HEADLINES - **Hostage Families Slam Israeli Government for Lack of Transparency Amid Ongoing Hamas Conflict** - **Biden Administration Announces $1 Billion Arms Deal with Israel Amid Conflict** - **IAEA Chief Warns of Critical Situation as Iran Escalates Nuclear Rhetoric** The time is now 08:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report. In the latest developments surrounding the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, families of individuals held hostage by Hamas have voiced their profound dissatisfaction with the Israeli government's response to their plight. At a press conference held earlier today, relatives of the hostages criticized the lack of communication and transparency from the government, and expressed their frustration at being seemingly ignored by officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Danny Elgarat, whose brother Yitzhak Elgarat was taken hostage from Kibbutz Nir Oz in the Gaza Envelope, recounted the harrowing experience of learning about his brother's potential fate from a Hamas propaganda video, rather than from any official government source. Elgarat expressed his dismay at the government's failure to reach out to his family following the video's release, underscoring a broader sentiment of abandonment shared by many other families. He poignantly remarked on the stark contrast between his treatment in Israel and his experience in Denmark, where he was able to meet the Danish Prime Minister, reflecting on the supportive and empathetic engagement he received there. Simona Steinbrecher, whose daughter was featured in another Hamas-released video, echoed these sentiments, lamenting that the war cabinet had persistently denied their requests for meetings to receive reliable information about the ongoing negotiations. Similarly, Gaya Calderon, the daughter of another hostage, questioned the government's commitment to the families, accusing them of rendering the families invisible and failing to provide the truth about their loved ones' situations. Doron Peretz, whose son Daniel Peretz, a combat volunteer, has been missing for nearly 160 days, voiced his frustration over the lack of progress in securing a deal or applying military pressure to ensure their release. He emphasized that despite assurances from the government that there would be a resolution, there has been no tangible breakthrough. This collective outcry from the families highlights a significant and emotionally charged issue within the broader context of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The families' demands for transparency and accountability from their government underscore the human toll of the conflict, which extends beyond the battlefield to the personal lives of those anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones. In other related news, the Biden administration has reportedly informed Congress of a new arms deal with Israel valued at over one billion dollars. This development comes on the heels of a temporary hold by the White House on a shipment of bombs amidst the ongoing conflict. The timing of this announcement is likely to draw significant attention and scrutiny from various international and domestic stakeholders. Additionally, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported the successful interception of two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) heading toward Israeli territory from the east. The IDF confirmed that the UAVs did not cross into Israeli airspace, marking a continued vigilance in the face of ongoing threats. On the international stage, Rafael Grossi, the Chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has expressed grave concerns regarding Iran's recent rhetoric about developing nuclear weapons. Following a meeting with British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, Grossi highlighted the seriousness of Tehran's statements and the lack of cooperation with UN...