HEADLINES Knesset pushes toward Oct 7 inquiry Gaza stabilization plan targets 2026 deployment Turkey moves toward F-35 reintegration program The time is now 10:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report. Good evening. Here is the latest update on events shaping the region and the broader international response. In Israel, the Knesset is moving toward an official inquiry into the October 7 attacks as a Likud member advances a bill to establish the investigation mechanism. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the committee will be balanced, with representation from both the governing coalition and the opposition, reflecting the enduring toll of the crisis on Israeli society and security policy. Across the Atlantic, the United States is signaling a security architecture for Gaza that could include an International Stabilization Force. Officials say deployment could begin in early 2026, a timeline that hinges on state participation and a clear mandate. Indonesia has publicly expressed readiness to participate, potentially contributing up to twenty thousand troops, while Azerbaijan has signaled caution, seeking assurances about the mission’s scope and its connection to a broader peace process and two‑state framework. The talks underscore the difficulty of assembling a multinational force in a conflict zone where stakeholders worry about mission creep and hostage to broader political aims. In a related diplomatic thread, Tom Barrack, the United States’ ambassador to Turkey, expressed cautious optimism that discussions could yield progress toward Turkey’s reintegration into the F-35 program, a development that would have implications for regional security and alliance dynamics. Meanwhile, after a ceasefire collapse, President Donald Trump said he plans to speak by phone with leaders in Thailand and Cambodia as part of his questioning of regional diplomacy and crisis management, a reminder of the US approach to maintaining channels with partners in volatile contexts. Domestically in the United States, coverage at a Zionist gathering and among certain Jewish commentators drew attention to how views within the American Jewish community relate to Israel’s policies. Some speakers argued that voters who are Jewish should not be surprised by a range of political outcomes, including perspectives seen as critical of particular Israeli decisions. In Hollywood, Jewish creators connected to landmark series such as Mad Men and The Americans describe rising antisemitism and the pressures faced by young artists in a changing cultural landscape. The thread highlights ongoing concerns about safety, representation, and the responsibilities of the industry toward its creative community. In the arts, Viktor Ullmann’s Shoa opera Emperor of Atlantis is being staged in Hebrew for the first time in Israel, marking a significant cultural milestone as theaters bring Holocaust-era works to contemporary audiences. On the ground, Israeli forces announced the arrest of a senior Hamas-Islamic Jihad operative in Jenin. Muhammad Abdullah Ali Arda, released in a prisoner exchange, was taken into custody in Arara, near Jenin, according to Palestinian reports. He is described as having participated in the Gilboa prison break in 2021 and carrying a lengthy prior sentence for involvement in the Second Intifada and attacks on soldiers. The capture adds to a broader pattern of counterterrorism actions reported in the wake of ongoing violence in the region. Culturally and politically, Israel’s Ophir Awards have become a flashpoint in recent weeks. After the top prize went to a film portraying Palestinian life in a way some officials found unfavorable to Israel’s portrayal, Culture Minister Miki Zohar announced an alternative, state-sponsored ceremony for December 30, featuring a prize pool of one million shekels and categories spanning feature, documentary, short and other craft awards. The move is part of a broader debate over how Israeli storytelling is presented domestically and abroad, and how best to foster national creative momentum while addressing diverse perspectives within Israeli society. In regional diplomacy, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar signaled that 2026 could be a pivotal year for Latin America ties, with Bolivia set to restore relations after a 16-year hiatus and elections in Chile, Brazil, and Colombia potentially ushering in leaders more aligned with Israel’s regional interests. At the same time, officials in Azerbaijan have underscored the complexity of joining the proposed international force in Gaza. They want to ensure that any contribution advances a clear, peace‑oriented objective and is consistent with a broader two‑state pathway, a stance reflecting the sensitivity of regional dynamics and public opinion at home. Analysts note that the international discourse around the ISF is deeply shaped by questions of sovereignty and the risk of entangling foreign troops in a protracted confli
