HEADLINES
Hamas stockpiles weapons abroad threatening Yellow Line
Israel raids southern Lebanon to curb Hezbollah
UN votes on Gaza stabilization force plan

The time is now 11:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

Good evening. This is a News Update. President Trump said he backs Republicans releasing the Epstein files and indicated plans to meet New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani at the White House to “work something out,” though the White House later said no date had been set. In the Middle East, events across Lebanon and Gaza keep security concerns front and center. The Lebanese health ministry said one person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car near Mansouri, south of Tyre, while the Israeli military reported overnight raids in southern Lebanon aimed at preventing Hezbollah rearmament. In the Negev, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir traveled to the area amid reports of heavy gunfire in Bedouin towns, and officials said police had stepped up enforcement against violence and illegal weaponry.

In Gaza and along the border, Israel reports progress in its efforts to dismantle Hamas infrastructure along the so‑called Yellow Line, with Defense Minister Israel Katz saying the IDF must be ready to seize additional territory beyond the line if necessary. The broader conflict remains tightly linked to the trajectory of any ceasefire and reconstruction. Separately, there are reports that Hamas has begun stockpiling advanced weapons abroad in an effort to rearm, a development that could complicate any future disarmament and international stabilization efforts tied to Gaza. Channel 12 also cited a diary said to be from a Hamas platoon commander detailing the group’s use of civilian infrastructure in Gaza to support its operations, a point often raised in debates over the risks of using hospitals, schools, and UN facilities for military purposes.

On the diplomatic front, the United Nations Security Council is set to vote on a US‑drafted resolution aimed at bolstering President Trump’s Gaza plan, including the deployment of an International Stabilization Force to work with Israel and Egypt and newly trained Palestinian police, and the creation of a Board of Peace to oversee Gaza’s transition. The text also contemplates a potential path to Palestinian self‑determination once conditions on reforms and reconstruction are met, a concept Israel has rejected as a pathway to statehood on its terms. Moscow has circulated a competing draft calling for a two‑state solution without endorsing a stabilization force at this time, while the United States says it has the backing of several Arab and Muslim‑majority nations for the American plan.

In parallel, Israeli doctrine emphasizes that any future political arrangement must include robust security guarantees, with Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterating that a Palestinian state on any territory is not acceptable without credible means to guarantee Israel’s security. Defense and security officials stress the need to maintain leverage on the ground to prevent Hamas rearmament, including the possibility of expanding operations beyond the Yellow Line if required.

Away from the immediate conflict, the broader regional landscape remains affected by international diplomacy and sanctions considerations. President Trump said Republicans are drafting legislation to sanction any country doing business with Russia, with Iran possibly added to the list, a move linked to wider US aims to pressure Moscow amid ongoing geopolitical churn.

Public safety and antisemitism also feature in international headlines. In Canada, the Jewish community faces a rising tide of antisemitic incidents, including synagogue attacks and threats, prompting calls for stronger government action even as Prime Minister Mark Carney has pursued a more assertive posture toward Israel and has taken steps such as recognizing a Palestinian state. Jewish leaders say more must be done to deter hate and protect communities, noting that a minority of extremists has amplified threats even in times of relative peace.

In Iran, stories of social change continue to surface, including a regional trend of women participating in sports like karate, viewed by some as a sign of shifting norms within the Islamic Republic, even as broader debates over rights and policy persist. On the climate front, international diplomacy continues to intersect with security concerns, as global discussions around COP engagement and regional cooperation persist and influence development and humanitarian outcomes in constrained environments.

That is the latest as events unfold across a volatile corridor from the Levant to the Atlantic and beyond. We will continue to monitor shifts in diplomacy, security actions on the ground, and the evolving calculations of all involved to protect civilians and pursue stability.

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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