HEADLINES
Adraee to retire reshaping Israel Arab messaging
US eyeing base on Israel Gaza border
Islamabad court bombing kills twelve

The time is now 7:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

Good morning. It’s seven o’clock in the morning, and this is your hourly news update as the region faces a new mix of security challenges and diplomatic prospects.

The Israeli Defense Forces announced that Colonel Avichay Adraee, the Arabic-language spokesperson for the Dadoar/Spokesperson’s Unit, will retire from military service after twenty years in the post. Adraee joined the unit in 2005 after time in Unit 8200 and has been a prominent, sometimes polarizing, voice representing Israel’s position across Arab media and social platforms. His departure marks the end of a period in which Israel sought to shape messaging in the Arab world during a era of heightened conflict and fragile truces. His successor has been discussed, but the decision to step away comes at a moment when Israel is balancing battlefield realities with broader regional messaging.

In international security news, twelve people were killed and several injured in a suicide bombing outside a district court in Islamabad, Pakistan. Police are examining the motives behind the attack as investigators assess links to militant groups and broader regional risks. The incident underscores the persistent threats faced by civilians in urban centers across South Asia and the ongoing challenges for security services in preventing attacks connected to extremist networks.

From Washington, a political development in US-Syria relations drew attention. A meeting described as historic by Representative Joe Wilson, between a former US administration figure and Syria’s leadership, has been framed as potentially shifting the dynamic on US–Syria ties. Wilson described the encounter as a potential turning point and suggested it could foreshadow a broader path toward normalization or rapprochement, with implications for regional diplomacy and the possibility of broader peace-style arrangements in the Middle East.

In Europe, criminal investigations continued over a controversy at Glastonbury. Avon and Somerset Police are examining chants perceived as derogatory toward Israel that were raised during a performance by the band Bob Vylan. Political leaders and the Israeli Embassy condemned the chants, highlighting how cultural events can become flashpoints in the broader debate over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the safety of Jewish communities in public spaces.

Turning to faith and dialogue, a diverse group of fifty students from Israel and the United States joined a four-day program in Rome to meet Pope Leo XIV in efforts to promote interfaith dialogue and reconciliation. The gathering reflects ongoing efforts to broaden people-to-people engagement and build bridges between communities affected by longstanding regional tensions.

Economic and policy developments also feature in today’s briefing. In Paris and other capitals, attention remains on global commerce in the digital age as major platforms and marketplaces continue to adjust to regulatory pressures and consumer-protection concerns. In one notable example, French authorities halted suspension proceedings related to the sale of illicit items on a Chinese e-commerce platform after corrective steps were taken by the company, illustrating how consumer markets intersect with governance in the digital economy.

In Washington, discussions continue about a possible large-scale US military base on the Israel–Gaza border. The proposed site would be intended to house thousands of American personnel as part of a broader stabilization effort in the region, reflecting ongoing debates about the role of external security guarantees in stabilizing Gaza and deterring renewed hostilities. The plan underscores how international actors weigh the balance between preventing a relapse into full-scale conflict and preserving security leadership in the region.

A separate security-focus report touches on the complex human dimension of the Gaza conflict. An American-Palestinian activist has alleged that Hamas uses Gaza’s hospitals to detain and ill-treat civilians as part of its effort to maintain control over the enclave. The claim, if substantiated, adds a grave layer to the humanitarian concerns surrounding the conflict and reinforces calls for independent monitoring and accountability.

Diplomacy also continues on the Turkish–Egypt channel. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and Egypt’s counterpart discussed the Gaza ceasefire and the future phases of the US-brokered plan in Ankara. Turkish officials signaled a willingness to be involved in post-war Gaza reconstruction and stabilization efforts, while Israel has voiced skepticism about allowing Turkish forces on the ground in Gaza. The talks also touched on convening a Turkey–Egypt Joint Planning Group and broader regional forums intended to shape the post-conflict landscape. Across the Atlantic, US mediation efforts and international support remain crucial as diplomats seek to align ceasefire obligations with humanitarian needs and the goal of long-term regional stability.

