HEADLINESUS backs Gaza Intl Stabilization Force planUN says wall crosses Lebanon's Blue LineShin Bet backs electronic bracelets for settlersThe time is now 5:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.Here is the hourly news update at five o’clock, prepared for international audiences with emphasis on Israeli and Jewish perspectives, security concerns, and relevant US policy considerations.A broad international effort toward ending the Gaza war took a visible step today as the United States pressed for a postwar framework that envisions a pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood built around a neutral stabilization presence. In a joint push supported by several regional and international partners, Washington outlined a plan that would establish an International Stabilization Force in Gaza and a transitional governance mechanism, with the Palestinian Authority prepared to assume responsibilities consistent with unity of the Palestinian people. Signatories to the supporting statement include Qatar, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Jordan, and Turkey. The plan is framed as offering a credible path to peace and regional stability, not only for Israelis and Palestinians but for the wider region. Russia and China have voiced reservations, calling for the replacement or removal of elements they view as central to the proposed governance board, a dispute that complicates the Security Council’s path forward. In Israel, officials have emphasized security concerns and the need for a sustainable political horizon that reduces the risk of renewed violence and preserves the possibility of secure, recognized borders.On the ground, the humanitarian and political dimensions remain intertwined. In the Damascus area, reports indicate a missile strike hit a building, wounding a woman; initial accounts described a blast in the Mezze neighborhood. The incident underscores the fragility of broader regional security dynamics and the potential spillover of conflict into neighboring states, a reality that influences Israeli security planning and regional diplomacy.Across the border in Lebanon, a United Nations survey found that a concrete wall built by the Israeli military crosses the Blue Line, effectively limiting access to more than 4,000 square meters of Lebanese territory. UNIFIL said a section of an additional wall is being erected southeast of Yaroun, while Israel’s military spokesperson maintained the wall is part of a broader effort to reinforce security along the northern border. The United Nations has called for removal of the structures that infringe on Lebanon’s sovereignty, and Israel has argued that these measures fit within its broader security and border-management policies.In another development, a concert event in Syria reportedly linked to October 7 was condemned by Israel, even as reports indicated the event was canceled. The episode reflects ongoing tensions in Syria’s political landscape and the sensitivity around any commemorations connected to the conflict in Gaza and the broader fight against extremism.Turning to internal security policy, the Shin Bet chief has signaled support for using electronic monitoring bracelets for violent settlers in the West Bank as a more effective tool in addressing repeated attacks, while stopping short of urging a reversal of a directive that halted administrative detention for Jewish suspects. The move signals a hardening approach to security threats linked to settler violence, a longstanding factor influencing Israeli-D Palestinian tensions and regional stability.In Washington’s broader regional diplomacy, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio pressed for a humanitarian ceasefire in Sudan in a call with the UAE Foreign Minister, underscoring concerns about the world’s largest ongoing humanitarian crisis. The discussion focused on halting the flow of weapons to the Rapid Support Forces and, more broadly, on mechanisms to protect civilians as a conflict persists in Darfur and surrounding areas. The UAE has faced questions about its role in the conflict, with Washington indicating pressure on all regional actors to reduce violence and allow aid to reach those in need.In a separate line of reporting, South Africa examined the origin of an unexpected charter flight that carried 153 Palestinians, initially kept in the dark about its destination. Officials say 130 of the Palestinians were allowed entry on standard visas, while 23 departed for other destinations. President Cyril Ramaphosa stressed that South Africa acted out of humanitarian concerns, ordering a formal review of how the journey was arranged and by whom, while noting a commitment to assess the situation and its implications for policy.On the human story front, Ayelet Goldin, speaking after the burial of her brother Hadar, reflected on the long struggle to secure the release of hostages held since 2014, saying ...
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