Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-10 at 19:07

HEADLINES Netanyahu rejects Oct 7 inquiry, IDF flaws US-Israel push to disarm Hamas in Gaza BBC Panorama edits spark apologies and resignations The time is now 2:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report. At two o’clock this afternoon, we bring you a briefing on the fast-moving events in the Middle East, with the latest developments in Israel, neighboring states, and the broader regional and international context. In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the idea of a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 attacks, signaling a reluctance to open a formal, wide-ranging inquiry in that format. Officials and observers note that bereaved families expressed frustration, and several carried their protest into portions of the public address. Separately, the Israeli Defense Forces released details of a broader internal review that identified six major failures in intelligence, planning, command decisions, and organizational culture that contributed to the October 7 attack. The army’s chief of staff, addressing the findings, signaled a shift toward structural and cultural reforms within the force as it seeks to prevent a recurrence. On the diplomatic front, Prime Minister Netanyahu held talks with Jared Kushner, the White House adviser, in Jerusalem early this week to discuss Gaza policy as Washington and Jerusalem coordinate on the second phase of what US officials describe as a Gaza plan. Washington has been pressing for a path to disarm Hamas, demilitarize Gaza, and prevent Hamas from reestablishing a role in the Gaza Strip. US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to visit Israel to advance those discussions, with mediators weighing how to manage the fate of Hamas fighters believed to be trapped in tunnels beneath Rafah. Reports indicate that US officials have floated the possibility of safe passage for those fighters to a destination outside Gaza in exchange for disarmament, a proposition that has drawn lines of public disagreement and private consideration in Jerusalem. In parallel, negotiations continue over the establishment of an International Stabilization Force for Gaza’s southern region under the second phase of a broader peace plan; however, a senior Emirati official said the United Arab Emirates is not planning to participate until a clearer framework for such a force is established. In Washington, attention to hostage and body-recovery dynamics intensified as Kushner’s meetings coincided with developments surrounding the return of Israeli officer Hadar Goldin’s remains, a condition tied to broader discussions about the fate of hostages and the terms of any ceasefire arrangement. Hamas, for its part, reiterated that its fighters in Rafah would not surrender and called for a process that would preserve its strategic position while negotiations continue on the broader ceasefire framework. Beyond the fight in Gaza, regional dynamics continue to unfold. In Lebanon, Hannibal Gaddafi—the youngest son of Muammar Gaddafi—was released from detention in Lebanon after nearly a decade, a decision the government framed as a result of judicial action and diplomatic discussions. Human rights groups noted concerns about the circumstances of detention and release in the context of long-standing regional tensions and the fate of missing individuals linked to past Libyan-Lebanese disputes. The case underscores how regional disputes and historical alignments can echo into current security calculations across borders. In parallel, Egypt’s parliamentary elections entered a new phase as parties aligned with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi prepared for a contest that observers describe as pro-government in a tightly controlled political environment. The field is crowded, but several parties and blocs appear to be united in backing the state’s leadership, with a hybrid voting system shaping outcomes and some opposition figures facing hurdles to compete. Turnout in the most recent upper-house vote was relatively low, contributing to concerns about political engagement amid ongoing economic challenges and policy debates. In the international arena, tensions over media coverage and political narratives received fresh attention. The BBC’s leadership faced a high-profile fall from grace after revelations that a recent Panorama documentary on Donald Trump had been edited in a way critics described as misleading, with claims of bias and misrepresentation. The case prompted apologies from BBC officials and resignations among senior executives, as media observers and policymakers questioned standards of impartiality and the handling of controversial materials in a highly charged political environment. Within Israel’s own borders, the security-organized crackdown on incitement received legislative momentum. A parliamentary committee approved a crucial change enabling a police deputy chief, at the rank of deputy inspector general, to order investigations and arrests of i