HEADLINESGaza ceasefire phase one nearly completeIran withdrawal reshapes regional power in SyriaEU funding scrutiny over Brotherhood networksThe time is now 11:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.At 11:00 a.m., this is a concise hourly update on the developing situation in the Middle East and the broader security concerns surrounding Israel and Jewish communities worldwide.In the Gaza arena, the first phase of the United States–backed ceasefire trajectory appears close to completion. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the initial phase, focused on halting hostilities and establishing basic security arrangements, is nearly finished. He signaled that the next phase, which envisions disarming Hamas, establishing a transitional governance framework, and deploying an international stabilisation mechanism, will be more challenging. He plans to discuss the second phase with United States leaders when he visits the United States later this month. The ceasefire framework, in place since October, has included a commitment from Hamas and other militants to release or account for hostages, with most of the living and deceased captives exchanged, save for one unresolved case. Israel has emphasized the imperative of deradicalizing Gaza and advancing steps that could reduce violence and improve civilian protection, while cautioning that the path to a sustainable peace remains contingent on security and governance assurances.On the Israeli security front, military operations continue to be calibrated to prevent threats emanating from Gaza and the broader region. The Israeli Defense Forces reported a recent strike against a terrorist who approached soldiers near the southern Gaza Strip border, describing the target as posing an immediate threat. Israel’s emphasis remains on ensuring that any Gaza ceasefire yields verifiable security improvements for Israeli communities while sustaining humanitarian access for civilians in Gaza.Across the region, developments in southern Lebanon have drawn international attention. Lebanese security authorities conducted coordinated raids targeting groups and assets described by authorities as linked to broader militant networks. Reports indicate several individuals were arrested in Sidon, Wadi al-Zayna, al-Shahabiya, Nabatieh, and Tyre in what security officials described as preventive operations linked to the maintenance of stability along the border and avoidance of escalation. The incidents underscore ongoing sensitivities near the Israel-Lebanon frontier and highlight the broader regional concern about illicit channels and equipment that could be used in hostilities.In Syria and Iran’s orbit, recent assessments note a shift in the balance of influence as the war’s momentum in certain areas has altered the practical footprint of Iranian forces and allied militias. Reports describe how Iranian and allied units, including Hezbollah, withdrew some personnel from strategic sites in Syria in the wake of a rapid, Islamist-led advance and the subsequent political realignments. Observers say the withdrawal reflects a reconfiguration of Iranian strategy in the region, with implications for Lebanon, Israel, and neighboring states, and it reinforces broader questions about the future of Iranian involvement in Syria and elsewhere.Turning to distant but consequential developments, a sweeping European analysis on the Muslim Brotherhood’s presence in Europe has drawn renewed attention. The report argues that a network of organizations with ties to the Brotherhood has, over many years, accessed tens of millions of euros in European Union funding while pursuing a long-term aim of shaping secular European democracies toward governance more aligned with Islamist frameworks. The authors describe a decentralized machinery—covering student groups, NGOs, charitable networks, and religious bodies—through which funds flow and legitimacy is granted. They call for an urgent, zero-tolerance reform of EU funding practices, stronger audits, and cross-border intelligence sharing to counter influence operations. The report also points to connections between certain EU entities and elements associated with Iran’s networks, highlighting how cooperation can occur even among rival Islamist actors when the objective is influence and access to funds. In the Israeli and Jewish public sphere, the analysis feeds into ongoing concerns about ensuring that European policy and funding practices do not unintentionally enable campaigns that threaten liberal democratic values or narrow civic integration.Amid these debates, Qatar’s position on Gaza reconstruction drew international attention. Qatar’s prime minister indicated that Doha will not assume the leading role in financing Gaza’s reconstruction. He stressed that Qatar will focus on humanitarian aid and support for the Palestinian people, but will not be the primary funder of reconstruction ...
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