HEADLINES
Kazakhstan Joins Abraham Accords Deepening Ties
No Deal for 200 Hamas in Rafah
US-Backed Strike Threat Against Hezbollah

The time is now 8:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

At eight o’clock, this is your international news update.

A major diplomatic development unfolds as Kazakhstan announces it will join the Abraham Accords. The move, framed by President Donald Trump’s remarks, is intended to broaden Israel’s normalization efforts with Muslim-majority states and to deepen United States influence across Central Asia. In Jerusalem, diplomats described continued engagements with Kazakh officials, including a meeting between Kazakhstan’s ambassador to Israel and Foreign Minister Gadi Saar, with discussions about planned visits and possible attendance by the Israeli president in Kazakhstan as part of the evolving relationship.

In Tehran, an Iranian-American Jew identified as Hekmati, a seventy-year-old resident of Long Island, is reported to be held in Evin Prison since July after traveling to the region. The case adds to a pattern of suspicion toward dual nationals and visitors in Iran, underscoring the precarious nature of travel and residence rights under political strains in the region.

In Gaza, the Israeli Defense Forces Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, told the security cabinet there is no deal for roughly two hundred Hamas militants trapped in Rafah’s tunnel network; he said they will surrender or be killed. The remarks come as ministers debate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to establish a demilitarized city in Gaza and how such a measure would fit into broader security objectives and humanitarian concerns.

Along the northern front, a senior military official told Prime Minister’s aides that the recent set of Israeli strikes is only the prelude to what could come next. If the Lebanese army does not dismantle Hezbollah or meet the terms of an agreed framework, Israel, with United States backing, would strike Hezbollah targets across Lebanon, including in Beirut, signaling a readiness to act beyond Gaza if necessary to curb militant capabilities.

In Paris, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra faced disruptions as protesters lit flares inside the concert hall during a performance. Amid smoke and raised voices, the musicians continued the program after several interruptions, reflecting a broader debate about Jewish culture, memory, and political protest in public spaces abroad.

Cultural note: a recent film review in The Times of Israel examines the new production Nuremberg. The piece portrays the final days of the Nazi era through the lens of a US army psychiatrist and a close, often troubling view of Hermann Goering. The review considers how the film grapples with memory, the complexity of human behavior under extremity, and the enduring cautionary tale about antisemitism, while noting that some scenes feel more like didactic episodes than character-driven drama.

On policy: American officials describe continuing support for a pathway toward Gaza security that prioritizes deterrence and stability, while urging measures that address humanitarian needs. Washington also continues to advocate for regional normalization as a strategic objective, aligning with partners in the region to strengthen security and political cohesion.

That is the landscape at eight. We’ll continue monitoring developments as they 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/podcast/jpost-headlines/article-873063
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-873062
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rj3cr29y11e
https://t.me/newssil/178745
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1rtao5ywx
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-873060
https://t.me/Newss0nline/56977
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/h1fisjqyzl
https://www.timesofisrael.com/though-surefire-oscar-bait-the-jury-is-still-out-on-nazi-trial-film-nuremberg/