HEADLINES
UN: Israel plans permanent Gaza control
Gaza City besieged as 600k flee
Palestinian state recognitions reshape Middle East diplomacy

The time is now 12:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

This is the noon update on the latest developments in Israel, Gaza, and the broader region.

A United Nations Commission of Inquiry based in Geneva says the Israeli government has signaled a clear intent to maintain permanent control over Gaza and to secure a Jewish majority in the occupied West Bank. The report describes extensive demolition of civilian infrastructure in Gaza’s corridors and buffer zone and notes that those actions have coincided with Israel expanding its reach to roughly 75 percent of the Gaza Strip by July. The findings are part of a broader pattern cited by UN investigators as they assess how long‑term outcomes could shape the conflict and regional stability.

On the ground, Israeli forces have encircled Gaza City as part of what has been described as Operation Gideon’s Chariots II. Officials say more than 600,000 residents have already departed Gaza City, while hundreds of thousands remain, many in crowded conditions. Across the Gaza Strip, Israeli airstrikes and artillery continue to target what the military says are terrorist infrastructure, and the Hamas‑run Health Ministry reports civilian casualties and rising numbers of injured in the past day. In central Gaza City, accounts from Arab sources indicate IDF armored units advanced along several routes, with movement described around the Tel al-Hawa and Shati areas and near the former UNRWA headquarters; observers note a continuing exodus of residents toward the coast or deeper into the south as fighting persists.

humanitarian developments also remain a central concern. Several reports describe the gradual withdrawal of facilities and the shifting of humanitarian corridors as Israel seeks to secure operational space for its security objectives. In the past 24 hours, a hospital complex in the Jordanian sector of Gaza was evacuated under Israeli coordination, with a total of 107 people—including patients, medical staff, and Jordanian personnel—moved to safety. In the city of Gaza, seven hospitals are still operating, but fewer facilities remain able to provide care as evacuation and relocation efforts continue. The pace and scope of such moves underscore the mounting humanitarian strain created by the fighting and the disruption of healthcare services.

Across the West Bank, people gathered to mark a wave of recognitions of a Palestinian state by Western governments, waving flags and holding signs in solidarity with Palestinian leadership. The displays came as international stalemate over Gaza and the broader conflict continued to color regional politics, with many Palestinians seeing international recognition as a symbolic and practical milestone even as security conditions deteriorate in the territories.

In New York, US President Donald Trump used his address to the United Nations General Assembly to press a peacemaking line that links security with hostage recovery. He argued that recognizing a Palestinian state would be a disproportionate reward to Hamas and stressed the imperative of releasing all hostages—dead or alive—before progress toward a broader settlement. He asserted that the war in Gaza must end and pledged to pursue a ceasefire while warning that Iran must never be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon. Trump also attacked the United Nations for what he described as enabling uncontrolled migration and criticized it for failing to deliver on peace efforts in past conflicts, including those involving Israel and Iran.

The international response to ongoing recognitions of a Palestinian state continues to inject new dynamics into the regional diplomacy surrounding the Gaza crisis. Portugal’s latest misstep—an official posting that displayed a flag other than Sudan’s when signaling Palestinian recognition—drew criticism and highlighted how fast-moving diplomatic developments can intersect with social media and public perception. Among the broader regional implications, there is an ongoing dialogue about the future status of Iran and its proxies, the posture of Hezbollah and Lebanese authorities toward them, and the risk that shifts in governance and alliance patterns could alter the balance of power in the region.

Domestically in Israel, security concerns remain the defining lens for policy and public sentiment as the country continues to contend with ongoing hostilities, the humanitarian toll in Gaza, and the international pressure that accompanies the shift in diplomatic recognitions around the world. The crossing between the West Bank and Jordan—Allenby—was closed by order of the political echelon, restricting movement and raising questions about the humanitarian and economic implications for Palestinians who rely on the crossing as a lifeline out of the West Bank or into elsewhere.

Looking ahead, the region faces a complicated convergence of military operations, humanitarian needs, and shifting international alignments. The UN inquiry’s findings, the ongoing Israeli operations in Gaza, the status of hostages, and the chorus of world leaders who are weighing recognitions and sanctions will all shape the next phase of the conflict. As Washington maintains its stance on peace through strength and alignment with Israel’s security needs, other major powers are recalibrating their positions in light of the evolving realities on the ground. In Gaza, the human cost continues to mount, even as military objectives and political statements compete for dominance in what remains a precarious attempt at stabilizing a deeply entrenched and multifaceted crisis.

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 comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description.

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