HEADLINES
- Gaza second-stage ceasefire hinges on hostages
- Israel forms cabinet team for ceasefire phase
- Zelensky warns over concessions as strikes persist

The time is now 1:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

This is an hourly news update prepared for broadcast. Tensions and humanitarian concerns continue to shape the region as fighting and political maneuvering unfold across Gaza, the West Bank, and the broader Middle East, with significant international diplomacy and domestic security considerations featured in the day’s reporting.

In Gaza, the Israeli military says its forces and air defenses are actively working to dismantle remaining threats from underground attack networks. The latest figures from the Israeli army indicate that about 15 Hamas operatives emerged from tunnels in eastern Rafah on Friday. The army reports it killed six of those militants with airstrikes and captured five who surrendered, taking them for questioning. The sweep continues as authorities assess whether additional fighters remain hidden. The ceasefire’s second stage remains contingent on three elements: the release of hostages, disarmament of Hamas, and a broader security framework. Israel has signaled readiness to move forward on the international security component, with negotiators exploring the possibility of an Arab and Muslim-led force to police the truce. In parallel, the Gaza health ministry, controlled by Hamas, says casualties on the Palestinian side have continued amid ongoing hostilities, with the toll reaching into the hundreds since the ceasefire began. International aid organizations report a shifting humanitarian picture: doctors without borders says women and children have been treated this week for injuries from airstrikes and gunfire, including open fractures and gunshot wounds. UNICEF reports dozens of children have been killed in conflict-related incidents since the ceasefire took effect, underscoring the vulnerability of civilians even as the region seeks a path to longer-term peace. The World Food Programme notes some improvement in aid deliveries but stresses that food aid remains far short of what is needed to address acute hunger as winter approaches and meals are affected by seasonal rains and logistical challenges. The humanitarian picture remains precarious even as aid flows gradually increase.

On the diplomatic front, there is movement around the second stage of the ceasefire agreement. The security cabinet in Jerusalem is reported to have approved a team of ministers to oversee the next phase, including Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. The arrangement reflects a balancing act within Israel’s coalition, with the two far-right ministers voting against the broader deal and other members backing it. Washington says it is working to assemble an international security framework for the second stage, consistent with the goal of disarming Hamas, while noting that no firm timetable has been announced for the next steps. The US plan also aims to secure a broader European and regional alignment, though European leaders publicly cautioned that any agreement must preserve Ukraine’s sovereignty and security, and not undermine broader European security interests.

Meanwhile, the broader regional conflict continues to influence cross-border security dynamics. In southern Lebanon, Israeli forces say they struck a Hamas training facility and killed a number of militants in operations connected to a broader effort to confront terror networks near the border. The incident comes as Israel maintains a high state of alert along its northern frontier given regional spillovers and the fluid security situation across the area. In the West Bank, Palestinians report a wave of settler attacks overnight targeting homes, vehicles, and other property across multiple villages. Among the incidents, buildings were burned in Luban a-Sharqiya, a plant nursery was vandalized near Nablus, and a number of Palestinian-owned vehicles were set alight in Beita and Susya areas. There were no immediate reports of arrests, highlighting ongoing tensions between settlers and Palestinian residents that have drawn international attention and domestic political debate about how to curb violence. In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated a commitment to firm action against acts of violence by settlers and against the security forces, insisting that Israel remains a nation governed by law. Across the international arena, Singapore announced sanctions on four Israeli settler leaders for involvement in what it described as egregious acts of extreme violence against Palestinians, joining a list of measures already adopted by European Union, Canada, and others. The developments underscore a widening web of accountability efforts tied to the broader conflict and its most contentious moments.

In regional diplomacy and national politics, Ukraine-related discussions in Washington and European capitals continue to unfold against a backdrop of competing strategic aims. President Volodymyr Zelensky, addressing the Ukrainian people in a national address, acknowledged that the United States peace plan offers concessions to Russia and warned that Ukraine may face difficult choices as negotiations proceed. He emphasized the need to defend sovereignty and the security of the Ukrainian people, while warning against unrealistic expectations from any settlement. US and European allies responded with cautious support, underscoring that any agreement must be rooted in Ukrainian sovereignty and security guarantees. The Kremlin offered a reserved reaction, saying it had not received the official plan, and urged patience as talks moved forward. A US team reportedly prepared the plan and engaged with Ukrainian officials, though some details remained contested in public statements. In parallel, a major Russian airstrike and drone activity affected Ukrainian cities, including a fatal glide bomb strike in Zaporizhzhia and a drone attack on Odesa that caused civilian injuries, illustrating that even as diplomatic channels attempt to shape a ceasefire, the war on the ground continues to exact a heavy toll on civilians.

In the realm of human rights and security reporting, new investigations into Iran’s activities highlight the broader regional security puzzle. An Iran International investigation details a covert cyber unit linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps reportedly carrying out surveillance operations against Israeli targets, including cyber intrusions on clinics in Istanbul and mobile phones, with alleged planning for future attacks. Separately, a separate human rights case out of Iran underscores continuing violence against women, including the reported killing of Maryam Taghavi, a 16-year-old girl beaten by her husband with a wooden stick and later dying from injuries in hospital. Rights groups condemn such femicides and call for accountability and broader protections for women’s rights, amid a domestic environment in which gender-based violence remains a grave concern.

On the medical ethics front, the Israeli Medical Association publicly stated that doctors should not participate in executing terrorists, reflecting professional codes and the medical profession’s stance on the involvement of medical personnel in security operations. The declaration reinforces debates about the role of medical professionals in high-stakes security scenarios and highlights the broader moral discussions circulating in times of intensified conflict.

In the tech space, there was widespread disruption reported with the X platform, with thousands of users experiencing outages in the United States according to Downdetector, underscoring the fragility of digital platforms as news and information flows in high-pressure environments.

Looking ahead, the region faces a set of intertwined challenges: the continuation of hostilities in Gaza, the fragile ceasefire in place with the risk of renewed violence, the political and security debates within Israel about how to manage settler-related violence and regional security concerns, and ongoing international diplomacy aimed at shaping a broader security and humanitarian framework. Humanitarian organizations warn that while aid deliveries to Gaza are improving, the scale of need remains immense as winter approaches, emphasizing the urgency of sustained, well-coordinated relief efforts. At the same time, international responses to human rights concerns in Iran and the cyber domain point to an increasingly interconnected security landscape in which developments in one country can resonate across the region.

This briefing provides a concise view of today’s key developments: Gaza’s security operations and the second-stage ceasefire negotiations, the continuation of settler-related violence in the West Bank and international reactions, cross-border security actions in Lebanon, the evolving Ukraine-related diplomacy in the face of a plan that includes concessions to Russia, humanitarian needs in Gaza highlighted by MSF and UNICEF, and the broader context of cyber and human rights concerns impacting Israel and the region. As events unfold, updates will continue to reflect the balance between security concerns, humanitarian needs, and the evolving diplomacy aimed at bringing greater stability to this volatile region.

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.