HEADLINES - **Swedish Diplomat Freed in Iran-Sweden Prisoner Swap Amidst Criticism** - **Israeli Soldier Yonathan Chazor Killed in Gaza Conflict, Remembered for Artistic Talent** - **UN Report on Children and Armed Conflict Draws Fire for Imbalance, Funding Constraints** The time is now 02:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report. This afternoon, we bring you the latest from the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, as well as other related stories impacting the region. In Sweden, Johan Floderus, a 33-year-old EU diplomat, has been released from an Iranian prison after nearly 800 days. Floderus, who had been held on charges of espionage, was freed in a prisoner swap for Hamid Noury, a former Iranian prison official serving a life sentence in Sweden for his role in the 1988 mass killings in Iran. Floderus expressed immense relief upon his release, stating that he felt as though he was "in seventh heaven." The decision to pardon Noury has been met with criticism from exiled Iranians in Sweden, but Swedish officials defended the move due to the exceptional circumstances. Another Swedish detainee, Ahmad Reza Jalali, remains on death row in Iran, with efforts to secure his release proving unsuccessful as Iran does not recognize dual nationality. Turning to the conflict in Gaza, Sergeant First Class Yonathan Chazor, a 22-year-old soldier in the Air Force’s elite Shaldag unit, was recently killed in action. Chazor, known for his artistic talents and gentle nature, was fighting Hamas terrorists in the northern Gaza Strip. His commitment to his unit was evident as he returned from vacation in Sri Lanka immediately after the October 7 attacks. His final drawing, an image of his dog on a school chalkboard in Gaza, was a poignant reminder of his artistic soul. Chazor’s death is one of many personal tragedies as the conflict continues to claim lives. Meanwhile, the fallout from the United Nations' annual Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) report has drawn significant attention. The report blacklisted Israeli security forces, Hamas’s Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad's Al-Quds Brigades. Notably, the report included only a single sentence on Hamas’s use of human shields, a tactic that is central to its military strategy. Virginia Gamba, the UN's special representative for children and armed conflict, attributed this omission to funding constraints and word count limits. The report has faced criticism for its perceived imbalance, with some arguing that it fails to adequately contextualize the complex realities on the ground. In related news, the social lending enterprise Ogen has launched two new financial assistance tracks to support Israeli farmers affected by the war. The Farmers’ Immediate Relief Track and the Long-Term Agricultural Relief Track offer favorable loan terms to help farmers recover from the devastating impacts of the conflict. This initiative, in partnership with the Leket Israel food rescue organization, aims to address the severe labor shortages and destruction of farmland caused by ongoing hostilities. Additionally, the Pentagon has come under scrutiny for fielding questions from Al Mayadeen, a Lebanese media outlet with ties to Hezbollah, during a recent briefing. This marks the first time the US Department of Defense has engaged directly with a Hezbollah-affiliated outlet, raising concerns about the standards of journalistic access at press briefings. As the situation continues to evolve, we remain committed to bringing you timely and comprehensive coverage of these critical events. 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...