HEADLINES
- Mamdani shocks NYC wins mayoralty
- IAEA: Iran blocks access to key sites
- Itay Chen identified and returned home

The time is now 1:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

Thai authorities have detained Osher Farhi, a 22-year-old Israeli with a prior criminal record, in Surat Thani ahead of his planned departure from the country, reportedly following a request by Israeli authorities. In a separate international security development, the IAEA said Iran must seriously improve its nuclear cooperation to avoid heightened tensions with the West, noting it has conducted inspections since June but was denied access to key sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

Back in the United States, political developments drew attention from Jewish communities and observers. Zohran Mamdani has won the New York City mayoral race, delivering a substantial political breakthrough for a progressive coalition that campaigned on housing affordability, transit reforms, and social programs. His victory has sparked debate about the place of Israel in the city’s Jewish community and broader concerns about antisemitism in public life. In Massachusetts, Somerville voters approved a ballot measure to divest from Israel, the first such local divestment in the United States, a move that drew opposition from local Jewish groups. Editorially, commentary following Mamdani’s win has warned of potential political repercussions for Jewish communities globally, even as proponents cite civic-minded goals and economic reforms.

In regional security news, a broader strategic question is rising in Washington’s policy calculations. Reports indicate Saudi Arabia’s request to purchase F-35 fighter jets has advanced after a Pentagon review, signaling a potential shift in the region’s military balance and prompting scrutiny of how this aligns with US commitments to Israel’s qualitative military edge. The development comes amid ongoing debates about how to structure security arrangements in the Gulf and how such moves interact with Israel’s security calculus.

Within Israel and the Palestinian arena, the Israeli military has indicated that the remains of a missing hostage, Staff Sergeant Itay Chen, have been identified and returned to his family, underscoring ongoing salience of the Gaza conflict and the seven remaining hostages held in Gaza. Separately, an internal probe into an IDF leak tightened the net around a whistleblower, with authorities re-questioning the whistleblower as polygraph records and a missing phone are being examined for possible links to the case.

Media and public diplomacy developments also feature, including the announcement that the National Religious Broadcasters will hold its 2026 convention in Jerusalem, with leadership emphasizing support for Israel and a push against misinformation. In global media accountability, a Telegraph report alleges a BBC Panorama program misled viewers by splicing a Trump speech in the run-up to the 2024 election, a reminder of the enduring scrutiny over how coverage of the United States and Israel is presented abroad.

In a broader governance context inside Gaza, senior Hamas officials have signaled a multilateral approach to managing civilian affairs, announcing an agreement with the Palestinian Authority on forming a temporary committee to oversee Gaza’s border crossings and security forces. The arrangement, described to Al Jazeera, would be headed by a PA minister, though it remains unclear whether the United States approves or if formal arrangements with Israel exist. Israeli officials have voiced concern about any UN or international force operating in Gaza’s current areas, highlighting disagreements over the proposed deployment details and mandate. The draft plan circulated by Axios envisions an International Stabilization Force with a broad mandate to secure borders, protect civilians in humanitarian zones, and train Palestinian police, including steps to disarm Hamas as part of stabilizing Gaza, all in close consultation with Egypt and Israel. US officials have said the objective is to deploy ISF troops to Gaza by January, with negotiations continuing on the resolution’s scope and authority as part of Trump’s broader peace framework. Meanwhile, the Israeli government has repeatedly stressed that the Palestinian Authority should not govern postwar Gaza, though that position remains debated among Western allies.

Finally, on a note touching both communities and policy, reports underscore the ongoing human dimension of these events: families of the missing, post-conflict reconstruction hopes, and the risk of political dynamics abroad translating into shifts in public sentiment toward Israel and Jewish life in major global cities.

That is the latest round of developments shaping a complex regional and domestic landscape, with security considerations, international diplomacy, and political currents all interwoven as the world tracks evolving responses from governments, institutions, and communities.

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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