Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-15 at 06:07

HEADLINES
Golan corruption probe widens with raids
Rafah humanitarian city eyed amid Gaza crisis
IDF overhauls Barak F-16s for deterrence

The time is now 2:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

Two o’clock in the morning, the news speaks in a single, urgent language: security, governance, and the delicate quest for stability across Israel, its neighbors, and the broader world. Here is the latest hourly briefing, with context to help you understand why these developments matter and how they fit together.

In Israel, investigators pressed a broad corruption probe tied to the Ministry for Social Equality, which is headed by Minister May Golan. Police carried out raids on the minister’s offices and conducted searches at related premises as part of a case alleging fraud, misuse of public funds, fictitious employment, and concealment of funding sources. The investigation has expanded beyond the ministry’s walls to include associates and potential outside actors, with arrests and detentions reported as officers pursue evidence of improper financial conduct. In parallel, authorities reported the discovery of a drug laboratory along a route near the home of an adviser to the minister, raising questions about criminal links to political circles and the potential reach of illicit activity into governance. The public focus remains on accountability and the defense of public funds, especially in a political environment where leadership decisions are closely watched and the integrity of public institutions is under scrutiny.

Across the Atlantic, the discourse on antisemitism continues to shape policy and education. A survey conducted by the Anti-Defamation League indicates a troubling breadth of concern among Jewish faculty: roughly seven in ten reported witnessing antisemitic acts among colleagues, with many noting ostracism, boycotts, and insufficient administrative support to address such incidents. Separately, a United States congressional committee announced hearings aimed at uncovering antisemitism in labor unions and in K‑12 schools, underscoring the perception that antisemitic sentiment can arise in multiple layers of society. Taken together, these developments illuminate a persistent challenge in balancing free expression with safeguarding minority rights in diverse institutions.

On the security front, the Israel Defense Forces are pursuing a major overhaul of the legacy F‑16 aircraft, known in some circles by the Barak designation, to ensure the service can meet evolving combat requirements. The plan reflects a broader effort to sustain a credible deterrent and maintain readiness in a regional environment where threats from multiple fronts remain dynamic. In parallel, Israeli officials continue to emphasize the need to strengthen strategic deterrence while pursuing operational steps that reduce risk to civilians in conflict zones.

In the Gaza theater, the military and political leadership confront difficult questions about war aims, hostage relief, and humanitarian relief. The Israel Defense Forces continue strikes against targets identified as infrastructure and facilities tied to militant activity in Gaza. At the same time, Israeli authorities have discussed the opening or expansion of humanitarian corridors to facilitate the movement of displaced civilians, including the proposal of a humanitarian city south of Gaza’s city of Rafah to absorb evacuees. But those plans intersect with complex realities: the scale of displacement remains enormous, with tens of thousands moving south in recent days and weeks, and international observers flagging the need to protect civilians while Hamas activities and tunnel networks complicate any humanitarian calculus. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees has warned of destruction at facilities used as shelters and schools,...