HEADLINES - **Israeli Cabinet Postpones Vote on PA Countermeasures Amid ICC Tensions** - **Eight IDF Troops Killed in Rafah Explosion; Fighting in Gaza Intensifies** - **IDF Implements Daily Humanitarian Pause in Gaza; Over 1,000 Aid Trucks Await Entry** The time is now 06:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report. In recent developments within the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Israeli cabinet has postponed a crucial vote on countermeasures against the Palestinian Authority (PA). This vote, which was scheduled for a Monday night cabinet meeting, aimed to determine the Israeli response to the PA’s promotion of arrest warrants against senior Israeli officials by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The measures under consideration included strengthening settlements in the West Bank, particularly in reaction to several European countries' recognition of Palestine as a state. The postponement of this vote underscores the complexity and sensitivity surrounding these geopolitical maneuvers. On the battlefield, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) continue their operations in Rafah, Gaza's southernmost city. According to Major General Yaron Finkelman, the Southern Command chief, the fighting will persist until Hamas is decisively defeated. This announcement follows a tragic incident in Rafah where an explosion killed eight IDF troops inside a Namer armored combat engineering vehicle. Among the fallen was Staff Sergeant Tzur Abraham, whose death was officially announced by the IDF. The incident also left several other soldiers injured, some seriously. Despite the heavy clashes, Gaza experienced a rare respite on Sunday as the IDF implemented "strategic pauses" in fighting to facilitate humanitarian aid. This pause, in effect daily from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM, covers a route extending from the Kerem Shalom crossing to the Salah al-Din road and northwards. The IDF confirmed that hostilities would not cease entirely in the southern Gaza Strip. The humanitarian corridor is an effort to increase aid volumes following discussions with the United Nations and other organizations. Over 1,000 aid trucks are currently waiting at the Kerem Shalom crossing, though only a fraction were collected by UN agencies on Sunday. Sunday also marked Eid al-Adha, a significant Muslim holiday, observed under the shadow of ongoing violence and personal loss for many Palestinians. The day saw a rare calm in northern and central Gaza, though sporadic shelling and airstrikes continued in Rafah and central Gaza. For many, the holiday was a time of mourning rather than celebration, reflecting the heavy toll of the conflict. Meanwhile, Israel mourned the loss of eleven IDF soldiers killed over the weekend, with funerals held across the country. The soldiers were victims of three separate incidents, including the deadly explosion in Rafah. Among the mourned were Captains Wassem Mahmoud, a deputy commander from Beit Jann, and Staff Sergeant Eliyahu Moshe Zimbalist, an American-born soldier laid to rest in Jerusalem. These losses underline the human cost of the conflict. In other significant news, the IDF has reported increasing tension with Hezbollah, with Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari indicating that the region is edging towards a broader conflict. Hagari emphasized Israel's duty to defend its citizens, a message directed towards the international community and the visiting US advisor, Amos Hochstein. On the political front, US House Democrats are divided over how to respond to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's upcoming address to Congress. Discussions range from boycotting the address to organizing counter-events focused on peace and the release of hostages. This division reflects broader discontent within the Democratic party regarding the ongoing conflict and Netanyahu's policies. In summary, the...