Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-10 at 13:07 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-10 at 13:07

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-10 at 13:07

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 HEADLINESUS pushes Sudan peace amid catastropheIran seeks binding IAEA safeguardsIsrael approves hundreds of West Bank homesThe time is now 8:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.This is the 8:00 AM update on the Middle East and related global developments.In Israel, attention is turning to domestic policy as a major charity founder urged a rethinking of the culture of food waste. He said social norms that prize overflowing tables have led to widespread household waste even as hundreds of thousands of people struggle to secure enough to eat. The message highlights a domestic priority that sits alongside security and economic concerns.On the regional security frontier, Iran signaled it wants a reset in its approach to international oversight. An official with the country’s nuclear authority said IAEA safeguards were not designed for wartime conditions after recent strikes on nuclear sites. Tehran is seeking new binding assurances from the agency to prevent data misuse before it resumes fuller cooperation. The stance comes as Western diplomatic efforts to ensure Iranian compliance continue to hinge on data and monitoring arrangements that can survive tense geopolitical moments.In Syria, the government signaled closer ties with Saudi Arabia, noting that major oil deals emerged following a phone call between President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The development points to a potential economic softening of regional rivalries and a realignment that could influence energy markets and broader security dynamics in the Levant.Across Africa and the region, Washington’s diplomacy intensified its push for Sudan’s peace process. In conversations with regional partners, US officials emphasized conflict resolution as a priority, with Senator Rubio discussing ways to move toward a political settlement with the Saudi foreign minister. The humanitarian calculus remains stark: the United Nations says more than 150,000 people have died in Sudan since the crisis began and about 12 million have been displaced, an ongoing humanitarian catastrophe that complicates regional stability and international relief efforts.In Israel, a woman was killed in a suspected explosion on Highway 73 near Nahalal. Authorities are investigating the incident, with the scene showing the fragility of daily life amid regional tensions and security concerns.Meanwhile, a United Nations official warned that funding cuts threaten human rights efforts worldwide. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights reported about $90 million less in funding than needed this year, resulting in hundreds of job cuts and a slowdown of programs designed to defend civil liberties and offer protection to vulnerable populations.Lebanon’s foreign ministry said it would reject a Tehran visit by Iranian leadership and proposed talks with Iran in a neutral country, a move framed as maintaining dialogue while avoiding direct engagement under current regional pressures. The stance underscored the delicacy of cross-border diplomacy in the broader crisis landscape.In the West Bank, Israel’s security cabinet continued to back settlement activity, with Bezalel Smotrich announcing final approvals for hundreds of housing units across Hashmonaim, Givat Zeev, and Beitar Illit. The announcements reflect a continuing policy of settlement expansion that Palestinians and many international actors view as a sticking point in any future two-state framework, even as Israel frames the settlements as critical to security and continuity of life.Airport operations faced a disruption as baggage handling at Ben-Gurion Airport experienced a breakdown, though authorities stressed the interruption was not linked to weather events sweeping the region. Travelers were asked for patience as technicians worked to restore normal service.In the courtroom, bereaved families from the October 7 crisis pressed for a formal state inquiry as Prime Minister Netanyahu’s cross-examination proceeded. The families emphasized the need for an independent commission to investigate state conduct during the war, while politicians argued about the best path to accountability within Israel’s legal framework.In separate security and intelligence developments, reports continued to surface about the status of hostages and the remains of at least one captive. Israel has said it believes a member of Palestinian Islamic Jihad may possess information related to Ran Gvili’s remains, complicating the path to closure and to moving forward with the planned second phase of the Gaza ceasefire framework. Mediators have been central to those discussions, and the issue remains a touchstone for whether broader trust-building steps can proceed.In another strand of the Gaza peace conversation, Israel has discussed a multi-faceted approach to restraint and governance that would accompany any withdrawal in the first phase, with a view to ...
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