Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-03 at 19:06

HEADLINES Rabin Anniversary Memorials Push Peace Hope Israel Destroys Two Hezbollah Militants in Lebanon ICC Warns El-Fasher Violence May Be Crimes The time is now 2:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report. This is the 2:00 PM update with the latest developments from the Middle East and related global events. Diaspora Jewish communities marked the 30th anniversary of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin’s assassination with memorials from the World Zionist Organization’s global ceremonies to observances across the United States and the United Kingdom. Organizers emphasized the enduring hope for peace while acknowledging the ongoing security challenges facing Israel and the need for strong defense against threats. In the United States, federal authorities charged two men in Michigan with terrorism-related offenses tied to an ISIS-inspired plot. Prosecutors say the suspects purchased AR-15 style rifles in the months preceding their arrest and engaged in online discussions indicating intent to carry out an attack. Authorities describe the case as part of ongoing efforts to detect and disrupt so-called homegrown violent extremism. Hungary’s government withdrew a Jordanian student’s scholarship after an incident in which an Israeli professor was interrupted during a lecture, prompting the Culture and Innovation Minister to call Hungary not only an ally but a friend of Israel. The move underscores how diplomatic sensitivities surrounding Israel remain a consideration within European academic circles. Recent public opinion in the Palestinian territories shows a shift in views since October 7, with a poll indicating more Palestinians now express support for the Oct. 7 attacks than five months earlier. The same survey notes rising disapproval of Hamas’s disarmament and increasing pessimism about Hamas’s prospects for victory over Israel, reflecting widening divisions over strategy and leadership in the conflict. A story from New York highlighted an Israeli Jewish traveler who sustained a brain bleed in what authorities described as an attack in Manhattan. The interview with the individual stressed concern for fellow Jews and for loved ones, while the person emphasized resilience in the face of security threats in major urban centers. On the legal front in Israel, the trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continued with a notable scheduling adjustment: the court session was shortened by two hours to accommodate what was described as an urgent diplomatic meeting. Netanyahu has faced multiple ethics and corruption charges and has sought to accelerate or adjust hearings in recent weeks, citing state duties and health considerations. The proceedings, which began in 2020, are expected to stretch into the coming years, with cross-examination continuing in the weeks ahead and the possibility that testimony could extend into next spring. In the Gaza context, Israeli authorities reported the transfer of five Palestinian prisoners to Gaza via the Kerem Shalom crossing, with the detainees arriving at a hospital in central Gaza. The move is part of ongoing, tightly managed exchanges and security considerations in the broader conflict environment. In southern Lebanon, Israeli forces said they destroyed two Hezbollah militants in separate operations, led by the Northern Command and conducted with air support. One targeted individual, described as a commander within Hezbollah’s Radwan Force in the Nabatieh region, was reported to have advanced the group’s terrorist capabilities toward Israel. Earlier in the day, another Hezbollah fighter was struck in the Ayta al-Shaab area, with observers noting the individual was engaged in gathering intelligence on Israeli forces. The Israeli military described the actions as part of ongoing efforts to counter cross-border threats. Meanwhile, Palestinian factions in Cairo continued discussions about future governance in Gaza, with a spokesman for Fatah indicating a desire to ensure Hamas remains involved in any political process to prevent further radicalization. The talks reflect an ongoing international effort to shape a viable, inclusive framework for Gaza’s future amid the wider regional instability. Across the Atlantic, a Detroit-area terrorism case progressed as two men were charged after searches tied to an ISIS-influenced plot. Investigators indicated the suspects and others discussed possible targets and carried firearms and ammunition for what they described as a planned attack, with authorities stressing that law enforcement intervened before any harm could be carried out. In other regional security developments, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani noted that the dissolution of Shiite militias in Iraq is connected to the planned withdrawal of the US-led coalition forces, with a timetable indicating a withdrawal to be completed by September next year. The statement places emphasis on how broader coalition dynamics in the region intersect