Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-20 at 23:06 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-20 at 23:06

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-20 at 23:06

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 HEADLINESRahat double homicide sparks gun violence worryRafah border to reopen after hostages securedGenomics AI to map genome to diseaseThe time is now 6:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.This is an update on the Middle East as of 6:00 PM.In Rahat, a southern Bedouin city, a double homicide left a 17-year-old boy and a 30-year-old man dead after a shooting outside a shopping center late Thursday. City residents were told that a romantic dispute between relatives is believed to have sparked the attack, which also wounded three others. Two suspects have been arrested, including a man in his 30s, and a handgun was seized from the family home. Investigators say evidence at the scene was disturbed, with water reportedly used to wash away traces of the crime, complicating the police inquiry. The investigation continued into Friday night as authorities sought additional suspects. Rahat’s mayor attributed the spike in violence to widespread illegal weapon circulation, urging steps to remove guns from the streets. Arab community leaders and human rights groups have highlighted that a large share of such cases remain unsolved—data cited by advocacy organizations showing a low arrest and closure rate for Arab Israeli homicides this year. The numbers underscore a broader concern over violence in some segments of Israeli society and the trafficking networks that drive it, a concern echoed by local officials calling for stronger enforcement and community programs to reduce tensions.On the national front, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated a stance he has maintained in public comments: there will not be a Palestinian state, a position he described as essential to Israel’s security. In an interview with a popular local Telegram channel, Netanyahu emphasized that security requirements must be met before any potential political arrangements, even as regional dynamics shift with Saudi Arabia signaling interest in closer ties with Israel. He stressed that war-time realities, particularly the Gaza conflict, have shaped diplomatic timelines and that any normalization would hinge on conditions acceptable to Israel and its allies, including the United States. Netanyahu also touched on strategic issues beyond diplomacy, saying Israel aims to strengthen its independent defense industry to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers while maintaining military superiority. He described a plan to bring 17,000 ultra-Orthodox soldiers into active service within three years, arguing that a new framework could reconcile security needs with social commitments in Israeli society.Turning to the Gaza front, Netanyahu said Israel would reopen the Rafah border crossing with Egypt after it has secured all remaining Hamas hostages. He said Washington’s 20-point plan for Gaza includes allowing Gazans who wish to leave to do so, a right he described as positive but contingent on practicality and security considerations for all parties. The Palestinians, via their Egyptian liaison, have urged the crossing’s reopening to facilitate return movement, while Egypt has warned against any displacement of Gazans. The broader context remains fragile, with international discussions continuing about aid, reconstruction, and the political horizon in Gaza alongside security concerns in Israel proper.In the technology and science arena, a coalition of Israeli and US institutions announced an ambitious collaboration to create a “genomics AI” engine. Sheba Medical Center in Israel, Nvidia, and Mount Sinai in New York are launching a three-year project trained on the language of the human genome. The goal is to build large language models capable of interpreting the genome and linking genetic variation to disease risk and therapeutic response, potentially guiding personalized medicine. Nvidia will provide the computing power and infrastructure, with clinicians and geneticists from Sheba and Mount Sinai supplying the data and clinical insight. The project targets decoding the vast portion of the genome that remains poorly understood, beyond the roughly 2 percent that codes for proteins, in hopes of accelerating drug discovery and individualized treatments.In humanitarian news, UNICEF reports a milestone in Gaza’s health campaign, with approximately 13,000 children vaccinated as vaccines and syringes reach the region. The development comes amid ongoing efforts to maintain essential medical services and halt disease outbreaks in a densely populated area under blockade and conflict conditions. Aid organizations emphasize that delivering vaccines and medical supplies remains challenging but critical for civilians, especially children, in Gaza.For families with ties to abroad, a tragedy outside Israel’s borders drew attention to the risks faced by travelers. An Israeli man was found dead off Koh Phangan in Thailand after attempting to rescue his son from a strong current. Sagi Mor, 45, ...
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