Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-28 at 05:06 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-28 at 05:06

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-28 at 05:06

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 HEADLINESNetanyahu meets Trump and Rubio in USHamas weighs new leader as ceasefire loomsUK secures migrant returns with Angola NamibiaThe time is now 12:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.Good evening. This is your hourly news update covering the Middle East, North Africa, and related global developments as they unfold. We begin in Jerusalem, where a fire in a residential building has left a woman in her sixties in critical condition and a second woman, 47, lightly injured. Both were taken to Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital. The incident follows a late evening protest in the city near the entrance to Jerusalem, where demonstrators blocked vehicle traffic and the light rail. Police say the protest was declared illegal and that two rioters were arrested; however, officers emphasize that the right to protest is protected when conducted within the law, and that authorities will act against those who disrupt public order. In a related development, officials noted that the death of a settler youth in 2020 has continued to ignite protests and intensify debate over policing and public order.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to depart for the United States, with a Florida stop on the itinerary that includes meetings with US officials and political leaders. He is set to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the early afternoon, and later with President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Netanyahu’s trip is described as a routine element of ongoing diplomatic and security dialogue with the United States, amid the war in Gaza and broader regional challenges. His schedule during the visit is described as light on Tuesday, with focused engagements on Wednesday involving Evangelical leaders and community groups, before returning to Israel on Thursday afternoon.On the strategy and diplomacy front, reporting highlights a debate over how Israel pursues recognition and engagement with other states. An editorial examining Somaliland’s push for recognition stresses that foreign policy decisions are not polls or popularity contests, emphasizing the need for calculated, principled policy. Separately, commentary from The Jerusalem Post argues that if Jerusalem pairs recognition with restraint and serious diplomacy, such steps can widen Israel’s diplomatic playbook and deepen its strategic depth. These viewpoints illustrate the spectrum of considerations that accompany shifts in diplomatic posture, even as security concerns and deterrence remain central to Israel’s approach.In the Gaza arena, Hamas is reported to be moving toward selecting a new leader within days or weeks. Asharq, citing sources close to Hamas, identifies two leading candidates: Khaled Mashaal, viewed as closer to Qatar and more open to negotiated approaches, and Khalil al-Hayya, seen as closer to Iran and more favorable to continuing armed conflict until an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The selection would be conducted by Hamas’s general Shura council, which includes representatives from Gaza, the West Bank, and the diaspora. The leadership question comes amid a broader ceasefire framework and ongoing discussions about the movement’s regional alignments and long-term strategy.Also in security-related matters, investigators have raised concerns about how some security personnel have, at times, facilitated the entry of Palestinians into the country in exchange for payments. Authorities say they are pursuing a broader review of entry procedures as part of ongoing efforts to prevent illegal entries in the wake of deadly attacks.Turning to the wider region, the international press continues to report on climate-related challenges. In Iraq, efforts to curb dust and sandstorms have intensified as climate change and drought contribute to more frequent dust events. Regions in the south near Nasiriyah and Samawah are seeing soil stabilization work involving moist clay layers and tree planting to reduce dust movement toward neighboring countries. UN-Habitat, leading the project with Iraqi authorities and international partners, notes that the aim is to stabilize soils, protect roadways, and create longer-term resilience for agriculture and communities facing recurring dust events. Officials estimate Iraq experiences hundreds of dust days per year, a number projected to rise without concerted mitigation efforts.In Europe and the broader international sphere, Denmark’s postal service has announced the end of its letter-carrying service after more than 400 years, a shift driven by digitization. The company notes a dramatic fall in physical letters—from about 1.5 billion in 2000 to around 110 million in 2024—reflecting a global transformation in communications.Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has secured a migrant return agreement with Angola and Namibia as it faces visa policy decisions with the Democratic Republic of Congo. British officials say cooperation from southern Africa could influence visa...
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