Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-10 at 22:15 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-10 at 22:15

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-10 at 22:15

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 HEADLINESUS weighs UNRWA sanctions amid accountability pushTrump unveils Gaza Board of PeaceUkrainian drones disable Russian oil tankerThe time is now 5:07 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.At five o’clock six minutes in the evening, this is the hour’s update on the ever-shifting landscape in the Middle East and relevant global developments. In Washington, officials are weighing sanctions against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees, and are examining allegations of ties to militant groups. The move reflects a broader American effort to press accountability on entities operating in and around the Palestinian arena while balancing humanitarian considerations and security concerns. The discussions come as policymakers stress the importance of maintaining oversight of aid channels that support vulnerable communities, even as questions about governance and security links argue for careful calibration.Across the Atlantic, the United States dollar fell against a basket of major currencies after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates as expected, with market observers signaling a likely pause in the easing cycle in January. The shift in monetary policy tempo adds a backdrop of caution to investors watching the region’s stabilizers and risk sentiment as governments in the region weigh security commitments against economic pressures. Analysts say the currency move underscores the interconnectedness of inflation, growth, and geopolitical risk, notably as fronts in the broader Middle East remain in flux.In Washington, President Donald Trump announced that a Gaza Board of Peace would be revealed in early twenty twenty-six. He described the board as an assemblage of leaders from around the world, including kings, presidents, and prime ministers who want to participate, and he framed it as a mechanism to oversee Gaza’s management and reconstruction as part of a broader settlement framework. The plan, already a focal point of debate, has drawn criticism and scrutiny from various quarters about the governance model, accountability, and the implications for a ceasefire and postconflict governance.Meanwhile, on the ground, several Israelis attempted to cross into Gaza but were escorted back to Israel by the Israel Defense Forces after monitoring procedures. Discretion and safety guidelines governed the operation, with the individuals subsequently handed over for processing by police. The incident underscores ongoing tensions and the fragile humanitarian calculations at work in the border area, where security concerns intersect with civilian access and aid considerations.In domestic political life, a prominent figure completed an eighty-kilometer march in protest of a haredi draft bill, saying the discussions inside the Knesset needed to advance and reflect public sentiment. The episode highlights the intensity of internal policy debates over military service and the shape of social compromise inside Israel as the government weighs competing priorities in a time of security strain and regional volatility.The hostage issue continues to reverberate internationally as well. Ran Gvili, the last known Israeli hostage in Gaza, has been featured on digital billboards in Times Square as part of outreach efforts led by the Israeli Consulate in New York and the American Jewish Committee. The campaign aims to keep international attention on the fate of captives and the broader humanitarian dimension of the conflict.In a separate regional development, Ukrainian naval drones struck and disabled a sanctioned Russian oil tanker in the Black Sea, the third such attack in two weeks. Kyiv says the operation is part of a broader objective to cut Russia’s oil revenue, while Moscow has called the strikes piracy. The exchanges in the Black Sea add another layer of complexity to a regional conflict that has reverberations for international energy markets and security calculations in the broader theater.Syria’s government granted permission to a Jewish-Syrian organization to work on restoring properties seized under earlier regimes, including efforts to inventory and recover Jewish properties and protect holy sites. The initiative was publicly described as a signal of the state’s openness to historic communities, even as the country remains focused on stabilization and reconstruction after years of conflict. Observers noted the presence of Jewish groups visiting Damascus and Aleppo under government oversight, with discussions emphasizing cultural heritage and property restoration rather than reconstruction alone.In Europe, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez hosted Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Madrid and described Palestine as a sister state, renewing his charge of genocide in Gaza and urging accountability and compensation for those harmed. The exchange highlights the continuing moral and political fault lines that complicate ...
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