Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-03 at 15:07

HEADLINES - Israel embraces 24/7 proactive IDF - US-led push to stabilize Gaza ceasefire - Five million Holocaust victims identified The time is now 10:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report. This is the 10:00 AM update on events in Israel, the region, and the wider world that bear on security, diplomacy, and the lives of civilians. We begin with a look at the latest developments from the Negev and the borders, then move to Gaza and regional diplomacy, followed by a review of legal and memory issues that touch Israel and the Jewish world. Israel’s Land Authority says it is cracking down on land encroachment in the Negev, turning to advanced technologies, including aerial scans and artificial intelligence, to detect unauthorized Bedouin structures. The effort underscores an ongoing policy push to clarify land use in a border region where security considerations intersect with questions of housing, planning, and rights. The government says the aim is to enforce planning standards while minimizing disruption to communities, and the authorities indicate the measures are part of a broader effort to prevent illegal construction that could complicate security operations or land administration. In parallel, Israeli defense forces conducted operations against terrorists who approached IDF troops beyond the Yellow Line, with the military saying the individuals posed an immediate threat. The strikes reflect an ongoing posture along the border aimed at preventing infiltrations or attacks and at signaling resolve to counterterror groups that continue to operate in the area. Netanyahu announced a significant shift in Israel’s military doctrine, describing a need for a larger, more active IDF capable of operating around the clock rather than a policy of containment. The new approach envisions intensified activity across the theater and a willingness to take initiative to neutralize threats before they can gain ground. The prime minister stressed that reservists remain a central element of this defense posture as Israel recalibrates its forces to confront evolving security challenges. At the same time, Netanyahu paid tribute to Colonel Assaf Hamami, the IDF officer who helped identify the full scale of the invasion in its early moments, recognizing his contributions to the military’s understanding of the conflict’s trajectory and the importance of timely intelligence in guiding operations. Across the region, the security environment remains fragile. Antisemitic graffiti targeting Jewish sites in Sofia, including a synagogue and a fallen-soldiers memorial, highlights persistent antisemitism that continues to provoke international concern. The incident comes as Jewish communities worldwide face a renewed focus on safety and vigilance in the wake of broader regional tensions and recent outbreaks of violence. In Washington, US policy continues to emphasize stabilizing the ceasefire in Gaza while pressing Hamas to disarm and demilitarize the Strip. American officials have signaled a preference to delay major operations that could threaten the ceasefire, particularly as diplomacy weighs the timing of regional visits and negotiations. The US is also watching conditions on the ground in Gaza and the fate of kidnapped and missing soldiers as part of a broader effort to prevent a collapse of the truce. On the ground in Gaza, the topic of safe passage remains contentious. Hamas has pressed for passage for hundreds of fighters to move through Israeli-held territory, arguing for Red Cross-escorted movement to prevent harm. Israel has maintained a hard line, insisting that weapons be left behind and linking any movement to a broader, verifiable disarmament framework and the return of kidnapped soldiers’ bodies. The exchanges reflect the difficult logistics of ceasefire arrangements in a densely populated and contested corridor, where military considerations intersect with humanitarian concerns and the political calculus of both sides. Meanwhile, in a high-profile legal case connected to the war and its aftermath, the remand of former military advocate general Yifat Tomer-Yerushulmi and former IDF chief prosecutor Matan Solomosh was extended as prosecutors pursue the leak investigation connected to the Sde Teiman detention facility video. Police say the investigation includes questions about possible obstruction. The court extended detention, and authorities have described the case as involving serious criminal offenses tied to the disclosure of material involving allegations of abuse. The case has drawn wide attention in Israel and among coalition partners, highlighting the ongoing scrutiny of military justice and accountability during a period of intensive security operations. In a broader human dimension, Yad Vashem announced that five million names of Jews killed in the Holocaust have now been identified, a milestone achieved with substantial help from survivors, relatives, and increas