HEADLINESGaza City strikes escalate ground invasion loomingHostage families demand deal amid US supportAbraham Accords fuel Israel's regional leapThe time is now 12:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.This hour, the Gaza conflict continues to dominate the scene as the Israeli air force strikes dozens of targets across Gaza City and surrounding areas, part of what Israeli officials describe as stepping up for a broader operation intended to disable Hamas and create the conditions for the return of hostages. Palestinians report heavy bombardments that have damaged tall buildings and infrastructure, with warning signs from the IDF that ground operations could follow in the coming hours or days. The fighting has intensified even as Hamas and other factions in Gaza press civilians to resist evacuation orders, complicating efforts to protect noncombatants in a densely populated enclave.Across the Gaza Strip, the night brought a sustained barrage of air power, artillery, and drones, with both sides exchanging fire as the conflict enters another dangerous phase. The Palestinian side reports dozens of fatalities, numerous injuries, and widespread displacement, while Israel says it is carefully structuring its operations to minimize harm to hostages and to create the space for a negotiated resolution that would secure the release of captives. Israeli officials insist the campaign is aimed at degrading terrorist infrastructure and is connected to a broader objective of achieving the return of all hostages.Families of hostages stood outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem, describing the perceived peril to their loved ones as a moral imperative to press for a comprehensive deal to end the war and bring captives home. The group has argued that ongoing military actions threaten the safety of kidnapped civilians, while contending that political calculations should not override urgent humanitarian concerns.On the international front, US policy continues to align with Israel’s security goals and its aim to dismantle Hamas’s capabilities. A senior US official, and visiting lawmakers, voiced unwavering support for Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Gaza City offensive, signaling a steady US stance behind Israel’s pursuit of military objectives in Gaza. President Donald Trump amplified the American stance in social media remarks, asserting Hamas has placed hostages above ground to use them as human shields, and warning that all bets are off if Hamas persists in such tactics. Hamas responded by accusing Israel of seeking to deny any chance for diplomacy and holding the United States and Israel responsible for the broader war.In a separate, parallel development, five years after the Abraham Accords began reshaping regional alignments, a Jerusalem Post editorial argues the accords have delivered a diplomatic, strategic, and economic leap forward for Israel—proof that it can move beyond isolation, build new alliances, and influence a new Middle East order through peace through strength. The piece underscores how normalization with key partners has expanded circles of cooperation in security, trade, and technology, even as the wider conflict tests regional partnerships and the appetite for stability.Media and culture also reflect the ongoing war’s shadow. HBO Max has acquired a series titled Day One in October, drawn from firsthand accounts of the October 7 attacks on Israel, signaling a continued global engagement with the events that have reshaped regional security and collective memory. In other media, coverage of regional politics continues to intertwine with the security crisis, highlighting how public discourse, memory, and policy intersect in real time.Diplomatically, Luxembourg announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly, a move that signals evolving international positions on the Israel-Palestine question even as a Gaza ground operation looms. In the background of these debates, a separate US government assessment highlighted concerns about narcotics enforcement, listing Afghanistan, Colombia, Venezuela, and other countries as failing demonstrably to meet counternarcotics obligations, a reminder that global attention remains divided between regional conflict and other international priorities.Weather outlooks for the day emphasize a mostly cloudy sky with a tendency toward cooler temperatures, especially in higher elevations and inland. Early morning drizzle is possible in the north and along the coast. Winds along the Mediterranean are forecast from the southwest to the northwest at 20 to 35 kilometers per hour, with seas in a moderate range. Daytime temperatures will trend lower than recent days, with typical highs across major centers ranging roughly from the mid-20s to the mid-30s Celsius, and nighttime readings dipping accordingly in most parts of the country.As events unfold, the core ...
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