HEADLINES
Kazakhstan poised to join historic Abraham Accords
US sanctions Hezbollah cash flow, over $1B
UN drafts Gaza plan with 20,000-strong force

The time is now 1:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

Good afternoon. At 1:00 PM Jerusalem time, this is your hourly update on a region marked by shifting alliances, ongoing security concerns, and growing diplomatic activity that could reshape the Middle East in the weeks ahead.

In Washington, the head of United States Central Command is slated to speak at the funeral of Captain Omer Neutra, the Israeli-American hostage killed by Hamas. Admiral Cooper will deliver remarks, underscoring the close, ongoing coordination between Washington and Jerusalem as security considerations remain a central element of policy and public memory.

Turning to diplomacy, Kazakhstan is widely reported to be the next country invited to join the Abraham Accords. In Florida, United States Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said a new nation would join the accords tonight, adding to a circle of countries that have normalized relations with Israel in recent years. Kazakhstan has maintained diplomatic relations with Israel since 1992, and the potential accession is being framed as part of a broader effort to expand regional ties, alongside discussions about possibilities involving Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, and Syria. The announcement is expected to occur around the time zone differences place it late tonight or early tomorrow morning in the region.

On the sanctions front, the United States Treasury announced measures against Hezbollah operatives who allegedly used Lebanon’s cash economy to move more than $1 billion to the group this year. The action is part of a broader effort to disrupt funding channels that enable Hezbollah’s operations and its resistance to Lebanese state authority. In remarks accompanying the sanctions, Under-Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism John S. Hudak or a closely related official emphasized that Lebanon’s path to security and prosperity depends on Hezbollah’s disarmament and severing Iran’s financial and operational ties to the group.

In legal and judicial developments, Hind Rajab filed a criminal complaint seeking the arrest of former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in connection with Operation Cast Lead, the Gaza War of 2008-2009. The inquiry aligns with a pattern of investigations into wartime conduct and accountability that continue to echo through regional politics and international discourse.

Domestic security and accountability moves also dominated headlines as police conducted a raid at the office of a former top IDF legal adviser, with the case connected to the transfer of a Sde Teiman detention facility video that allegedly showed abuse of Palestinian detainees. The investigation has sparked wider discussions about internal discipline within security services in Israel. Separately, Israeli police are reviewing a case involving alleged exploitative sexual offenses within a newsroom, with the matter transferred to prosecutors for review.

In the arena of regional confrontation, Lebanon’s political and security environment remains tense as Israeli airstrikes targeted Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese health ministry reported casualties in the strikes, and evacuation orders were issued for several border towns. Lebanese authorities and civilians have faced disruption as the Israeli military said it would continue to enforce the ceasefire and deter Hezbollah’s rearmament. Lebanon’s cabinet met to receive updates on disarmament efforts, with officials noting progress in removing arms depots, while Hezbollah asserted a right to resist and stated it would not be disarmed unilaterally.

United Nations diplomacy is moving in parallel. The United States has circulated a draft resolution to the Security Council proposing broad support for President Trump’s Gaza peace plan and a two-year mandate for a transitional governance body and an international stabilization force in Gaza. The draft would authorize the establishment of a Board of Peace to oversee a force that could be deployed to disarm Hamas and secure border areas with Israel and neighboring states. The force, potentially numbering around 20,000 troops, would include contributions from a range of states, with the United States working to secure broad regional support, including Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and others. While Israel has opposed the presence of Turkish armed forces in Gaza, the plan envisions a multinational force operating under a United Nations framework or similar auspices, with agreement and cooperation among regional partners seen as essential to success. The timeline for a vote is uncertain but officials say they are aiming for weeks rather than months, given the fragility of the current ceasefire and the urgency of stabilizing the region.

There are continuing security concerns and vulnerabilities beyond the Gaza context. A report from Austrian authorities disclosed a Hamas-linked weapons cache in Vienna, found in a storage facility and consisting of several handguns and ammunition. The investigation connects to a broader international inquiry into Hamas network activity, with related arrests in the United Kingdom and Germany. Austrian officials stressed zero tolerance for terrorism and highlighted the transnational dimensions of the threat.

In Iran, inflation remains a dominant domestic issue as President Masoud Pezeshkian attributed a surge in consumer prices to government inefficiency and bureaucratic bloat, while promising steps to reduce spending and ease the burden on citizens. The economic strain comes amid long-standing sanctions and regional tensions that intersect with the broader security dynamic in the region and influence public sentiment about governance and policy.

Beyond the headlines, there are ongoing questions about the pace and scope of normalization efforts, the durability of ceasefires, and the prospects for disarmament-and-reintegration frameworks that would keep civilian populations safe while dismantling militant infrastructure. Officials emphasize that credible progress will require sustained regional cooperation, disciplined implementation of disarmament commitments, and a robust international stabilizing framework capable of supporting both humanitarian needs and security obligations.

That is the latest for now. We will continue to monitor these developments and bring you 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
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-873027
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-873025
https://www.jpost.com/international/islamic-terrorism/article-873023
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-873020
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-873014
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-873009
https://t.me/abualiexpress/108301
https://t.me/newssil/178726
https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/11/06/kazakhstan-expected-to-join-abraham-accords/
https://t.me/newssil/178725
https://t.me/newssil/178723
https://t.me/ILtoday/15760
https://t.me/newssil/178722
https://t.me/abualiexpress/108300
https://t.me/ILtoday/15759
https://www.jpost.com/aliyah/article-872962
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-873000
https://t.me/newssil/178721
https://t.me/Newss0nline/56973
https://t.me/abualiexpress/108299
https://t.me/Newss0nline/56972
https://t.me/ILtoday/15758
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/us-start-un-negotiations-thursday-international-gaza-force-mandate
<a href="https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/witk