Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-11 at 12:16 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-11 at 12:16

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-11 at 12:16

Listen for free

View show details

About this listen

 HEADLINES- Rahaf Abu Jazar Dies in Gaza Flooding- US Approves Israel Missile Defense Funding Bill- Hamas Signals Weapons Freeze in Phased PlanThe time is now 7:08 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.From the evolving Middle East security picture to the halls of power in Washington, today’s briefing centers on Gaza’s humanitarian emergency, the shifting battlefield dynamics, and key policy steps shaping the path ahead.In Gaza, torrential rain has flooded hundreds of tents housing people displaced by nearly two years of conflict, intensifying an already dire humanitarian crisis. Local health officials report that an eight‑month‑old girl, Rahaf Abu Jazar, died from exposure after rainwater swept into her family’s Khan Younis tent. Civil defense teams, already stretched by fuel shortages and damaged equipment from the war, say they cannot fully cope with the deluge. A United Nations assessment warns that more than 700 displacement sites hosting roughly 850,000 people are at high risk of flooding, with a need for as many as 300,000 additional tents to provide shelter for about 1.5 million displaced residents. Aid agencies say relief items and cross‑border aid are not arriving in sufficient quantities, while Hamas authorities in Gaza accuse Israel of closing crossings and hampering relief deliveries. Israel says it is meeting humanitarian obligations and cites mismanagement and theft by Hamas as impediments to aid delivery. The ceasefire that began in October has broadly held, but fighting continues at a reduced pace, with Palestinian health authorities reporting higher casualties from Israeli strikes and Hamas militants firing at targets in Israel.In a separate international diplomatic thread, Ghana’s foreign minister warned of reciprocal measures if Ghanaian nationals are deported by Israel, asserting a tit‑for‑tat approach that would escalate a budding dispute over consular and immigration practices. The exchange underscores how citizen‑level actions can ripple into broader diplomatic relations at a moment when many states are recalibrating ties in a volatile regional environment.Turning to US policy, the House of Representatives approved the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act with a slate of provisions aimed at strengthening security cooperation with Israel. The measure includes half a billion dollars dedicated to missile defense cooperation between the United States and Israel, covering systems such as Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow; additional funding for anti‑tunneling efforts, AI and cybersecurity collaboration, and drone defense. The bill also supports Israel’s potential integration into the National Technology and Industrial Base and directs assessments of the implications of international arms embargoes on Israel. Proponents describe the package as a critical step in maintaining readiness and ensuring security through a “peace through strength” approach, reflecting broad Republican support and Democratic alignment on security assistance to a key ally.In the Gaza ceasefire framework, Palestinian negotiators and Israeli officials continue to exchange ideas about a phased disarmament and stabilization plan. A top Hamas leader suggested a weapons freeze as a practical compromise, signaling openness to a staged approach that would separate Gaza from armed conflict through guarantees against escalation rather than total disarmament. Israeli officials have reaffirmed that the Palestinian militant group will be disarmed and Gaza demilitarized, insisting that any lasting agreement require Hamas to surrender its weapons. The plan discussed with mediators envisions multiple phases: initial steps could involve partial troop withdrawals and an international stabilization force along Gaza’s border, with Hamas maintaining some degree of operational control over its stays inside the territory. Hamas has indicated it would resist a full, permanent disarmament, calling for assurances against a broader Israeli threat. The broader international framework envisions guarantors and stabilizers to prevent a relapse into conflict, while media reporting notes that formal decisions on border deployment and jurisdiction remain unsettled as talks continue with US involvement.On the domestic front in Israel, education policy moves ahead with a decision to ban the use of mobile phones by students on elementary school grounds starting next February. Proponents argue that reducing screen time will help children engage more fully with their peers and with learning, creating a safer, more distraction‑free school environment. Critics warn of potential inequities for families who rely on devices for communication and safety. The policy is framed as a step toward a calmer, more focused classroom, with broad support from school authorities and parent groups.Security and threat assessment remain a constant backdrop. The Israeli military has ...
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.