HEADLINES
Hamas aid diverted; UNRWA links questioned
Border crackdown targets Egypt drone smuggling
US mediates Saudi Israel normalization talks

The time is now 4:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

Good morning. This is your hourly update on the Middle East, with a focus on Israeli security concerns and the broader international response as the region faces a complex set of challenges amid a continuing war.

Israel’s military has released declassified intelligence alleging Hamas diverted humanitarian aid in Gaza and maintained links with Iran, UNRWA, and Al Jazeera during the current conflict. The disclosure is being presented as evidence that Hamas has sustained external support networks and used aid channels to further its operations, complicating international oversight and raising questions about accountability for aid flows in Gaza. The Israeli government emphasizes that such ties underscore the broader regional security threat, including Iran’s influence, and reinforces calls for a robust and verifiable approach to humanitarian assistance in Gaza.

Turning to border security, Israel’s defense leadership is prioritizing the threat posed by drone smuggling from across the Egypt border. In a rapid, emergency decision, Defense Minister Yoav Kish and the director of the Shin Bet agreed to designate the area along the border a restricted military zone and to adjust rules of engagement to target any unauthorized entry. Officials described drone-smuggling as a terrorist threat linked to broader warfare in Gaza and pledged to accelerate technological solutions in collaboration with the Israel Air Force and the Defense Ministry’s development offices. The National Security Council will address licensing and legal changes to govern the use, purchase, and possession of drones. The aim is deterrence—making clear that those who facilitate drone operations will face severe consequences.

In Gaza, the broader security picture remains grim. The remains of foreign hostages identified as Joshua Luito Mollel, a 21-year-old Tanzanian national, were returned to Israel; he was among the civilians killed in the Oct. 7 attacks. The return comes alongside reports that another foreign national, Rintalak Suttisak from Thailand, was among those killed. Families affected by these events continue to seek justice and accountability as Israel pursues its military objectives in Gaza and humanitarian concerns are weighed by international partners.

In the realm of diplomacy and international diplomacy, the prospect of direct talks between Israel and Saudi Arabia has gained renewed attention. Reports indicate that negotiations are moving toward establishing a pathway to normalization, with the United States playing a central role in mediation and in shaping the terms of any agreement. The discussions reportedly involve senior American and Israeli officials, Saudi representatives, and close advisers to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The talks are framed by a wider strategic calculus that envisions strengthening regional security cooperation against shared threats, notably Iran and its proxies. A major point of contention remains Saudi demands regarding nuclear capabilities, including the possible establishment of a domestic enrichment program. Some proposals contemplate an American-built nuclear facility in Saudi Arabia, staffed and secured by Americans, as a potential compromise. Officials caution that while progress is possible, any formal announcement of direct talks would hinge on a range of sensitive security and political considerations, including how such arrangements would impact broader regional stability and the Palestinian issue. In parallel, Riyadh seeks a role for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza’s postwar reconstruction and broader regional arrangements, a position Israel has resisted, though some observers note that even limited economic and trade steps could mark a meaningful shift.

On the battlefield and in neighboring corridors, Lebanon’s Hezbollah reiterated its view that Lebanon has a legitimate right to resist Israeli occupation but signaled it would not be drawn into political negotiations with Israel as long as the ceasefire holds. The group said it would support the Lebanese army, underscoring the fragility of a multi-front dynamic in the region. The statement keeps the option of escalation in play, even as regional actors seek to prevent a broader confrontation that could pull in greater external powers.

Meanwhile, in the broader Kurdish political landscape, Masoud Barzani remains a powerful political figure in Iraqi Kurdistan. Ahead of Iraq’s November 11 parliamentary elections, Barzani’s Kurdistan Democratic Party is urging strong turnout to safeguard regional interests and to press for influence in negotiations with Baghdad over oil revenues and budget allocations. While Barzani’s role is more indirect to the immediate Gaza-focused crisis, Kurdish politics shape broader regional alignments and energy dynamics that affect security calculations across northern Iraq and the wider Middle East.

In a separate development, three Jewish sites were vandalized in New York hours after the election of Zohran Mamdani as New York City mayor. The incidents—painted swastikas and other anti-Jewish graffiti—underscore ongoing tensions in the diaspora and the heightened sensitivity within global Jewish communities in the wake of political shifts in major cities. In the aftermath of the election, concerns over antisemitism and security for Jewish communities have been amplified by earlier developments around the mayoral race, including public statements about Israel and regional policy. The city’s Jewish community, while tracking a new political era, remains vigilant about safety and about maintaining open channels with local officials on security and anti-hate measures.

On the domestic front in the United States, reports indicate that New York’s Jewish fire commissioner, Robert Tucker, reportedly stepped down in the wake of the Mamdani victory and the broader debate over the mayor-elect’s stance on Israel. The leadership shake-up within a major city’s emergency services reflects the real-world consequences of political rhetoric on public safety institutions and the perceived unity of a city’s civic frame around national security issues. Observers and advocacy groups stress the importance of maintaining support for Jewish communities and for robust collaboration with law enforcement in the face of threats and intimidation.

Within the Israeli security community, discussions continue about the practical implications of international diplomacy for security operations in Gaza and beyond. Washington has signaled a willingness to push for closer Israel–Saudi security and economic cooperation, including potential arms deals and advanced defense systems. At the same time, Israel’s government remains cautious about concessions that might affect its red lines on Hamas’s disarmament and on Gaza’s reconstruction framework. The balance between security needs, regional diplomacy, and the humanitarian and political dimensions of the conflict remains delicate and dynamic.

In Ramallah, Israeli commandos conducted a daylight operation at a bustling market, arresting a suspect wanted for involvement in several shooting attacks targeting Israeli communities and security forces. The use of a market setting highlights the persistent risk of raids and counterterrorism operations in areas where militants seek to exploit civilian space, and it underscores the continuing contest between security forces and militant networks in the West Bank as Israel maintains a broad security posture across the territory.

Across the broader arena of regional defense and civil defense exercises, drills and preparedness activities continue in places like Haifa, where readiness exercises simulate a missile strike scenario and the need to coordinate civilian evacuation and emergency responses. The exercises reflect ongoing vigilance against a spectrum of threats, including missile and drone attacks, and the emphasis on rapid, coordinated responses that protect civilians while enabling effective military operations.

As the war enters its ongoing phases, the region’s trajectory will be heavily influenced by how Hamas’s external ties are perceived and policed, how effectively drone-smuggling networks are countered, and how regional normalization efforts unfold in a way that secures stability without compromising core security interests. The United States continues to emphasize strategic depth—support for Israel’s security needs, cautious engagement with potential partners in the Arab world, and a push for conditions that would disarm militant actors in Gaza while advancing legitimate reconstruction and humanitarian aims. For audiences watching from around the world, the developing equations in Jerusalem, Washington, Riyadh, and beyond will shape the region’s path for months to come, with much riding on how leaders balance security, diplomacy, and humanitarian responsibility in a volatile and evolving landscape.

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
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-872901
https://www.jpost.com/us-elections/article-872906
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