HEADLINES
- UN backs Gaza plan, stabilizing force eyed
- Saudi Iran back-channel sparks regional realignment
- Levin forms Oct 7 inquiry amid criticism

The time is now 8:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

Good evening. The United Nations Security Council has approved a US-drafted resolution endorsing President Trump’s Gaza plan and authorizing an international stabilization force. Supporters say the move could mark a turning point for Gaza’s stability, but the effort will depend on on-the-ground implementation and on steps to disarm Hamas. Hamas has dismissed the resolution as foreign interference and said it will continue its campaign against Israeli targets.

In a separate development that signals shifting regional alignments, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly received a letter from Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi before his departure for the United States. The message, described by Saudi officials as intended for President Trump, reflects ongoing back-channel diplomacy shaping the regional landscape as Washington engages Riyadh on multiple fronts, including security and the prospects for a Palestinian state. Analysts say such exchanges illustrate how the major powers in the area are recalibrating relationships even as public diplomacy continues.

Back in Israel, Justice Minister Yariv Levin will chair a ministerial panel charged with determining the mandate of the government’s commission of inquiry into the October 7 Hamas assault. The panel, which will include National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich among others, has 45 days to deliver recommendations on the topics and timeframes it will probe. The move drew sharp criticism from opposition leaders who argue the panel could function as a whitewash for government responsibility. They call instead for a state commission with a broader cross-section of oversight. The security implications of the October 7 attack continue to shape domestic political calculations as Israel grapples with accountability, governance, and where to place emphasis in the ensuing investigations.

In the West Bank, a wave of violence by Jewish extremists has drawn a sharp response from security officials. Following the demolition of the Tzur Misgavi outpost near Efrat, clashes erupted in Jab’a, a Palestinian village near Bethlehem, where homes and vehicles were set ablaze. Palestinian residents reported further attacks near Hebron and Jerusalem, with stones thrown at Bedouin communities and at gatherings near the village of Umm al-Khair. The Israeli military says it is pursuing those responsible, while Prime Minister Netanyahu pledged that security forces would act decisively against those who take the law into their own hands. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar condemned the settlers’ violence, saying it harms the state and undermines the settlement project, and Defense Minister Israel Katz promised intensified action and a government-backed plan to coordinate an extensive, systemic response led by a new security czar for extremist settlers in the West Bank. Opposition leader Yair Lapid urged decisive steps to restore order and accused members of the government of enabling the unrest by not confronting such violence promptly.

Arab- and Palestinian-facing outlets also reported airstrikes by the Israeli Air Force in eastern Gaza, underscoring the ongoing military pressure around the enclave as Israeli forces pursue counterterrorism operations and as the broader Gaza situation remains volatile.

Human rights organizations have tallied at least 98 Palestinians who have died in Israeli custody since October 2023, with persistent allegations of torture and medical neglect. The figures underscore the humanitarian dimension of the conflict and remain a focal point for international scrutiny as voices on all sides...