HEADLINES
Israel Lebanon ceasefire falters; Pentagon talks
Europe widens Hamas network probe, arrests surge
US to decide Iran policy; Hormuz blockade

The time is now 1:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, talks in Washington are set to push forward a security and political track between Israel and Lebanon as the ceasefire remains fragile. Israeli and Lebanese military officials are scheduled to meet at the Pentagon on Friday to press toward resolving their decades-long conflict. The session comes as fighting tests what’s left of the ceasefire, with the United States and Iran seeking to extend the pause to buy time for negotiations. Israel has issued sweeping evacuation orders for residents in seven towns and villages in the south ahead of airstrikes, joining evacuation orders already in place across the region on Wednesday. Hezbollah has launched drones toward northern Israel in recent days, including a strike that killed Israeli soldier Rotem Yanai on Wednesday. The United States has hosted Israeli and Lebanese negotiators for three rounds since the ceasefire was declared in mid-April. Friday’s talks are described as launching a security track between the two militaries to fortify the ceasefire, while next Tuesday and Wednesday’s discussions will shift to a political track aimed at lasting calm.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, European authorities widen a Hamas network probe as arrests and weapon caches surface, while a former Gaza director speaks from captivity. German prosecutors say an alleged Danish Hamas member, identified as Yousif C, was arrested near Copenhagen after a warrant was issued, tied to arms procurement for a Hamas plot to attack Israeli and Jewish sites in Europe. He allegedly provided five pistols and ammunition to Abdel Al G in July; Abdel Al G was arrested on October 1 and is said to have handed weapons to Mohammed A, a British citizen arrested in London in November. Mohammed A reportedly met with Abdel Al G during the summer and was involved in transporting and storing weapons in Austria. A German newspaper has described Mohammed A as the son of Hamas official Bassem Naim. Austrian authorities say they uncovered a cache of five handguns and 10 magazines in Vienna as part of the same plot to target Israeli or Jewish institutions. Across Gaza, Mohammed el-Halabi, World Vision’s former Gaza director convicted in 2022 of terrorism financing, has been released to Hamas in 2025 as part of a hostage-prisoner deal and, in recent interviews, continues to deny ties to Hamas while detailing alleged flaws in the Israeli case and the broader probes surrounding him. Separately, Prime Minister Netanyahu said IDF forces have crossed north of the Litani River in Lebanon and are operating across Beirut and the Beqaa Valley, asserting that the campaign is yielding strong results against Hezbollah.

In the US Policy Concerning Israel, the president says he will make a final Iran decision and outline steps including lifting the Hormuz blockade, while another piece previews what a deal with Iran would look like. US President Donald Trump is headed to the White House Situation Room to make a final determination on Iran, according to a Truth Social post. He said the United States would lift its naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that the strait must be open for unrestricted shipping traffic in both directions. He added that ships caught in the Strait due to the blockade may begin heading home, and that remaining naval mines should be terminated by Iran, noting that US Navy minesweepers have already removed numerous mines. He addressed Iran’s enriched uranium, referring to it as “nuclear dust,” saying it would be unearthed and destroyed in coordination with Iran and the IAEA, and he stressed that no money would be exchanged with Tehran until further notice. In a separate piece, Trump outlines what a deal with Iran would look like.

In Uplifting News, Weekending Shabbat Shalom from Israel. Weekending. Shabbat Shalom from Israel.

Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.
I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.
Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description.

SOURCES
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-897766
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-897765
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-897703
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-897759
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-897762
https://t.me/hnaftali/23203
https://t.me/hnaftali/23199