HEADLINES
- UN backs Trump Gaza plan, stabilizing force
- Israel keeps 60,000 reservists on duty
- Hamas detains staff, halting Gaza desalination

The time is now 6:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

This is the six o’clock update on the Middle East, with a focus on Israeli and Jewish perspectives for an international audience.

The United Nations Security Council has endorsed President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan in a 13‑0 vote, with Russia and China abstaining. The measure provides international backing for a framework that includes the deployment of an International Stabilization Force to Gaza, a Board of Peace to oversee the transition, and a path toward rebuilding and security arrangements in the enclave. The text explicitly ties any Palestinian political horizon to conditions on reform, security, and demilitarization, and it stops short of recognizing a Palestinian state on the immediate path forward. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the vote, saying it advances a framework of full demilitarization, disarmament, and deradicalization in Gaza and offered prospects for closer cooperation with regional partners. Hamas rejected the resolution, arguing it does not address Palestinian rights and demands, including governance and security concerns, and it objected to the proposed international policing and disarmament mission. The Palestinian Authority welcomed the resolution as a potential opening, while international partners emphasized a humanitarian and reconstruction role tied to the broader political roadmap.

In Israel, the security posture remains the central priority as regional and security challenges persist. Officials have outlined a plan to keep about 60,000 reservists on duty at all times beginning in 2026, a response to ongoing budget and manpower pressures facing the armed forces. Standard call-ups are expected to resume in January, with service duration capped at roughly two and a half months per soldier. The aim, as described by military leadership, is to sustain a robust readiness while continuing operations aimed at preventing hostile activity and maintaining deterrence.

On the humanitarian front, Gaza’s water infrastructure remains under strain. The Abdul Salam Yassin Company, which operates desalination facilities serving a substantial portion of Gaza’s population, suspended operations in protest after Hamas detained a staff member. The move could impact more than a million residents who rely on the system for water, compounding an already precarious water and sanitation situation amid damaged infrastructure from years of conflict. Aid workers warn that reconstruction of water networks and power supplies will be essential to prevent a deeper humanitarian crisis.

Turning to regional diplomacy and security guarantees, Washington is pressing forward with a broader US strategy that intertwines security assurances with efforts to engage Saudi Arabia in normalization talks with Israel. The visit of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is anticipated to feature discussions on substantial defense and technology deals, including potential sales of advanced aircraft, as well as a broader push to bring Saudi ties into the framework of regional peace. Observers note that while these security and economic engagements could shift strategic calculations in the region, progress toward formal Israeli–Saudi normalization appears linked in part to progress on the Palestinian state question, a balance Riyadh has sustained in public messaging. Some Israeli officials caution that if major arms sales, particularly F‑35 transfers, alter the region’s military balance, Israel’s qualitative military edge could be tested. US officials stress that defense collaborations and stability initiatives can proceed alongside broader peace efforts and Arab normalization.

In the Palestinian arena, the UN plan’s language has drawn careful attention. Palestinian officials describe the resolution as a constructive step toward a broader peace framework, while insisting that genuine progress must include concessions and constants that reflect Palestinian rights and security needs. Hamas, by contrast, asserts that disarmament provisions and governance arrangements are essential elements of any ceasefire and reconstruction deal, and it rejects measures it views as constraints on Palestinian sovereignty. The resolution’s language, which envisions a Board of Peace and an International Stabilization Force, is seen by supporters as a mechanism to safeguard humanitarian assistance and stabilize governance in Gaza, though it remains controversial among Palestinian factions.

Beyond the Gaza focus, a broader international context continues to shape the region. Russia has said it will not participate in upcoming Ukraine–Turkey talks, while Ukraine’s president plans a Turkey visit to push for renewed negotiations with Moscow. Turkey’s role as a mediator in the broader war and regional disputes remains a key variable in how Western and regional powers coordinate their strategies on security and diplomacy.

Looking ahead, the immediate questions center on implementation: how quickly a ceasefire and reconstruction framework can translate into tangible improvements on the ground, how the international force will operate in practice, and whether reforms and governance steps in Gaza will meet the conditions outlined in the resolution. The interplay between security guarantees, humanitarian relief, and the political horizon for Palestinian self-determination will continue to shape regional calculations, as Israel seeks to safeguard its security while Gulf partners pursue deeper economic and strategic ties. The international community will monitor developments closely, watching for signs that reconstruction, security arrangements, and political negotiations can advance in parallel without compromising stability or security for Israel and its allies.

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/israel-news/article-874275
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/sports/article-874271
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-874274
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-874272
https://worldisraelnews.com/harvard-rhodes-scholarship-recipient-lauded-hamass-oct-7-attack-daring-to-resist/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-lawmakers-set-for-vote-on-release-of-epstein-files/
https://worldisraelnews.com/idf-saudi-f-35-deal-will-endanger-israels-military-edge/
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/kremlin-says-russia-will-not-participate-ukraine-talks-turkey-week
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/gaza-water-provider-suspends-services-after-hamas-detains-staff-member
https://worldisraelnews.com/catholic-church-in-berlin-condemns-antisemitism-as-anti-israel-agitators-vandalize-historic-crucifix/
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-874268
https://worldisraelnews.com/keeping-shabbat-strengthened-us-in-captivity-former-hostages/
https://worldisraelnews.com/us-to-give-green-light-to-israel-to-resume-gaza-war-if-hamas-does-not-disarm-report/
https://worldisraelnews.com/un-security-council-backs-trump-peace-plan-for-gaza/
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/11/israel-hails-trump-gaza-plan-after-un-security-council-vote
https://worldisraelnews.com/adams-urges-netanyahu-to-attend-nyc-inauguration-to-back-jewish-community/
https://t.me/abualiexpress/109000
https://t.me/abualiexpress/108999
<a href="https://t.me/a