Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-07 at 17:08 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-07 at 17:08

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-07 at 17:08

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 HEADLINES- Iranian-directed Hamas funding in Turkey exposed- Yellow Line frontier reshapes Israeli deterrence- Zero-tolerance on MB funding in EuropeThe time is now 12:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.At 12:00 PM, a broad set of developments bearing on security, diplomacy, and regional dynamics are shaping the Middle East and its international context. In Israel, the Shin Bet and the IDF have disclosed a Turkey-based Hamas finance network that operates under Iranian direction. Officials say the network uses Gazan exiles in central Turkey and a system of money changers to move hundreds of millions of dollars to Hamas leaders, with three operatives named publicly: Tamer Hassan, Khalil Farauna, and Farid Abu Dair. Israeli authorities warn against any contact with the network or with Hamas’ overseas financial arms, and they emphasize that the activity runs through Turkish financial channels, including storage and transfer of Iranian funds to Hamas. Israeli officials frame this as part of a broader pattern of Iranian support intended to rebuild Hamas’ capabilities outside Gaza.Alongside those disclosures, Israel’s top military leadership has stressed a changing security posture on the Gaza frontier. The chief of staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, described the “yellow line” as a new border concept: a front line defending Israeli communities and a line of offensive action, signaling a shift in force posture as Israeli forces seek to prevent Hamas convergence of capabilities and to deter additional hostilities. In parallel, Israeli security officials remain focused on hostages and ongoing efforts to locate missing personnel, including reports that Hamas and Islamic Jihad know how to locate the remains of the last hostage in Gaza for return to Israel.In the diplomatic arena, Costa Rica announced plans to open a new diplomatic office in Jerusalem and to sign a free trade agreement with Israel in the coming days, signaling a step toward expanded economic and political ties despite the broader regional tensions. In Washington, US policy discussions continue to stress engagement with regional partners. Axios reports that the United States is seeking a Netanyahu–Sisi meeting to push Israel to expand regional economic ties, noting that the leaders have not met formally since before the current conflict began. The US emphasis on regional integration comes as Israel’s government engages with Gulf and nearby partners on security and commercial arrangements that could influence the stability of the broader area.On the European front, observers are taking note of a sweeping report on Muslim Brotherhood networks in Europe. The report argues that MB-linked organizations have received tens of millions of euros in European Union funding while pursuing an agenda that favors an Islamic-theocratic framework over secular democracy. It highlights entities such as ENAR, FEMYSO, and Islamic Relief Worldwide, detailing connections and funding streams that the authors say enable parallel societies and influence within official processes. The authors contend these networks leverage legitimacy and decentralization to obtain grants, then channel resources to projects that align with MB-linked goals. The report also notes cooperation between European MB-linked networks and Iran-based actors in some instances, despite ideological differences, describing a pattern in which MB infrastructures in Europe operate with significant autonomy and sophisticated funding flows. The call from the report’s authors is for a zero-tolerance approach: cut funding to MB-linked entities, tighten audits, and increase intelligence sharing, drawing on comparisons to measures seen in other national contexts. The European focus on Islamophobia as a political tool is also addressed, with critics warning that labeling and censorship can be exploited to shield infiltration efforts while enabling continued funding.In a related development, Israel’s security establishment reiterated that Hamas continues to pursue external capabilities, with reports of a covert Hamas funding network in Turkey functioning under Iranian direction. This coincides with broader regional reporting about Iran’s influence and its evolving footprint in Syria and neighboring areas. AFP reports that Iran removed Revolutionary Guards personnel from Syria after late 2023 operations, reflecting a strategic recalibration as the Assad regime’s position changed and Islamist opposition gained ground. The narrative of Iranian withdrawal is framed as part of a broader realignment that some analysts say could affect the balance of power in the region, though officials caution that Tehran remains committed to preserving leverage through allied groups and proxies.Diplomatic messaging from Doha and other capitals also shapes the frame. Qatar’s prime minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, reiterated that Qatar will not fund...
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