HEADLINESUS-Israel push disarm Hamas, postwar plan stallsISIS-inspired Bondi attack leaves 15 deadSaudi strikes weapons shipments off MukallaThe time is now 12:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.This is the hourly news update. Here are the developments shaping the Middle East and related international responses, presented for an international audience with balance and clarity.A wide-ranging set of items is shaping security, diplomacy, and human rights. In the Gaza theater, the United States and Israel remain aligned on the goal of disarming Hamas, even as officials acknowledge differences over the pace and mechanics of a broader postwar framework. After a high-level meeting at a Florida resort, the leaders signaled strong cooperation on halting Hamas’ weapons and on preventing Iran from rebuilding its ballistic and nuclear programs. Yet, multiple officials and analysts cautioned that progress toward a second phase of their Gaza plan hinges on consensus among regional mediators, the Palestinian Authority, and the parties on the ground, and on Hamas’ willingness to move beyond rhetoric to concrete steps. In Jerusalem, the government also faces urgent questions about West Bank policy, including settlement activity and the treatment of Palestinian revenue flows, with US officials stressing the need for security and stability to support broader regional aims, including Gaza.On the security front, authorities in Australia said the two attackers who carried out a mass shooting at a Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach acted alone, marking an ISIS-inspired assault without evidence of a broader cell. The investigation has focused on the attackers’ movements, their travel to the south of the Philippines prior to the attack, and the duo’s preparation, including firearms training. The victims numbered 15, and the incident prompted heightened security measures across New Year’s Eve events in Sydney, along with a moment of remembrance that featured symbolic imagery connected to the Jewish community. Police described the perpetrators as operating independently, while authorities pursue any broader networks or influences that may have shaped their actions.In the broader regional arena, Saudi Arabia announced a limited operation against weapons and combat vehicles offloaded from ships in the port of Mukalla, Yemen. The strike followed warnings to civilians to evacuate and reflected ongoing tension between Riyadh and the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council, as the war in Yemen continues to redraw alliances and borders. The coalition said the targeted weapons shipments, which arrived from the United Arab Emirates’ Fujairah port, posed a danger to security and stability and hence warranted military action. Washington called for restraint and continued diplomacy, underscoring the international interest in preventing a wider escalation that could affect shipping lanes and humanitarian conditions in Yemen.There is continuing diplomatic volatility in Europe and the region over Somaliland, the self-declared state in the Horn of Africa. A number of countries have not recognized Somaliland, while Israel has formally done so. The United Kingdom reaffirmed its stance that it does not recognize Somaliland as independent, emphasizing the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia. At the same time, a United Nations Security Council emergency session addressed Israel’s move to recognize Somaliland, with members debating regional implications and the consistency of recognition practices on the international stage. In Washington, a senior US official defended the move as consistent with international practice, while some countries argued that recognition should be tied to broader peace processes in the region. Slovenia’s envoy said Palestine is occupied, adding to the debate over how recognition affects the Middle East peace process.In the defense sector, the Pentagon announced an $8.6 billion contract with Boeing for Israel’s F-15IA program, covering the design, integration, testing, production, and delivery of 25 new aircraft with an option for additional jets. The agreement underscores ongoing US-Israel security cooperation and the importance attributed to maintaining air superiority in a volatile neighborhood.In Damascus, Syrian authorities unveiled new banknotes designed to replace currency previously circulated under the old regime. The redenomination aims to stabilize the currency and signal a shift toward a new phase in the country’s post-war economy, featuring imagery tied to agriculture and national symbols. The move is part of broader efforts to rebuild state legitimacy and to control inflation as the country tries to reestablish governance across its territory.On the diplomatic front, US officials continue to press for a path to stabilizing Gaza and for a managed transition that could involve regional partners and international personnel. In ...
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