HEADLINES- UN-led Gaza force eyed for January deployment- Iran seizes tanker, 18 crew detained- Tennessee Jewish center sues white extremist groupThe time is now 10:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.Tonight’s update surveys a developing security and diplomatic landscape centered on Gaza, broader regional tensions, and the efforts of major powers to shape the next phase of the conflict, alongside ongoing debates over antisemitism and rights protections around the world.International stabilizing efforts in Gaza are moving toward a multinational, United Nations‑led plan to create a stabilization force for the Gaza Strip, potentially arriving as early as January. Washington has described the initiative as a path to stabilize security and support a longer‑term ceasefire, with a formal conference in Doha scheduled for December sixteenth to organize participating nations, defense and command structures, housing, and rules of engagement. Officials say more than two dozen countries are weighing participation, and discussions include who would lead the stabilization force—an American general is among those under consideration. The plan envisions the stabilizing force working alongside newly trained Palestinian police to secure the Gaza coastline and interior, while efforts toward demilitarization proceed in tandem with political negotiations. Israel has signaled a cautious openness to multinational assistance, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said certain tasks could be performed by international volunteers, though some responsibilities may exceed the scope of outside forces. The arrangement rests on a Security Council mandate and a framework that would allow for a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces as milestones toward demilitarization are reached, though substantial questions remain about inspection, enforcement, and the timing of any withdrawal.On the ground, the second phase of the broader peace plan remains contingent on agreements over how the stabilization effort will be deployed and who will enforce the rules of engagement. Hamas has asserted that disarmament has not been part of formal discussions thus far, complicating prospects for a quick political settlement. In Washington, officials have stressed a need for a durable peace and a credible framework that can prevent a relapse into broader conflict, while reiterating that Israel’s security concerns remain central to any plan. The United States continues to collaborate with partners and allies to refine the operational scope, leadership, and legal assurances needed to sustain the mission over time.In parallel, US intelligence officials recently disclosed that, during the Biden administration, certain information sharing with Israel was temporarily restricted as concerns grew over how intelligence was applied in Gaza and over potential violations of the law of war. Sharing was realigned after Israel provided assurances that it would adhere to agreed legal and ethical standards. Intelligence cooperation between the two countries has historically been close, including efforts to locate and recover hostages and to track Hamas and other threats, but the episode underscored the sensitivity of intelligence‑sharing arrangements during wartime and the need for ongoing assurances about human rights and legal compliance.Turning to the wider Middle East, Iran has announced the seizure of an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, describing the vessel as transporting contraband fuel and detaining 18 crew members from India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. The incident comes in the context of broader regional pressure and follow-on actions after a separate American operation to interdict a different tanker believed to be moving oil linked to Iran and Venezuela. Maritime confrontations underscore the fragility of the region’s energy supply routes and the risk of escalation as the United States and allied partners navigate sanctions policy, regional influence, and the strategic aims of Tehran.Within Jewish communities and civil rights circles abroad, a number of developments have intersected with security concerns and political discourse. A prominent figure who chaired the National Legal Affairs Committee of a leading civil rights organization recently stepped down, criticizing what he described as a failure to confront antisemitism on the political right and arguing that the organization has become politicized in a way that diminishes its traditional mission of defense and advocacy. Meanwhile, the European Jewish Association has filed legal actions over chants deemed by organizers and observers as inciting hatred against Israel; in the United States, a Jewish community center in Tennessee has filed suit against a white‑extremist organization alleged to have engaged in intimidation on campus grounds. These legal actions highlight ongoing efforts to balance civil rights protections with security ...
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