Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-13 at 22:07
Update: 2025-11-13
Description
HEADLINES
UN Gaza Draft Signals Palestinian State
Manny Godard Returns Home as Hostages Remain
Memory Fades as Survivors Drop Below 200k
The time is now 5:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Good evening. Here is the latest news for an international audience, presented with clarity and balance.
In remembrance and in focus, a notable shift in the arithmetic of Holocaust survivors is reported six months after an estimate of more than 220,000 living survivors. The Claims Conference executive vice president says the number has now slipped below 200,000, underscoring the aging population and the fragility of memory as generations move forward. Prominent survivors who became symbols of resilience, including the “librarian of Auschwitz” and one of the last Warsaw Ghetto fighters, have recently died, prompting renewed attention to documentation, education, and the ongoing lessons of history for future generations.
Turning to the Gaza question, a United Nations draft resolution on Gaza contains language that, for the first time in the main body of the text, envisions the establishment of a Palestinian state. This marks a notable departure in the resolution’s framing and aligns in some respects with elements seen in the United States-backed plan for Gaza. The development highlights continuing debates over statehood, sovereignty, and the path to a durable settlement in the Palestinian territories, with international observers watching closely for how such language could influence negotiations, diplomacy, and on-the-ground dynamics in Gaza and the broader region.
In Gaza, hostage-related updates remain a focal point of regional and international attention. The body of a hostage identified as Manny Godard, a 73-year-old man from Kibbutz Be’eri, has been returned to Israel after more than two years. The identification process, carried out by Israel’s forensic and medical authorities in coordination with security services and the military, underscores the ongoing effort to account for hostages and to bring them home. Israel’s government reiterated its commitment to securing the return of all hostages, stressing that the effort to recover them continues without interruption and will persist until every last hostage is brought home. Alongside this development, authorities report that remaining in Gaza now number three hostages, two Israelis and one foreign national, a figure that reflects ongoing negotiations and the fragile status of reunifications under the ceasefire framework and related arrangements.
In domestic security news, the head of the Lahav 433 police unit, Chief Superintendent Meni Benjamin, was questioned on suspicions of intervening in a sensitive investigation, with his phone seized and his status suspended. The development has sparked discussion about governance, oversight, and the boundaries of police authority, particularly in a period of heightened security concerns and widespread public interest in how investigations are conducted.
International security and defense policy continue to attract scrutiny. In the United States, officials have raised concerns about Saudi Arabia’s bid to purchase F-35 fighter jets, with the intelligence assessment suggesting that a sale could risk the leakage or transfer of sensitive technology to countries such as China if not carefully mitigated. The finding adds a layer of complexity to the already sensitive security relationship between Washington and Riyadh, as both sides weigh strategic interests, regional stability, and technology controls.
Another regional thread concerns Saudi Arabia’s approach to neighboring Lebanon. A high-level Saudi official says the kingdom intends to move quickly to bolster commercial ties with Lebanon after Beirut demonstrated effectiveness in curbing drug smuggling into Saudi Arabia. The plan includes easing controls on imports and increasing trade with Lebanon, though Riyadh continues to push for progress on Lebanon’s central government disarming Hezbollah. The dynamic reflects broader regional pressures, with Israel closely watching any shifts that could affect Hezbollah’s posture and regional security.
In Israel’s domestic political landscape, coverage of governance and security operations continues apace. A widely watched incident during a governance tour of mixed Jewish-Arab cities raised questions about police conduct and messaging. Officials publicly rejected claims that the operation was staged for optics, emphasizing that actions were carried out according to law and with judicial authorization to combat violent crime. The debate comes as homicide and security challenges persist in central districts and mixed populations, underscoring the ongoing tension between security measures and civil liberties.
On the international front, France’s public mood toward antisemitism is under scrutiny after a poll indicating that a majority of French respondents believe antisemitism is widespread and that Jews in France face real safety concerns. The result adds to a broader conversation about antisemitism in Europe and the implications for Jewish communities, security policy, and cross-border relations in a period of renewed attention to hate and violence.
