Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-17 at 15:08 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-17 at 15:08

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-17 at 15:08

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 HEADLINESGaza casualties rise as mortar probe intensifiesIran backed group claims Bennett device hackEastern Med rapid force alliance aims deterrenceThe time is now 10:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.Here is your hourly update.In the Gaza corridor, Israeli forces are examining an incident in which a mortar fired during operations near Gaza reportedly veered off course. Palestinian sources say a strike hit near a vehicle and that several people were wounded, while Israel’s military has not yet commented publicly. Separately, Al Jazeera, citing Gaza medical officials, reported 11 wounded in what it described as an Israeli strike on Gaza City, including one person in serious condition. The situation remains fluid as investigators review the timeline and targeting.Across the region, a cyber dimension continues to unfold as an Iranian-backed group claims it hacked the personal device of former prime minister Naftali Bennett. The group released materials it labeled “Operation Octopus,” but independent cyber experts say the data most plausibly originated from a compromised associate rather than Bennett himself, and Bennett’s team has noted the matter is being handled by security and cyber officials. Analysts warn that cyber environments in the region are increasingly complex, with both state and non-state actors seeking to expose weaknesses in political leadership and security infrastructure.In the wider security sphere, reports from Greek, Cypriot, and Israeli media indicate serious discussions underway about a joint rapid-intervention force to operate across air, land, and sea. The plan calls for roughly a brigade’s worth of personnel—about 2,500 troops in total, with 1,000 Israelis, 1,000 Greeks, and 500 Cypriots. The force would be mobile and supported by air forces from both countries, naval assets including Greek warships and submarines, and Israeli missile defense coordination. Though framed as a general-purpose deterrent, the arrangement is widely seen as addressing shared concerns in the eastern Mediterranean, including potential threats from Turkey. Separately, Turkish outlets have claimed that Greece has completed the deployment of Israeli-made Spike missiles on several Aegean islands close to Turkey, a report that remains unconfirmed by official sources in Athens or Tel Aviv. The broader intent of the talks appears not to target a specific nation, but the Turkish strategic position is a common reference point in the regional dialogue.In London, authorities announced a policy shift aimed at policing antisemitism more rigorously, promising action against protesters who chant “Globalize the intifada” as incitement. The move follows a spate of attacks and threats against Jewish communities abroad, including incidents in Sydney and Manchester. The Board of Deputies of British Jews welcomed the policy as a necessary intervention in a climate of rising concerns about antisemitism.Iran’s Foreign Ministry offered comments on the nuclear issue, with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian signaling that Iran’s nuclear facilities have sustained damage but that the underlying knowledge and technology remain in Tehran’s hands. He urged the United States to return to a diplomatic track to pursue a political settlement rather than escalate tensions. The remarks underscore ongoing regional tensions linked to Iran’s nuclear program and broader diplomatic maneuvering.Lebanese media reports, citing unnamed sources, claim that the Lebanese army has moved heavy engineering equipment toward a village in southern Lebanon near a location where Israel asserts Hezbollah operates a cross-border tunnel. The reports reflect ongoing cross-border tension and the enduring struggle over Hezbollah’s infrastructure, though independent verification was not provided in the reporting.In policy and planning news from Israel, authorities are watching developments around a long-frozen plan to build a large neighborhood in Jerusalem. Reported plans would repurpose the city’s shuttered airport site into a new district featuring about 9,000 housing units. Observers say the project could redraw connections between Jerusalem and Ramallah and influence Palestinian development plans in the area. The story emphasizes the broader political and demographic significance of Jerusalem-area planning in a volatile regional context.Across the broader strategic canvas, President Vladimir Putin signaled a renewed push in Ukraine, describing the need to expand Russia’s buffer zone and pursue objectives by any means if diplomacy fails. The remarks reflect the continuing, recalibrated posture of Moscow as the conflict persists in multiple theaters.Back home in the north, Kiryat Shmona and surrounding communities remain vigilant. A demonstration at the city’s southern entrance drew about 1,000 residents who argued that the government has not delivered adequate security ...
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