Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-13 at 05:05
Update: 2025-11-13
Description
HEADLINES
Contaminated streams in north and east Israel
Winter storm threatens floods across southern Israel
Israel strikes southern Lebanon amid Hezbollah tensions
The time is now 12:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
From Jerusalem at twelve midnight, this is the hourly update.
In Israel, the Health and Environmental Protection Ministries confirm elevated levels of bacterial contamination in several streams across the country’s northern and eastern regions. Authorities are advising the public not to enter the water at these points and to avoid contact with the affected streams while tests continue.
Turning to weather, the national meteorological service warns of a winter storm bringing heavy rainfall that could trigger flooding in the south and in central urban areas. Beginning this afternoon, rains are expected to spread from the Eilat region to the south, the Arava, and the Dead Sea area, with heavier rainfall anticipated in the coming hours. By Friday, the system is expected to shift to the northern and central coast, with potential tens of millimeters of rain in a few hours and the prospect of urban floods along the coast and the Sharon Plain. Rain is forecast to continue into Saturday, though with reduced intensity. Officials caution against traveling in wadis and streams, noting that even a single hour of rain can produce dangerous floods.
On the security front, reports from southern Lebanon indicate early-morning airstrikes by the Israeli Air Force in the areas of the villages Ayetaroun and Tir Falasai. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The strikes come amid ongoing tensions with Hezbollah and a broader regional backdrop of cross-border activity.
In domestic policy, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced that expanded benefits for IDF reservists will remain in place even after the cancellation of the current emergency draft orders. A new law is also being prepared to limit annual reserve duty to 60 to 70 days under standard mobilization rules, while reservist grants are set to continue through 2026. The government says the measures aim to preserve readiness and support for service members during the transition.
At the United Nations, Israel faced questions during its periodic review by the Committee against Torture over reports alleging torture and ill-treatment of Palestinian detainees, particularly since the Gaza war. Israel’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva rejected those allegations as disinformation, expressing renewed commitment to international obligations. The committee’s session runs through November, with a formal finding due later this month.
In Gaza-related developments, reports indicate Hamas holds information about the location of four remaining deceased hostages, a detail being tracked by Israeli authorities as part of ongoing efforts to recover remains and press for clarity on hostage cases. The situation continues to influence broader discussions around ceasefire adherence and humanitarian channels.
Diplomacy and memory: Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited Israel, meeting survivors of the October 7 attacks and touring key sites, including the Nova festival area and the Weizmann Institute, where she was honored for her diplomatic legacy and continued support for Israel amid scrutiny of Gaza war conduct.
Regionally, humanitarian conditions in Yemen remain dire. AFP reporting from Aden describes crowded classes in makeshift shelters, with shortages of electricity and water, and teachers underpaid. Despite international aid and reconstruction efforts paid for by Saudi-backed programs, millions of Yemeni children remain out of school, underscoring the broader regional education crisis amid protracted conflict.
Media and culture note: Editorial debate continues in Israel over the possible closure of Army Radio, with discussions focusing on how such a move would affect the public-media landscape and access to independent broadcasting within the country.
In a broader historical frame, Yad Vashem opens the Living Memory exhibit, showcasing personal artifacts and testimonies from Holocaust survivors to emphasize memory transmission to younger generations. The exhibit runs alongside ongoing efforts to recover the millions of names of Holocaust victims and to teach future generations about the lessons of that history.
On the domestic front, coverage of security and legal policy continues to unfold: debate and oversight at home intersect with international scrutiny over Israel’s conduct in the conflict, including discussions at the United Nations and among allied partners about detention practices, humanitarian access, and the state’s obligations under international law.
Finally, developments in the American diplomatic posture toward the region echo in regional reporting: sources cited by regional outlets indicate senior US advisers are advancing discussions over a solution to the Hamas presence in Rafah, while the White House has publicly denied plans for an American military base in Gaza, noting instead coordination with international partners and consideration of a stabilization presence in southern Israel.
This is the latest picture as it stands at midnight, with authorities monitoring weather-induced risks, security developments across the border, evolving US-led diplomacy, and continued attention to humanitarian and human rights questions affecting both Israeli society and the broader Middle East.
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/environment-and-climate-change/article-873683
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-873687
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-873673
https://www.jpost.com/travel/article-873686
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-873685
https://t.me/Newss0nline/57093
https://t.me/Newss0nline/57092
https://www.timesofisrael.com/groundbreaking-analysis-of-hitlers-dna-finds-genetic-disorder-but-no-jewish-ancestry/
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-873681
https://t.me/Newss0nline/57091
https://www.timesofisrael.com/never-revealed-holocaust-artifacts-illuminate-tragedy-and-triumph-in-new-yad-vashem-exhibit/
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rkmyuczgze
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/where-school-tent-yemeni-kids-learn-without-classrooms-textbooks
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rjhrs6ge11g
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bkipupzezx
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-grilled-at-un-over-reports-claiming-systematic-and-widespread-torture-of-palestinians/
Contaminated streams in north and east Israel
Winter storm threatens floods across southern Israel
Israel strikes southern Lebanon amid Hezbollah tensions
The time is now 12:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
From Jerusalem at twelve midnight, this is the hourly update.