In the arena of Iran and atomic diplomacy, Iran’s deputy foreign minister signaled that Tehran seeks a peaceful nuclear agreement with the United States but would not compromise its security requirements. He framed Washington’s posture as provocative and inconsistent with diplomacy, arguing that Tehran’s program is for civilian purposes, while acknowledging the gap between Western demands and Iran’s own red lines. This exchange comes as negotiations have stalled since last year’s rounds of talks, with the gap on enrichment limits and the scope of verification remaining central issues.

Domestically in Israel, the Knesset advanced a bill that would impose the death penalty for Palestinian militants convicted of killing Israeli citizens. The measure, backed by far-right lawmakers, passed its first hurdle with a vote of 39 to 16 and now moves to committee for further examination. Critics, including the Palestinian Authority and some opposition figures, characterized the bill as a political and legal challenge that could complicate prisoner-release dynamics. The motion reflects a broader debate about deterrence, legal frameworks, and how future peace and security arrangements should be structured in the wake of the most recent round of crisis and conflict.

On the battlefield, the past 24 hours saw renewed fighting in Israel’s northern border region as IDF forces conducted overnight operations in southern Lebanon, destroying several Hezbollah targets. The latest raid marked a continuation of intensified activity outside the core areas currently controlled by Israel within Lebanon, signaling a possible uptick in cross-border tensions and the potential for broader escalation if hostilities widen.

In the broader regional picture, Houthi forces in Yemen signaled a pause in attacks on Israel and Red Sea shipping, following Gaza’s fragile ceasefire. A letter from a Yemeni commander suggested that operations would resume if fighting resumes elsewhere, warning that Israel would face deeper incursions if the war returns to Gaza’s front lines. The status of the Red Sea blockade and international shipping remains sensitive as global markets monitor the risk of disruption and the potential for a wider strategic pivot in the region.

On the humanitarian and human-rights front, new reporting from the complex battlefield of Iraq and the Gaza corridor recounts the horrors faced by civilians and the long shadow of captivity. Elizabeth Tsurkov, an Israeli-Russian researcher, described brutal torture she endured during captivity in Iraq and the role of Iranian-backed militias in Baghdad. Her account highlights the ongoing dangers faced by civilians and activists in conflict zones and the long tail of past hostilities.

From the cultural front, the Miss Universe pageant sparked a moment of public diplomacy and dispute when Miss Israel and Miss Palestine shared the stage. A brief exchange over the Bibas children’s deaths sparked a broader conversation about the narrative surrounding casualties and victims in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, illustrating how even pageantry can intersect with deep-seated identity and memory.

On the science-and-memory front, Yad Vashem announced that it has compiled five million names of Jews who perished during the Holocaust, marking a milestone in the museum’s mission to restore the identities of those murdered in the Nazi era. The exhibit draws attention to the enduring need to remember while understanding the present-day stakes in the Jewish world’s ongoing relationship with history and memory.

In other notes, international partners continued to expand ties with Israel. Albania’s parliament launched a Christian Allies Caucus to strengthen pro-Israel advocacy and faith-based diplomacy, while Austria’s broadcast community publicly described Israel as an inseparable part of its Eurovision identity, signaling soft-power alignment with Israeli culture and diplomacy. In other diplomatic developments, a new United Nations Security Council plan outlined conditions for a limited IDF presence in Gaza as a framework for a phased withdrawal, seeking to stabilize the situation while ensuring mechanisms to prevent a return to terrorism.

Finally, the security beat included the somber note of Lieutenant Hadar Goldin’s funeral. Goldin, killed and held for more than a decade, was memorialized as a compass and conscience for the Israeli people, with the Chief of Staff and other leaders paying tribute at the national ceremony.

As this hour clo