HEADLINES Gaza Border Settlers Plant Trees Detained Israel Ramps Haredi Draft Warns of Stall Israel Hit Two Houses Near Mis al-Jabal The time is now 2:05 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report. This is a late night update on the Middle East and related global developments. First, on the ground in the Gaza vicinity, a new episode in the ongoing tension appears to have unfolded in recent hours as several right‑wing settler activists crossed briefly into the Gaza Strip with the stated aim of planting trees as a symbolic step toward reestablishing presence in the enclave. The Israeli military says it monitored the incursion and detained the participants, handing them over to police for further questioning. The army emphasized that any entry into a combat zone is prohibited and risks civilian harm and disruption to troops already operating in the area. The organizers released video from inside Gaza in which a participant declares the intent to plant for the Jewish settlement in Gaza and asserts that “the land of Israel is ours.” The perimeter remains volatile, with Gaza’s border security a focal point of daily reporting and policy debate in Jerusalem as officials weigh security requirements against broader political and ideological pressures. In related developments tied to the broader conflict, a major policy debate continues at home over the mobilization law for the Haredi community. A prominent cabinet minister, Miki Zohar, spoke this week on a public broadcaster’s program about the draft law, saying there is a clear path forward that would see tens of thousands of recruits entering service gradually in the coming years. He cautioned that if there is no agreement with the leadership of the ultra‑Orthodox community, the recruitment effort could stall. The remarks illustrate the deep domestic rift surrounding conscription, a core security and social issue as Israel seeks to sustain its war footing while grappling with political coalitions and competing demands from various segments of society. Turning to the north, a Lebanese report this morning said Israeli forces entered the area around the border and destroyed two houses on the outskirts of the village Mis al‑Jabal. The Israeli military has not publicly confirmed the details in that Lebanese account, but cross‑border dynamics remain an important element of the wider regional risk calculus, with routine exchanges of fire, air defense activity, and political signaling shaping daily life near the front lines. Across the border in Gaza, the most recent high‑profile incident involved settlers who ventured into the Strip with the aim of reestablishing a presence in previously evacuated communities. The Israeli military stated that while they monitored the activity and ultimately detained all participants, such incursions are dangerous and violate the military’s rules of engagement for combat zones. The organizers claimed that one party evaded detection and remained inside Gaza for a time, though no evidence has been provided to support that claim. The episode underscores the continuing tensions over Gaza’s status and the contentious use of nonstate actors to advance strategic aims. Inside Israel, security and law enforcement headlines continued. In Tel Aviv, police and Shahar units carried out a major operation against an illicit drugs hub in the Neve Sha’anan category of the city. The operation led to the seizure of approximately 120,000 shekels in cash, quantities of hashish and cannabis, an airsoft pistol, and a forged license plate. A suspect in his twenties, from Lod, was arrested and is set to appear in court for further detention proceedings as investigators pursue additional leads in the case. The authorities stressed that the fight against organized drug networks remains a top priority and that zero tolerance will be maintained. Another security matter raised questions about information safeguards within the Israel Defense Forces. Images and schematic diagrams from a military base in a sensitive location appeared on a unit’s official Instagram page, exposing architectural plans and internal layouts. The IDF acted quickly to remove the posts and said the incident is being reviewed by the relevant security offices, with the matter also referred to the military’s security and information‑protection divisions. In the wake of this breach, officials warned that even highly controlled social media channels can pose risks to sensitive facilities and that lessons will be drawn to prevent recurrence. In Washington’s orbit, a notable international development centers on Taiwan’s evolving defense diplomacy with Israel. Taiwan’s deputy foreign minister, Francois Wu, reportedly undertook a previously unpublicized visit to Israel in recent weeks as Taipei looks to deepen defense cooperation and share strategic insights. The trip comes as Taiwan pursues its own multi‑layered air‑defense approach, and as Israel’s defense archi
