Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-26 at 15:08 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-26 at 15:08

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-26 at 15:08

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 HEADLINESGaza raid targets Hamas tunnels; 20 killedIsrael to phase out Chinese military vehiclesBarkat Amsalem leads Likud victory in JerusalemThe time is now 10:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.This is the 10:00 AM update. In the Gaza Strip a wide operation led by the Israel Defense Forces continues to target underground networks and Taliban-like cells linked to Hamas. Official briefings say the pace of operations is designed to dismantle threat networks and deny militants the ability to plan and launch attacks. In the past week, Israeli authorities have reported the death of more than twenty militants in eastern Rafah and the detention of eight suspects as part of ongoing efforts to curb terrorism and restore security routines for residents in nearby communities. The military says it will maintain pressure where intelligence indicates risk, while coordinating with security partners to minimize civilian harm.Israel’s security posture continues to adapt to evolving regional and international concerns. A notable development is the Israeli military’s recall of roughly 700 Chinese-made vehicles used by officers since 2022, and a broader phase-out of Chinese autos from bases. Officials cited concerns about sensors and software that could enable Beijing to access sensitive data. Defense analysts caution that the era of connected vehicles raises questions about intelligence exposure and the potential for broader surveillance, even as the technology remains common in civilian life. The move is described as targeted and specific to protecting military sites, rather than a comprehensive throttling of all China-linked technology in Israel.On the political front, the Likud party’s internal elections drew sharp attention as the party reshaped its local and national leadership slate. In Jerusalem, Economy Minister Nir Barkat and Regional Cooperation Minister David Amsalem led a joint slate to a decisive victory, securing roughly 60 percent of the vote and strengthening their bloc’s grip on the city’s branch and its delegates to the Central Committee. The veteran defense and security voices, along with a rising Liberal Likud faction, are seen as signaling a potential shift within the party’s leadership dynamics. While rival candidates, including a slate led by MK Amit Halevi, captured a substantial share of support, the results set the stage for a wider contest over the party’s executive secretariat and its 50-member central committee, with the final leadership lineup to be determined over a 90-day voting period.In economic policy, the government’s tax policy move drew wide attention. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced a dramatic increase in the value-added tax exemption for personal imports from seventy-five dollars to one hundred fifty dollars, framing the step as a way to ease the cost of living and to promote competition by reducing the price power of monopolies. The measure will undergo a 21-day public comment period before it takes effect. Business groups have voiced concerns that the change could disrupt fair competition and potentially impact employment and productivity in the long run. The move comes alongside ongoing debates at the OECD and within Israel about the country’s price levels and consumer costs in a high-cost environment.In international economics and diplomacy, Switzerland said it would contribute twenty-eight and a half million dollars to support the American plan for Gaza, directing funds to humanitarian relief, child welfare, and Palestinian institutions, primarily through the Palestinian Authority. The contribution is positioned as part of broader international engagement with Gaza and regional stability efforts, underscoring continuing international financial involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian context.Israel’s aviation sector took a turn as Wizz Air announced it would scale back its planned hub in Israel, citing weaker-than-expected economics and gaps in Ben-Gurion Airport’s slot capacity. The carrier has sought access to seventh freedom rights to operate routes beyond the European Union from Israel, a move that could influence competition and the pace of Israel’s hub development, as local carriers react to the change in timetable and market dynamics.Security and community resilience remained a focus at the domestic level. The Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly highlighted efforts to combat antisemitism and to bolster Jewish security and unity. Across communities, officials and activists stressed the importance of safeguarding places of worship, schools, and cultural institutions, particularly at a time of heightened regional tensions and global anti-Semitism concerns.Advances in defense technology were also in view. Military analysts emphasized the potential of high-powered microwave systems as a rapid means of neutralizing drone swarms, while lasers and missiles are seen as ...
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