes on Israel. Supporters, including AIPAC, describe the package as essential for readiness and the broader peace‑through‑strength strategy.In regional political notes, senior Israeli officials continue to monitor developments around Hamas’s future in Gaza. Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal told Al Jazeera that while a form of weapons storage or a freeze could be discussed, total disarmament remains rejected by the group. Israeli officials have signaled that any path to durable security in Gaza would require significant changes, including demilitarization ...
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