HEADLINES
Gaza toll reaches 65,000 Israelis 471 dead
US unveils 21-point plan to end Gaza
Spain and Italy protect Gaza aid flotilla

The time is now 3:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

This is the 3:00 a.m. update on events in the Middle East and related developments around the world.

In Gaza and Israel, the fighting continues as the Israel Defense Forces report the death of Staff Sergeant Chalachew Shimon Demalash, 21, of Beersheba, who was killed in a Gaza City engagement while manning a guard post. The toll of the current conflict remains steep, with Israeli officials listing 471 Israelis killed in the war, including two police officers and three Defense Ministry civilians. In Gaza, an Israeli airstrike on a house where displaced people had taken shelter north of Al-Zawaida killed at least 11 people, including children, according to the Hamas-run civil defense. The Gaza Health Ministry says more than 65,000 people have been killed in the fighting, a figure that cannot be independently verified. Israel says it has killed more than 22,000 Hamas fighters and about 1,600 terrorists inside Israel since the October 7 attack, while stressing its aim to minimize civilian casualties as it seeks to degrade Hamas’s infrastructure and capabilities. The ongoing violence has driven hundreds of thousands from their homes and raised urgent questions about humanitarian access and civilian protection.

On the diplomatic front, the United States has presented a 21-point plan to end the Gaza war to Arab leaders, calling for the release of all hostages, a permanent ceasefire, and a gradual Israeli withdrawal. In Washington, security and policy circles note the plan as a framework for negotiations, while in Israel and allied capitals there is cautious attention to how such proposals might be received by Hamas and its supporters. At Ben Gurion Airport, about 150 protesters gathered before Prime Minister Netanyahu’s departure for New York, underscoring political heat surrounding the conflict and peacemaking efforts.

Foreign leaders and experts are weighing Iran’s role and the prospects for any broader regional deal. French President Emmanuel Macron, meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, warned that only hours remain to determine the future of the nuclear agreement and stressed that Europe will not concede on transparency and verification. France, along with Britain and Germany, has proposed using a mechanism to restore sanctions if Iran fails to meet terms, a step that could be triggered if talks stall. In a related diplomatic push, Argentine President Javier Milei, speaking at the United Nations, urged the immediate release of Hamas-held hostages and invoked the memory of earlier attacks against Israeli targets to stress the need for focusing on peace and security. The broader international response includes contributions from Spain and Italy, with Madrid announcing it would send a navy vessel to protect a humanitarian flotilla heading toward Gaza, and Rome indicating it would do likewise. The flotilla’s aim is to challenge the blockade and deliver humanitarian aid, a plan that has drawn various mixed reactions across capitals.

Two other developments highlight regional tensions outside Gaza. In northern Europe, Denmark closed two airports after unidentified drones were sighted in the airspace, marking what authorities called a second such disruption in a matter of days. Copenhagen and Aalborg airports canceled flights as investigators pursued leads about possible hybrid threats. In another part of the world, a United States Secret Service inquiry was opened into whether a set of mishaps during a United Nations appearance by a former president were deliberate, part of a wider discussion about security protocols at high-visibility events.

Domestically in Israel, authorities reported incidents tied to the ongoing conflict and its charged climate. A minor from Tel Sheva was arrested in connection with distributing posters praising Hamas in the town of Umar, reflecting the tense atmosphere and the ongoing monitoring of political speech. In an associated security incident, reporting from the Arab sector notes a deadly shooting in a local community marked as the year’s 178th fatality in the sector, underscoring the immediate security challenges faced by many communities. Separately, the defense establishment announced the death of another Israeli soldier, commemorating a loss in combat in the Gaza theater as the battle moves deeper into the area around Gaza City. The government notes that the toll in the war includes both military personnel and civilians and remains a central concern for policymakers.

In the broader media landscape, discussions continue about how the war is framed at home and abroad. An editorial in one outlet argues that Hamas’s tactics have shown that terror can yield political and strategic effects when unframed by credible international response. In contrast, observers point to the humanitarian cost and the imperative of preserving civilian life even amid a security campaign. On a separate note, an incident at Syracuse University in the United States resulted in hate crime charges after two students allegedly tossed a bag of pork at a Jewish fraternity house during the observance of Rosh Hashanah, a incident that underscores the ongoing debates over hate crime laws and campus safety.

Looking beyond the immediate conflict, as the region’s volatility continues, some reporting highlights the resilience and growth of Israel’s population under pressure from multiple fronts. A World Israel News report notes that more than 50,000 people have immigrated to Israel since October 7, 2023, illustrating the country’s ongoing demographic and security dynamics even amid sustained conflict. At the same time, observers in Europe and the United States continue to monitor security and political developments with an eye toward stabilizing shifts in alliances, sanctions, and humanitarian relief.

That is the latest update. This is the kind of reporting that aims to inform with clarity, balance, and accuracy, reflecting security concerns, humanitarian realities, and the persistent striving for peace amid ongoing conflict.

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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