HEADLINES
Gaza ceasefire hinges on Hamas disarmament
Zionist row halts Yair Netanyahu post
NZ expands Russia oil sanctions, 65 vessels

The time is now 9:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In the Middle East and beyond, international observers are watching closely as the Gaza ceasefire framework moves through its second phase, with Israel stressing that disarming Hamas and the demilitarization of Gaza remain essential and achievable goals, while coordinating with American partners on monitoring, humanitarian aid, and staged verifications.

Israel’s leadership reiterates that the core objective of the ceasefire is the disarmament of Hamas and the demilitarization of Gaza, a process being managed in part from the joint US-Israel Civil-Military Coordination Center in Kiryat Gat. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, touring the center with senior Israeli officers and American counterparts, emphasized that the path to stability will unfold in stages, noting that the ceasefire includes a hostage-prisoner exchange and humanitarian provisions, but that broader post-conflict governance and disarmament will be addressed in later phases. American officials, including CENTCOM leadership, remain engaged in overseeing the implementation and ensuring that humanitarian aid and security coordination proceed in parallel with security measures on the ground.

Within Israel, a domestic political dispute has arisen over appointments in Zionist institutions. Likud Culture Minister Miki Zohar defended the elder Netanyahu son, Yair Netanyahu, for a senior post in the World Zionist Organization, as part of a broader power-sharing arrangement with the party of Prime Minister Netanyahu. Yesh Atid opposed the move, and the compromise arrangement reportedly has been placed on hold as internal and external backlash mounts. The dispute highlights how internal politics can intersect with diaspora outreach and institutional leadership at a sensitive juncture for Zionist organizations abroad.

Internationally, political developments in Europe also command attention. Dutch exit polls indicate Centrist D66, led by Rob Jetten, is on track to win the most votes in the Netherlands, overtaking Geert Wilders’ Freedom Party. While the Dutch result is a national matter, analysts note it reflects ongoing European debates over security, asylum, and alliances with the United States—issues that also influence Israeli security considerations and transatlantic coordination.

In New York, a Quinnipiac University poll finds Jewish voters favoring former Governor Andrew Cuomo over far-left candidate Zohran Mamdani in the city’s mayoral race, with Cuomo leading by a wide margin among Jewish respondents. The poll identifies crime as the top concern for Jewish voters, followed by housing and education; it does not address Israel or Jewish issues directly, but it provides insight into diaspora attitudes during a period of heightened concern for security and safety.

On the international stage, New Zealand announced expanded sanctions targeting Russia’s oil industry and its shadow fleet, adding 65 vessels and actors from Belarus, Iran, and North Korea involved in refining and moving Russian oil and facilitating oil-related payments. The measure comes as part of a broader, coordinated effort by like-minded nations to limit Moscow’s energy capabilities and pressure its war effort, with potential ripple effects for energy markets and global policy alignments.

Humanitarian and regional security concerns continue to unfold in Sudan’s Darfur region, where reports describe atrocities following the RSF’s seizure of El-Fasher, underscoring the broader instability that affects neighboring states and international humanitarian responses.

As the ceasefire framework proceeds, the central questions remain: will Hamas take credible steps toward disarmament and allow independent monitoring, and how will the international coalition sustain humanitarian relief, hostage releases, and governance arrangements for Gaza? Israel says it remains prepared to advance toward those goals in coordination with partners, while domestic political dynamics and regional developments will shape the pace and shape of the path ahead. We will continue to monitor the situation and report updates as events unfold.

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.

SOURCES
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