Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-11 at 14:07

HEADLINES Israeli Poll Shows US Influence Surpasses Netanyahu US Drafts Gaza Plan Tied to Demilitarization Israel Targets Hezbollah Hubs in South Lebanon The time is now 9:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report. Good morning. This is the 9:00 a.m. update, presenting a concise, on‑the‑air briefing on the evolving situation across the Middle East and related fronts, with careful attention to Israel’s security concerns and US policy considerations. A new Israeli public opinion poll shows Israelis increasingly perceive that US influence on Israel’s security is greater than that of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government. The poll also highlights that security is viewed as a central factor in broad US policy toward Israel, even as Israeli society remains divided over domestic issues such as judicial reform and the conscription of haredi communities. The findings underscore how security perceptions intertwine with American diplomatic posture and domestic political debates, shaping how Israelis and their allies interpret Washington’s priorities. In Gaza, the United States is drafting a Security Council resolution that signals a pathway for Gaza’s future. Reports indicate the text ties any Israeli withdrawal to comprehensive demilitarization of Hamas and to concrete security milestones, while also linking international stabilization efforts to on‑the‑ground benchmarks. The draft also contemplates a phased Israeli presence and heightened oversight, with an international transition body charged to report progress every six months. At the same time, the draft appears to remove sanctions previously directed at international aid groups that cooperate with Hamas, a change that has drawn concern from Israel about ensuring aid does not bypass security requirements. UNICEF, meanwhile, warns that crucial dual‑use items needed for Gaza’s vaccination campaigns—such as syringes and solar‑powered cold storage—are facing entry delays, complicating a mass immunization effort aimed at reaching millions of children amid the ceaseless disruption of the war. Humanitarian agencies say aid delivery remains uneven. UNICEF notes significant needs in Gaza as vaccination rounds proceed, while critical supplies—refrigerators, infant formula and other essentials—still face clearance hurdles. Aid workers stress that the goal of preventing new outbreaks and protecting vulnerable children depends on timely, unimpeded access, even as dual‑use scrutiny and security concerns remain in play. On the ground, Israel’s military leadership is signaling sustained activity in the region. The Israeli military has released information about Hezbollah’s infrastructure in southern Lebanon, including aims to disrupt key terror hubs in places such as Nabatieh and Tyre. The focus on deterrence and prevention highlights Israel’s intent to prevent the resumption of attacks from Lebanon while maintaining strategic flexibility in a volatile surrounding environment. In related developments, Israel’s leadership has underscored the importance of maintaining readiness for potential escalation on multiple fronts, including alongside ongoing operations in Gaza and evolving threats in the north. In diplomatic and political developments, the Knesset moved to make a temporary policy permanently permanent by advancing a bill to ban Al Jazeera in Israel. The measure would expand authorities to curb foreign broadcasters deemed harmful to Israel’s security. Proponents frame the step as part of a broad effort to manage information and influence in a time of regional volatility; opponents warn of implications for press freedom and regional normalization. Israel also expanded its diplomatic footprint with a new embassy open in Tallinn, Estonia, described by officials as a milestone in bilateral ties. The ceremony highlighted shared technology, cyber and defense interests, and reinforced Israel’s broader strategy of deepening relations across Europe and the Atlantic alliance as part of a wider effort to bolster regional resilience amid regional upheaval. In other political and security stories, Turkey’s security sector is in focus after a Turkish transport aircraft, a C-130, crashed near Georgia following a flight from Azerbaijan. Turkish authorities say rescue operations have begun in coordination with Georgian and Azerbaijani authorities, with no confirmed details yet on casualties. Separately, a Turkish prosecutor has sought a sentence exceeding two thousand years for Istanbul’s mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, accusing him of leading a graft network in a case that has drawn intense domestic and international attention as part of Turkey’s political landscape. Regional dynamics also include shifts in the broader Middle East security architecture. A Reuters report from the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Canada notes that the absence of the US president at that format could affect deliberations on Ukraine and the Middle East, while Canadian and a