HEADLINES
- Gaza peace plan tests UN Security Council
- Kashmir blast kills nine, injures 29
- Trump probes Epstein links, eyes pardons

The time is now 2:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

This is the 2:00 a.m. update. Here are the latest developments shaping the region and world affairs, with a focus on Israel, security, and international diplomacy.

The UN Security Council is poised to vote on a US plan for Gaza aimed at stabilizing the long-running conflict. Washington has circulated a draft resolution endorsing President Trump’s Gaza peace framework, which envisions a Board of Peace to oversee Gaza and a temporary International Stabilization Force to work with Israel, Egypt, and newly trained Palestinian police to secure border areas and demilitarize the enclave. The text also signals the possibility of addressing a Palestinian state in the future, a point underscoring the political sensitivity of any security arrangement. United States officials say the ceasefire is fragile and urge rapid adoption of the resolution to prevent a slide back into broader violence. Russia has circulated an alternative draft that does not authorize the board or the immediate deployment of an international force and instead calls for a report on the feasibility of such deployments, highlighting a widening split in an already delicate council dynamic. Supporters of the US approach, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Turkey, and others, emphasize the urgency of a unified council position to curb violence and rebuild trust. Israel’s leadership has underscored security concerns, stressing the need for effective monitoring and a credible path to preventing another Hamas reconstruction of capabilities. Palestinian authorities have yet to publicly endorse the US framework in detail, and observers caution that the evolving text and the council’s internal negotiations will shape any real-world steps on the ground. The discussions reflect a broader debate about how to balance immediate security needs with the political stakes of a broader resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In India, authorities reported nine people killed and 29 injured in a blast at a police station in Kashmir, the latest in a string of violence in the region. The attack comes four days after a deadly car bombing in New Delhi that the government has described as terrorism. Officials say investigations are underway and additional security measures have been stepped up in and around major facilities. The incident underscores ongoing regional tensions and the persistent threat environment that has long affected civilian life in the area, a factor that also shapes regional and international responses to the broader security climate in South Asia.

In Washington, the political calendar is signaling another chapter in the ongoing confrontation over domestic issues tied to national security and accountability. Former President Donald Trump has ordered a probe into Democrats’ connections to Jeffrey Epstein, including discussions surrounding Ghislaine Maxwell, and has floated the possibility of pardons in this arena. The move follows a flurry of disclosures in recent days and arrives amid a charged political environment ahead of future elections. Opponents frame the development as a partisan maneuver, while supporters say it aims to pursue accountability wherever the evidence leads. Separately, Trump has threatened to sue the BBC for up to five billion dollars over an edited version of one of his speeches that the broadcaster has apologized for, with his advisers saying he plans to pursue action in a manner consistent with protecting his political rights. The BBC’s leadership has faced internal scrutiny and resignations in the wake of the controversy, which has extended beyond the United Kingdom and touched debates over media coverage of the United States, Israel, and the broader Middle East.

From a regional perspective, the Israeli government continues to monitor security and political developments with a focus on protecting civilian life and maintaining stability. In one domestic security note, Israeli police reported confiscating more than 100 pistols during a thwarted smuggling attempt at Ben-Gurion Airport, indicating continued enforcement against weapons trafficking that could threaten public safety. In related cultural news reflecting broader Jewish life and community resilience, a number of Hanukkah-related events and celebrations continued across the region and in Jewish communities abroad. One notable development involved discussions around accommodating religious celebrations in the context of public and institutional settings, highlighting ongoing debates about religious freedom, security, and community life during the holiday period. In Europe, a Paris-area and Amsterdam Hanukkah concert schedule drew attention as communities navigated security concerns and the need to preserve cultural expression. In a human-interest vein, reporting from diverse sources has also featured stories of individuals wrestling with complex personal histories that intersect with broader historical memory, underscoring the enduring impact of the past on present identity in regions shaped by conflict and memory.

Background context and significance: the Gaza framework at the center of the Security Council talks reflects a long-standing effort to translate ceasefires into a sustainable political settlement. Supporters argue that a structured international presence, combined with a clear deter-and-disarm mechanism, could reduce the risk of renewed violence and create space for Palestinian governance and stabilization. Critics, including skeptics of a rapid move to a demilitarized zone, warn that without credible enforcement and meaningful Palestinian institutional capacity, a temporary arrangement could repeat cycles of turmoil. Israel emphasizes the importance of monitoring, security guarantees, and a path that does not compromise its security needs or offer Hamas a revival of its military capacity. The US position underscores the belief that a carefully calibrated international role can help prevent escalation and support a future two-state framework, while acknowledging the political complexities involved.

In global media and political discourse, developments around the Gaza plan, the Kashmir violence, and domestic political moves in Washington and London illustrate how security, memory, and governance are interwoven with questions of legitimacy and international law. As these conversations move forward, the immediate concern remains protecting civilians, avoiding a new round of open conflict, and laying a foundation for negotiations that could ultimately influence security arrangements across the region.

This is the 2:00 a.m. update. We will continue to monitor these unfolding stories, providing updates as new information becomes available.

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
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https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/un-security-council-vote-monday-trump-gaza-plan