HEADLINES US-led Stabilization Force to Deploy in 2026 Kissufim to Double Population Amid Rebuild Lawmakers Push Trump Nobel Nomination The time is now 8:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report. The following is the 8:00 PM update on events affecting Israel, the region, and related international policy. A US-led international stabilization force is planned to begin deployment at the start of 2026, with initial personnel drawn from one or two partner countries, according to US officials. The move signals a security and stabilization effort in the wake of recent regional volatility, and officials stress that the force will expand as needed and as conditions permit. The development comes as Washington emphasizes a broader strategy of allied coordination in the Middle East, including support for ceasefires, reconstruction, and security assistance intended to deter renewed confrontation. In Israel, Kissufim, a Gaza border kibbutz, is moving ahead with plans to double its population as part of post-conflict rebuilding. Officials say construction of about 25 housing units is slated over the next two to three years, with a government program and private donations funding the work. Tekuma Directorate support will contribute 14 million shekels, with the kibbutz adding six million, to cover the project. The community, evacuated and damaged in the October 7, 2023 attack, has already begun absorbing new families, including young singles and others who had lived nearby or in related communities. The state has allocated tens of millions of shekels for broader rehabilitation, including 76 million for building repairs and 16 million for upgrading infrastructure, while taxpayers are covering some overhead costs. Kibbutz leaders say the effort is about restoring normal life and making space for families returning to the Gaza border area. They also caution that rebuilding is not just bricks and mortar; it requires rebuilding trust, addressing emotional trauma, and ensuring safe, reliable work and schooling for children. Local leaders say about 90 percent of residents expect to return home within two years, and a new kindergarten is already under construction to serve returning families. The process, however, is tempered by concerns about labor supply, wage pressures, and the need to integrate Arab workers who speak Arabic into a sensitive communal setting, a dynamic that has drawn attention as Israelis seek stable, inclusive reconstruction. On the political front, a joint initiative by Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and US House Majority Leader Mike Johnson aims to mobilize lawmakers worldwide to nominate President Donald Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize. The effort cites the Abraham Accords, ceasefire negotiations brokered with US involvement, and other regional diplomacy as grounds for considering Trump’s achievements in fostering dialogue. The move, announced in Washington, appears at a time when political calculations around peace processes and leadership awards are under intense public and parliamentary scrutiny. It is not a formal US government position, but reflects ongoing transatlantic engagement over how to recognize efforts toward regional stabilization and conflict reduction. Diplomatic exchanges between Washington and Ankara also figure in today’s update. The US ambassador to Turkey reports that talks on resuming F-35 fighter jet deliveries and addressing Turkey’s S-400 air defense system have been productive. Under US law, Turkey cannot operate the F-35 while it maintains the S-400 system, and officials say a breakthrough could help align Turkish security needs with American requirements. The tone of the dialogue reflects a broader effort to maintain regional military interoperability while preserving the integrity of Western defense commitments in the face of ongoing tensions with Russia and China. Beyond the security and diplomacy headlines, there are regional maritime developments. The Israel Port Authority says contact has been lost with an Israeli-owned yacht en route to Cyprus; Cypriot authorities have dispatched a vessel to search for the five people aboard. The incident underscores ongoing navigational and safety concerns in regional waters as travel and mission activity continue in the eastern Mediterranean. In the domestic and global information environment, observers note the ongoing challenge of misinformation and targeted disinformation campaigns. A prominent social media platform’s tools have drawn scrutiny for potentially exposing the locations of anonymous accounts, highlighting how information warfare now intersects with traditional security concerns in the region and around the world. The broader global context continues to influence policy discussions in Israel and allied capitals. In the United States, antisemitic incidents remain a concern, with watchdog groups reporting more than 9,300 incidents in 2024—a rise from the prior year and a cumulative incr
