Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-09 at 20:08

HEADLINES Hadar Goldin identified, returned after eleven years World Bank backs Gaza Board of Peace Plan for multinational stabilization force in Gaza The time is now 3:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report. This is the 3:00 PM update on developments in the Middle East and related global affairs. Hospitals and families in Israel reflected on a long-awaited moment as the remains of Lieutenant Hadar Goldin were identified and returned to Israel after more than eleven years in Hamas captivity. Goldin, who was killed and abducted during the Gaza war in 2014, was formally identified following the completion of forensic procedures and notification to his family. Leaders across the Israeli security establishment and government praised the effort to bring him home for burial in Israel, emphasizing that the search for all missing hostages continues as part of a broader commitment to secure the country’s citizens and maintain the dignity of those who served. Goldin’s parents and sister described the return as a final, painful chapter that also honors the values that guided their campaign for his release. Israeli officials stressed that the nation would not waver in its effort to recover all hostages and to honor those who served in uniform. In New York, the World Bank signaled support for language in a US-drafted United Nations Security Council resolution that would authorize a two-year mandate for a Board of Peace, a transitional governance body envisioned to coordinate Gaza reconstruction and economic recovery. The letter, circulating among diplomats, noted that the World Bank, the United Nations, and the European Union have estimated reconstruction costs for Gaza in the tens of billions of dollars, with interim estimates rising to around seventy billion. The proposal would empower the Board of Peace to engage international partners and to establish operational entities to address reconstruction, development, and related stabilization efforts. US officials portrayed the draft resolution as a practical framework to mobilize resources and align donor efforts, while reiterating that any such effort would require broad international backing and careful management to avoid unintended consequences. The text also invites financial institutions to participate and suggests a dedicated donor trust fund to support Gaza’s rebuilding. In a related development, reports from Washington and Jerusalem note ongoing negotiations over the next phase of the broader plan to end the Gaza war. The plan envisions the establishment of a multinational stabilization force to help secure Gaza under international auspices, with discussions emphasizing regional roles for Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. Israeli officials have indicated that any international force would operate under strict parameters and would not involve Turkish boots on the ground, a position reiterated as discussions progressed. US officials cautioned that while regional cooperation remains a priority, the specifics of deployment and constraints would reflect Israel’s security concerns and tactical judgments on the ground. In Jerusalem, internal political friction over the administration of justice and oversight continued to unfold. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir confronted senior police officials over the handling of materials in the Sde Teiman video-leak case, urging that retired judge Asher Kula be allowed to oversee the investigation. Prime Minister and coalition allies have pressed for changes to oversight to ensure perceived accountability, while Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has maintained that authority to appoint investigators rests with the judicial system and the government’s moves must respect the court’s prerogatives. The High Court of Justice is expected to issue a ruling on the matter soon, and police continue to conduct the probe with a degree of independence. The episode underscores the broad political debate over how disputes involving security and the judiciary should be managed in Israel’s current political environment. International media and defense matters also attracted attention this hour. The BBC announced the resignation of Director-General Tim Davie and BBC News chief Deborah Turness amid criticism of bias and coverage related to the Gaza war, including the editing of a Trump speech. The departures highlight ongoing scrutiny of how major outlets cover sensitive regional conflicts and how newsroom decisions may affect public perception of events in the Middle East. In the business and technology arena, the NSO Group, the Israeli-founded spyware company, appointed former US ambassador to Israel David Friedman as executive chairman in a bid to reposition the firm on the global stage and potentially reenter the US market. The company faced long-standing scrutiny over the sale of Pegasus spyware to governments with poor human-rights records and has been