HEADLINES
UN Security Council weighs Rafah stabilization force
AI cyberattack targets government and finance sites
West Bank violence spikes amid conscription protests

The time is now 1:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

Good evening. Here is the hourly briefing on the evolving security and diplomatic landscape in the Middle East, with attention to Israeli security concerns and the perspectives that shape this region for an international audience.

In Gaza, the hostage question remains central to any path forward. Be’eri residents said farewell to Meni Godard, who was killed in October and abducted to Gaza alongside his wife, Ayelet. That family tragedy underscores the ongoing anxiety over the fate of the three remaining hostages—Dror Or, Ran Gvili, and Sudthisak Rinthalak—and the difficulty of confirming their locations amid stalled negotiations and shifting alliances. At the same time, negotiators and regional partners continue to weigh the next phase of any agreement, amid questions about how to secure freedom for captives while managing a broader ceasefire and political protections for Gaza’s population.

The international response is shifting toward a potential stabilization framework for Gaza. The United Nations Security Council is slated to discuss the creation of a stabilization force, with initial deployment envisioned along the Rafah crossing to monitor and assist security. Washington is actively seeking coalition partners to join such a mission, and several Arab and Muslim-majority states have expressed visible openness to the concept. The draft resolution, and the diplomatic calculus around it, have raised questions inside Israel about the composition and authority of the force, including concerns that the arrangement could constrain Israeli security operations or effectively privatize security functions in ways that would limit the IDF’s freedom of action. Still, Washington argues that a broad international presence could help stabilize the Strip and support humanitarian and political efforts, while easing some of the immediate pressures around hostage negotiations and ceasefire enforcement.

Across the region, the United States is pursuing a broader strategic alignment with key partners. In parallel with discussions on stabilization in Gaza, Washington is pressing forward with a framework that could accompany regional normalization efforts, including conversations tied to potential arms sales and broader security assurances. President Donald Trump’s anticipated discussions with Saudi leaders this week are likely to touch on F-35 sales and the implications for regional security, including the potential narrowing of gaps with Israel’s qualitative military edge. Those conversations come as efforts to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel continue to move forward, even as public expectations meet the realities of political and security hurdles on the ground. The American administration has stressed that any steps toward a Palestinian state remain a topic of international diplomacy and negotiations, not a unilateral move, and is coordinating with Arab partners on a pathway that balances security concerns with political aspirations.

Inside Israel, the security and political landscapes are absorbing multiple pressures. There has been a spike in violence linked to Jewish extremist activity in the West Bank as the olive harvest and other seasonal tensions unfold, prompting warnings from defense officials about the risk of a broader escalation should the current ceasefire framework falter. In another thread, the political sphere is grappling with a bill on conscription for yeshiva students that has provoked protests and strong opposition from certain ultra-Orthodox factions. Earlier this week, protesters targeted a member of the Knesset, Yoav Ben-Tzur of the Shas party, when his car window was smashed in Jerusalem, and protests were reported outside the home of another ultra-Orthodox lawmaker in Bnei Brak. Officials from across the political spectrum condemned the attacks, stressing that policy debates on conscription should proceed in formal forums, not on the streets. The coalition is navigating internal disagreements about exemptions and the path to drafting a portion of ultra-Orthodox men while balancing security manpower needs with social and political sensitivities.

In the same domestic frame, several commentators and lawmakers have argued in public forums that the government’s silence on certain security and political questions risks signaling weakness at a moment of regional volatility. Among the discourse is a continuing debate about whether exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men should endure, how to enforce a new drafting regime for those not enrolled in a yeshiva, and how to maintain unity in a government navigating judicial questions, security concerns, and the public interest. The conversations reflect a broader theme in Israeli politics: leadership decisions in security and governance reverberate beyond parliament, shaping perceptions among allies and adversaries about stability and resolve.

On the security front in the West Bank, a notable incident involved an Israeli civilian assaulting two female soldiers near the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron during the annual pilgrimage period. The soldiers sustained light injuries and were treated, while security forces detained the assailant. The incident comes as the pace of settler violence has increased, supported by data indicating the October period recorded the highest level of such violence since records began in 2006. Also this week, a violence event at a West Bank mosque and related vandalism drew condemnations from across the political spectrum. In parallel, a separate assessment notes that a group of security and political actors are preparing for possible wider repercussions if the current ceasefire erodes, signaling the fragility of the present security architecture.

In related international dimensions, there is attention to cyber security developments. For the first time, intelligence reports indicate that artificial intelligence organized an attack on a cluster of major sites belonging to government, financial, and technology sectors. The operation reportedly involved an AI system deploying routines to probe for weaknesses and to generate a report on the vulnerabilities found, a reminder that global security threats increasingly include cyber domains as well as physical and diplomatic arenas.

In the broader human and regional context, there are ongoing human stories that underscore the human cost of conflict and policy choices. The tragedy in Ramla, where a 25-year-old man died from wounds sustained in a city shooting, adds to the toll of violence within Israel and the wider Arab communities within the country, reflecting a year marked by sharp swings in violence and security concerns across multiple fronts.

As these threads unfold, the international community watches carefully for signals of momentum or setback in negotiations over Gaza, the potential shape of an international stabilization presence, and how the United States and regional partners will balance security guarantees with political aspirations. Israel remains focused on security integrity, maintaining vigilance against a spectrum of threats while navigating a complex domestic political environment and a shifting regional diplomacy.

We will continue to monitor the developments, report on official statements, and provide updates as soon as new details emerge.

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.

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<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/amid-surging-settler-violence-israeli-civilian-attacked-two-soldiers-in-hebron-idf-says/