In the climate and weather beat, first rains and storms swept into Israel, ending an unusually hot spell for early November. Roads flooded in northern towns, hail fell in several cities, and a rare waterspout was observed off Palmachim beach. The Israel Meteorological Service warns of potential coastal flooding and thunderstorms into the weekend. Officials note that winter rainfall is forecast at about eighty percent of the historical average, though long-range predictions remain uncertain. In a related climate effort, Israel began channeling desalinated water to the Sea of Galilee as part of an unprecedented effort to bolster a freshwater resource, a sign of adaptive management in the face of shifting climate conditions.
Health and security updates also touch the human dimension of conflict and risk. An 18-year-old Israeli soldier, a trainee at a southern base, died after an apparent medical event. Investigations are underway, with military police and medical examiners examining the circumstances, and the death is being treated as a matter of ongoing inquiry within the armed forces. The country’s defense and medical communities emphasize sensitivity to the families and a rapid, thorough review to determine any site-specific or systemic factors.
On the international security stage, Canada’s intelligence leadership highlighted thwarted threats linked to Iran directed at people they deem enemies, as well as efforts by Russia to illicitly obtain Canadian goods and technologies. The comments, delivered in a public setting, underscore the breadth of security challenges facing Western countries, including counterterrorism efforts and the management of geopolitical rivalries that influence domestic safety and minority communities.
In other noteworthy developments, a veteran political and security beat continues to unfold around potential shifts in leadership and appointments within Israel’s security establishment. Observers are watching for signals about the pace and nature of decisions that shape the country’s defense posture and its readiness to respond to evolving threats.
Finally, in the human stories that resonate beyond news cycles, memorials and commemorations related to the Holocaust and its survivors continue to inform public memory and policy. The ongoing dialogue about education, remembrance, and the responsibilities of current and future generations serves as a reminder of the stakes in safeguarding history while addressing today’s security and political realities.
That is the latest across Israel, the region, and connected global communities. We will continue to monitor these stories 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/diaspora/article-873827
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-873829
https://t.me/newssil/179684
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-873819
https://t.me/abualiexpress/108740
https://t.me/ILtoday/15855
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bkgharxlwx
https://t.me/ILtoday/15854
https://t.me/StandWithUsBreakingNews/7080
https://t.me/Newss0nline/57105
https://t.me/Newss0nline/57104
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/us-officials-raise-concerns-over-saudi-arabias-bid-f-35-jets-new-york-times
<a href="https://ww
UN Gaza Draft Signals Palestinian State
Manny Godard Returns Home as Hostages Remain
Memory Fades as Survivors Drop Below 200k
The time is now 5:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Good evening. Here is the latest news for an international audience, presented with clarity and balance.
In remembrance and in focus, a notable shift in the arithmetic of Holocaust survivors is reported six months after an estimate of more than 220,000 living survivors. The Claims Conference executive vice president says the number has now slipped below 200,000, underscoring the aging population and the fragility of memory as generations move forward. Prominent survivors who became symbols of resilience, including the “librarian of Auschwitz” and one of the last Warsaw Ghetto fighters, have recently died, prompting renewed attention to documentation, education, and the ongoing lessons of history for future generations.
Turning to the Gaza question, a United Nations draft resolution on Gaza contains language that, for the first time in the main body of the text, envisions the establishment of a Palestinian state. This marks a notable departure in the resolution’s framing and aligns in some respects with elements seen in the United States-backed plan for Gaza. The development highlights continuing debates over statehood, sovereignty, and the path to a durable settlement in the Palestinian territories, with international observers watching closely for how such language could influence negotiations, diplomacy, and on-the-ground dynamics in Gaza and the broader region.
In Gaza, hostage-related updates remain a focal point of regional and international attention. The body of a hostage identified as Manny Godard, a 73-year-old man from Kibbutz Be’eri, has been returned to Israel after more than two years. The identification process, carried out by Israel’s forensic and medical authorities in coordination with security services and the military, underscores the ongoing effort to account for hostages and to bring them home. Israel’s government reiterated its commitment to securing the return of all hostages, stressing that the effort to recover them continues without interruption and will persist until every last hostage is brought home. Alongside this development, authorities report that remaining in Gaza now number three hostages, two Israelis and one foreign national, a figure that reflects ongoing negotiations and the fragile status of reunifications under the ceasefire framework and related arrangements.
In domestic security news, the head of the Lahav 433 police unit, Chief Superintendent Meni Benjamin, was questioned on suspicions of intervening in a sensitive investigation, with his phone seized and his status suspended. The development has sparked discussion about governance, oversight, and the boundaries of police authority, particularly in a period of heightened security concerns and widespread public interest in how investigations are conducted.
