HEADLINES
US plans Gaza governance board for relief
US strikes ISIS in Syria signaling resolve
Conservative Judaism forgives intermarriage expands welcome

The time is now 9:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

Good evening. Here is your hourly briefing on developments shaping the Middle East and the Jewish world, with emphasis on Israel’s security concerns and the United States policy stance.

In Washington, officials say the United States plans to press ahead with establishing a Gaza governance board and a stabilization force to oversee the enclave as fighting diminishes. Senator Marco Rubio described the initiative as urgent, arguing that a governance framework paired with a foreign security presence could help deliver relief and restore order. Supporters say such an arrangement could coordinate humanitarian aid, reconstruction, and security, while critics caution that it would require rigorous safeguards to protect Israeli security interests and prevent any relapse into broader conflict. In Jerusalem, officials have long stressed the need for reliable security guarantees and accountable mechanisms to prevent arms flow and renewed hostilities along the Gaza border. The arrangement would need to respect Israel’s security concerns while addressing humanitarian needs and political realities inside Gaza. As discussions proceed, regional observers say the plan would hinge on careful coordination among international partners and clear limits on authority and mandate.

In Syria, United States forces conducted large-scale strikes against dozens of targets associated with the Islamic State after an attack on United States personnel in Palmyra last weekend. Defense officials described the operation as targeting ISIS infrastructure, weapons sites, and command-and-control assets, part of ongoing coalition activity that includes cooperation with Syrian security forces. United States officials say the strikes involved more than 70 locations across central Syria and employed various capabilities, including jets, attack helicopters, and artillery. The Syrian government, for its part, pledged to continue fighting the Islamic State and to deny the group any safe havens on Syrian soil. The attacks come as United States forces remain in the region to support counterterrorism efforts, with security and stability in parts of Syria continuing to be fragile and contested.

A separate diplomatic development from Washington and Jerusalem centers on the resignation of Ron Dermer, longtime adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli ambassador to the United States. His departure has created a perceived vacuum in the relationship at a moment when both sides face sensitive negotiations and security questions, including Syria and broader regional diplomacy. Officials say talks with Syria have been affected by the absence of a trusted interlocutor and that American and Israeli officials remain in close contact to manage next steps, while preparation for high-level engagements between the two governments continues.

In the American Jewish community, a major shift is taking shape at the Conservative movement. The denomination announced a formal apology for decades of discouraging intermarriage and signaled a reevaluation of its approach to interfaith families. The plan calls for clarifying terms around officiation and wedding participation, and for expanding educational, pastoral, and ritual pathways to welcome intermarried families while preserving the movement’s current stance on clergy officiating weddings. Leadership emphasized that the issue remains complex and that the process aims to repair trust, broaden engagement, and strengthen Jewish life across North America and beyond. The decision reflects broader debates within American Judaism about tradition, inclusion, and community continuity.

Across the Jewish world, global security concerns reverberate beyond the Middle East. In Sydney, Australia, a deadly Hanukkah gathering was followed by widespread fundraising and expressions of solidarity as authorities treat the incident as a terrorism-influenced attack targeting the Jewish community. Public tributes and communal calls for vigilance underscored ongoing worries about antisemitism and security, prompting both political leaders and faith communities to reaffirm commitments to protect Jewish life and strengthen protective measures at public events.

Looking ahead, the convergence of these developments points to continued attention on how to balance security with humanitarian aims, and how to manage complex alliances as the regional landscape remains volatile. In Gaza, the United States and partner governments will need to demonstrate that any governance and stabilization framework can deliver relief and stability without compromising the security interests of Israel or undermining the prospects for long-term peace. In Syria and the broader region, counterterrorism efforts will persist, even as diplomatic channels seek to prevent missteps that could widen conflict. Within the Jewish world, communities will watch how doctrinal and ritual evolutions unfold in the Conservative movement, weighing the implications for inclusion, tradition, and cohesion. And in democracies around the world, responses to antisemitism and the protection of Jewish life will remain a measure of resilience in the face of hate and violence.

This is a moment for careful, principled journalism that informs without sensationalism, and for decisions grounded in security, humanity, and the pursuit of peace. We will continue to monitor how these threads evolve and what they mean for the people on the ground and the communities watching from afar.

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/diaspora/article-880798
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-880802
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-880637
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https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/12/australian-lifesavers-return-duty-bondi-beach-after-massacre
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-880801
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/12/us-carries-out-large-scale-retaliatory-strikes-against-isis-syria
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/12/us-strikes-over-70-targets-syria-after-attack-troops
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hjg400d7xbe
https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-880800
https://www.timesofisrael.com/dermers-departure-creating-vacuum-thats-impacting-us-israel-ties-report/
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-880799
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-based-conservative-movement-apologizes-signals-new-approach-on-intermarriage/