HEADLINES Storm Byron reroutes flight, warns of floods Lahav 433 chief under leak probe Gaza aid hinge on governance, US debate The time is now 6:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report. Good morning. Here is the 6:00 a.m. update on the Middle East and related regional affairs. Storm Byron continues to shape conditions across the eastern Mediterranean and parts of Israel. A flight from Larnaca to Tel Aviv was rerouted over Beirut due to the storm, landing at Ben-Gurion Airport about 30 minutes later than scheduled. Officials warn of persistent heavy rain and the possibility of localized flooding along coastal cities, with air travel management and luggage handling potentially affected as crews respond to the weather system. In security news, Israel’s Lahav 433 commissioner, Assistant Chief Meni Benjamin, is under investigation for alleged leaks to suspects. Police say he maintained personal contact with a detainee identified as Salam without reporting the relationship to authorities and is suspected of sharing police information. The case highlights ongoing concerns within security agencies about safeguarding sensitive materials and maintaining strict lines of reporting. On the political front in Washington, debate continues over US policy toward Israel. Republican lawmakers have commented on President Trump’s approach to the region, with Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene asserting that Trump shows favoritism toward Israel. Other voices within the party and administration emphasize that US policy seeks to support Israel’s security while avoiding a simple one-size-fits-all stance on the broader Gaza situation. Washington has said it will not pick winners or losers in Gaza and that reconstruction assistance will be tied to governance arrangements in the territory and conditions on the ground. Turning to Gaza and broader regional implications, reporting indicates that anti-Hamas factions operating from Israeli-held Gaza have continued to organize and recruit since the October ceasefire. Analysts note that these groups could complicate any effort to stabilize or unify Gaza under a single governing authority, even as Hamas remains in control of many urban areas. Israel has reiterated its aim of ensuring Hamas disarms and does not regain governance authority. The United States has signaled that it will support humanitarian and stabilization efforts while preserving a strategic stance that does not endorse particular internal actors, a position that affects how reconstruction funding and security arrangements are structured. Israeli military leadership continues to emphasize defense lines and a delineation described by officials as a forward border area, while policy discussions with international partners focus on governance, security, and civilian protection. In domestic political developments, a poll shows significant sentiment among Israel’s Russian-speaking community. Approximately one million eligible voters from former Soviet states oppose Prime Minister Netanyahu and back a call for changes to the draft law affecting conscription and national service. Analysts say the bloc’s views could influence coalition dynamics as lawmakers weigh security commitments and public opinion on national service obligations. On the defense and oversight front, Defense Minister Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Zamir appear to be moving toward a unified approach to investigations of the October 7 events. They agreed to merge the military probes with oversight by the defense establishment comptroller as an observer, while allowing key promotions to proceed. The arrangement reflects a search for coordinated accountability within the armed forces as the security establishment reviews long-running concerns about intelligence handling and operational responses. Internationally, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan charged Israel with genocide in Gaza and laid out ambitions to eliminate terrorism in Turkey, while signaling support for a two-state resolution in the region. The remarks contribute to a regional rhetoric that mixes accusations with calls for a broader peace process, highlighting how Ankara seeks to recalibrate its role vis-à-vis Israel and the Palestinian question. In Europe, France is moving to strengthen its Israel-focused diplomacy by planning to establish an Israel Allies Caucus in early 2026, within a network of pro-Israel parliamentary groups coordinated by the Israel Allies Foundation. The development signals continued European parliamentary engagement with Israel amid the Gaza war and the broader regional realignments it has helped trigger. From the Gaza front, observers note ongoing concerns about how new or renewed roles for non-Hamas actors could influence the texture of future governance in the enclave. While the war’s humanitarian toll is well documented, the political and security trajectories remain fluid as regional and international actors weigh how to sup