International security and defense policy continue to attract scrutiny. In the United States, officials have raised concerns about Saudi Arabia’s bid to purchase F-35 fighter jets, with the intelligence assessment suggesting that a sale could risk the leakage or transfer of sensitive technology to countries such as China if not carefully mitigated. The finding adds a layer of complexity to the already sensitive security relationship between Washington and Riyadh, as both sides weigh strategic interests, regional stability, and technology controls.
Another regional thread concerns Saudi Arabia’s approach to neighboring Lebanon. A high-level Saudi official says the kingdom intends to move quickly to bolster commercial ties with Lebanon after Beirut demonstrated effectiveness in curbing drug smuggling into Saudi Arabia. The plan includes easing controls on imports and increasing trade with Lebanon, though Riyadh continues to push for progress on Lebanon’s central government disarming Hezbollah. The dynamic reflects broader regional pressures, with Israel closely watching any shifts that could affect Hezbollah’s posture and regional security.
In Israel’s domestic political landscape, coverage of governance and security operations continues apace. A widely watched incident during a governance tour of mixed Jewish-Arab cities raised questions about police conduct and messaging. Officials publicly rejected claims that the operation was staged for optics, emphasizing that actions were carried out according to law and with judicial authorization to combat violent crime. The debate comes as homicide and security challenges persist in central districts and mixed populations, underscoring the ongoing tension between security measures and civil liberties.
On the international front, France’s public mood toward antisemitism is under scrutiny after a poll indicating that a majority of French respondents believe antisemitism is widespread and that Jews in France face real safety concerns. The result adds to a broader conversation about antisemitism in Europe and the implications for Jewish communities, security policy, and cross-border relations in a period of renewed attention to hate and violence.
In the climate and weather beat, first rains and storms swept into Israel, ending an unusually hot spell for early November. Roads flooded in northern towns, hail fell in several cities, and a rare waterspout was observed off Palmachim beach. The Israel Meteorological Service warns of potential coastal flooding and thunderstorms into the weekend. Officials note that winter rainfall is forecast at about eighty percent of the historical average, though long-range predictions remain uncertain. In a related climate effort, Israel began channeling desalinated water to the Sea of Galilee as part of an unprecedented effort to bolster a freshwater resource, a sign of adaptive management in the face of shifting climate conditions.
Health and security updates also touch the human dimension of conflict and risk. An 18-year-old Israeli soldier, a trainee at a southern base, died after an apparent medical event. Investigations are underway, with military police and medical examiners examining the circumstances, and the death is being treated as a matter of ongoing inquiry within the armed forces. The country’s defense and medical communities emphasize sensitivity to the families and a rapid, thorough review to determine any site-specific or systemic factors.
On the international security stage, Canada’s intelligence leadership highlighted thwarted threats linked to Iran directed at people they deem enemies, as well as efforts by Russia to illicitly obtain Canadian goods and technologies. The comments, delivered in a public setting, underscore the breadth of security challenges facing Western countries, including counterterrorism efforts and the management of geopolitical rivalries that influence domestic safety and minority communities.
In other noteworthy developments, a veteran political and security beat continues to unfold around potential shifts in leadership and appointments within Israel’s security establishment. Observers are watching for signals about the pace and nature of decisions that shape the country’s defense posture and its readiness to respond to evolving threats.
Finally, in the human stories that resonate beyond news cycles, memorials and commemorations related to the Holocaust and its survivors continue to inform public memory and policy. The ongoing dialogue about education, remembrance, and the responsibilities of current and future generations serves as a reminder of the stakes in safeguarding history while addressing today’s security and political realities.
That is the latest across Israel, the region, and connected global communities. We will continue to monitor these stories 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/diaspora/article-873827
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-873829
https://t.me/newssil/179684
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-873819
https://t.me/abualiexpress/108740
https://t.me/ILtoday/15855
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bkgharxlwx
https://t.me/ILtoday/15854
https://t.me/StandWithUsBreakingNews/7080
https://t.me/Newss0nline/57105
https://t.me/Newss0nline/57104
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/us-officials-raise-concerns-over-saudi-arabias-bid-f-35-jets-new-york-times
<a href="https://ww
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