HEADLINES
Cyclone devastates Darwin, thousands lose power
Netanyahu vows Gaza demilitarization without troops
Saudi diplomacy boosts US aligned regional leverage

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

This is the hourly news update. Top story this hour, a tropical cyclone has swept across Australia’s Northern Territory, leaving thousands without power in Darwin and causing property damage as authorities assess the full scope of the impact.

In the Middle East, a mix of editorial voices and policy discussions is shaping the regional security landscape. An Israeli opinion piece argues that Jerusalem should seize a window of opportunity to open ties with Lebanon and Syria as a way to confront Hezbollah, signaling a potential shift in attitudes toward broader regional diplomacy. Another analysis highlights what it calls Israel’s missed opportunities in Washington after a Saudi visit, arguing that Saudi diplomacy has strengthened leverage for partners aligned with Washington’s priorities and that Israel will need to recalibrate its approach to sustaining influence with the United States.

On the Gaza front, the question of a multinational force remains unresolved. Israel sees the proposed International Stabilization Force as a central element of a broader plan to disarm Hamas, but countries have shown reluctance to deploy troops. Azerbaijan, among the potential partners, has signaled it will not place its soldiers in Gaza, and discussions continue about how to proceed. In Jerusalem, Prime Minister Netanyahu has told ministers that, in the absence of an external force willing to disarm Hamas, Israel would assume responsibility for demilitarizing Gaza, while acknowledging American commitments to work toward that goal. Israeli security and intelligence briefings have warned that Hamas has not surrendered weapons and is rearming during ceasefires, raising concerns about the durability of any pause.

The US approach to Gaza is evolving. Washington has been promoting a twenty‑point plan that emphasizes economic development in Gaza alongside security arrangements, including the potential involvement of a temporary stabilization framework to train and support Palestinian police under regional consultation with Jordan and Egypt. The plan also contemplates international prudence in Gaza reconstruction, with some officials suggesting that rehabilitation should be conditioned on verified progress toward demilitarization. At the same time, US officials and allies are weighing how deeply to engage in governance and reconstruction, mindful of past lessons from other nation‑building efforts.

The dialogue in Cairo and in international forums reflects a broader debate about how to end the war and stabilize the region. Senior Hamas officials are reportedly in Cairo to discuss escalation and to brief mediators on whether to move to a second stage of the plan, with mediation teams from Egypt, Qatar, and the United States involved. Western and allied capitals are participating in talks in Geneva and elsewhere about how to end the conflict, with additional diplomacy from Europe and the E3 alliance aimed at refining a path forward for Kyiv in another crisis, underscoring how concurrent crises shape responses across capitals.

Beyond the immediate conflict, observers draw a line to the wider history of US involvement in the region. Accounts compare the Gaza initiative to past nation‑building efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, noting that those ventures faced challenges such as governance capacity, corruption, and enduring security threats. Analysts caution that even a limited mission can grow in scope if local institutions and security forces do not quickly gain legitimacy and effectiveness. Some experts emphasize that the Gaza plan’s focus is likely to center on stability—creating zones with governance and security arrangements—rather than immediate nationwide political reform, while recognizing that long‑term support for security and governance could require sustained international backing.

Diplomatic signals from Israel’s domestic arena also cross over into regional diplomacy. Reports describe a historical transfer of responsibility for the Cave of the Patriarchs to Israeli administration, a move framed by some as reinforcing sovereign control in a sensitive religious site, illustrating how domestic decisions can intersect with regional diplomacy and perceptions of permanence.

In the international arena, the focus remains on building a framework for Gaza’s future that balances security needs with the humanitarian and political realities on the ground. As nations weigh their roles, observers will be watching how quickly concrete steps toward demilitarization and credible governance can emerge, and how those steps might influence broader regional stability.

That is the hour’s snapshot. We will continue to monitor developments and bring you updates as they unfold.

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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