In Israel, the Health and Environmental Protection Ministries confirm elevated levels of bacterial contamination in several streams across the country’s northern and eastern regions. Authorities are advising the public not to enter the water at these points and to avoid contact with the affected streams while tests continue.
Turning to weather, the national meteorological service warns of a winter storm bringing heavy rainfall that could trigger flooding in the south and in central urban areas. Beginning this afternoon, rains are expected to spread from the Eilat region to the south, the Arava, and the Dead Sea area, with heavier rainfall anticipated in the coming hours. By Friday, the system is expected to shift to the northern and central coast, with potential tens of millimeters of rain in a few hours and the prospect of urban floods along the coast and the Sharon Plain. Rain is forecast to continue into Saturday, though with reduced intensity. Officials caution against traveling in wadis and streams, noting that even a single hour of rain can produce dangerous floods.
On the security front, reports from southern Lebanon indicate early-morning airstrikes by the Israeli Air Force in the areas of the villages Ayetaroun and Tir Falasai. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The strikes come amid ongoing tensions with Hezbollah and a broader regional backdrop of cross-border activity.
In domestic policy, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced that expanded benefits for IDF reservists will remain in place even after the cancellation of the current emergency draft orders. A new law is also being prepared to limit annual reserve duty to 60 to 70 days under standard mobilization rules, while reservist grants are set to continue through 2026. The government says the measures aim to preserve readiness and support for service members during the transition.
At the United Nations, Israel faced questions during its periodic review by the Committee against Torture over reports alleging torture and ill-treatment of Palestinian detainees, particularly since the Gaza war. Israel’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva rejected those allegations as disinformation, expressing renewed commitment to international obligations. The committee’s session runs through November, with a formal finding due later this month.
In Gaza-related developments, reports indicate Hamas holds information about the location of four remaining deceased hostages, a detail being tracked by Israeli authorities as part of ongoing efforts to recover remains and press for clarity on hostage cases. The situation continues to influence broader discussions around ceasefire adherence and humanitarian channels.
Diplomacy and memory: Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited Israel, meeting survivors of the October 7 attacks and touring key sites, including the Nova festival area and the Weizmann Institute, where she was honored for her diplomatic legacy and continued support for Israel amid scrutiny of Gaza war conduct.
Regionally, humanitarian conditions in Yemen remain dire. AFP reporting from Aden describes crowded classes in makeshift shelters, with shortages of electricity and water, and teachers underpaid. Despite international aid and reconstruction efforts paid for by Saudi-backed programs, millions of Yemeni children remain out of school, underscoring the broader regional education crisis amid protracted conflict.
Media and culture note: Editorial debate continues in Israel over the possible closure of Army Radio, with discussions focusing on how such a move would affect the public-media landscape and access to independent broadcasting within the country.
In a broader historical frame, Yad Vashem opens the Living Memory exhibit, showcasing personal artifacts and testimonies from Holocaust survivors to emphasize memory transmission to younger generations. The exhibit runs alongside ongoing efforts to recover the millions of names of Holocaust victims and to teach future generations about the lessons of that history.
On the domestic front, coverage of security and legal policy continues to unfold: debate and oversight at home intersect with international scrutiny over Israel’s conduct in the conflict, including discussions at the United Nations and among allied partners about detention practices, humanitarian access, and the state’s obligations under international law.
Finally, developments in the American diplomatic posture toward the region echo in regional reporting: sources cited by regional outlets indicate senior US advisers are advancing discussions over a solution to the Hamas presence in Rafah, while the White House has publicly denied plans for an American military base in Gaza, noting instead coordination with international partners and consideration of a stabilization presence in southern Israel.
This is the latest picture as it stands at midnight, with authorities monitoring weather-induced risks, security developments across the border, evolving US-led diplomacy, and continued attention to humanitarian and human rights questions affecting both Israeli society and the broader Middle East.
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/environment-and-climate-change/article-873683
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-873687
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-873673
https://www.jpost.com/travel/article-873686
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-873685
https://t.me/Newss0nline/57093
https://t.me/Newss0nline/57092
https://www.timesofisrael.com/groundbreaking-analysis-of-hitlers-dna-finds-genetic-disorder-but-no-jewish-ancestry/
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-873681
https://t.me/Newss0nline/57091
https://www.timesofisrael.com/never-revealed-holocaust-artifacts-illuminate-tragedy-and-triumph-in-new-yad-vashem-exhibit/
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rkmyuczgze
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/where-school-tent-yemeni-kids-learn-without-classrooms-textbooks
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rjhrs6ge11g
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bkipupzezx
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-grilled-at-un-over-reports-claiming-systematic-and-widespread-torture-of-palestinians/
Comments
In Channel
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States00:00
00:00
1.0x
