Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-12 at 12:07

HEADLINES Libyan migrant boat capsizes; 42 missing Sudan and Gaza famine looming; funding dire Trump seeks pardon for Netanyahu in letter The time is now 7:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report. This is your seven o’clock global news update. The news coming from the Middle East and beyond this morning reflects humanitarian crises, security challenges, and shifting political calculations that will shape the region in the days ahead. First, a tragic maritime development off the Libyan coast. The International Organization for Migration has reported that at least forty two migrants are missing and presumed dead after a rubber boat capsized near the Al Buri oilfield. Seven survivors were rescued after six days at sea from a vessel carrying nearly fifty people. The incident increases the toll of Mediterranean migrant deaths this year and underscores the perilous crossings that persist despite search and rescue efforts and heightened border controls in the region. Turning to the humanitarian front, United Nations agencies warn that famine looms for millions in Sudan and Gaza, with additional hotspots including Yemen, Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, South Sudan, Nigeria, Somalia, and Syria identified as groups at very high or imminent risk. The World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization say funding gaps have crippled emergency responses, forcing deep rationing and limiting aid to the most vulnerable. As of now, only a fraction of the estimated twenty nine billion dollars needed for urgent relief has been received, heightening fears of a broader regional and global humanitarian crisis if donors do not mobilize quickly. Experts emphasize that preventing famine is not only a moral imperative but a practical step toward political and social stability in fragile states. In Washington, a notable development touches on how leaders are framed in the broader regional struggle. Former US President Donald Trump sent a formal letter to Israeli President Isaac Herzog urging a full pardon for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, arguing that Netanyahu has stood firm for Israel and that the prosecution in his case represents political pressure. The Israeli president’s office noted that while it respects the independence of the justice system, pardon requests in Israel must follow established procedures and can be considered only after all legal proceedings have concluded, with rare exceptions. The letter has drawn varied reactions within Israel, where several factions weigh political considerations against legal processes, and it has become a point of discussion about how American voices may intersect with domestic judicial matters. In internal Israeli affairs, Defense Minister Israel Katz announced plans to close Army Radio, a publicly funded but editorially independent outlet. He says the move is intended to preserve the military’s nonpartisan character, while the station’s leadership has criticized the plan as a blow to press freedom. If the proposal proceeds, Army Radio could wind down its broadcasts by early March, prompting political and civil society debate about the role of military-affiliated media in a democracy and the appropriate boundaries between public service and watchdog journalism. On the humanitarian corridor front in Gaza, Israel opened the Zikim crossing to facilitate the delivery of aid trucks coordinated with United Nations and international partners after government inspections. Officials describe the move as a measured step to facilitate humanitarian assistance, even as the broader blockade and conflict conditions persist. The crossing’s reopening signals continued, careful coordination between security considerations and relief efforts in one of the world’s most densely watched humanitarian theaters. In Palestinian governance, reports indicate that Palestinian Authority finance chief has been dismissed in connection with an investigation into payments to terrorists under the older “pay-to-slay” framework, a development that adds to the ongoing debates about reforms, governance, and security policy within the Palestinian leadership. Meanwhile, in the political arena inside Israel, a confrontation drew attention as right-wing activists gathered outside a Pardes Hanna home hosting a meeting with Arab lawmaker Ayman Odeh, described as a forum for partnership and peace. The gathering was disrupted by protests and, in some moments, violence against the host’s property. Critics argued the incident underscored rising tensions around Jewish-Arab cooperation, while Odeh and his supporters stressed that genuine partnership remains essential to counter extremism and promote shared security. Leaders from across the political spectrum condemned violence, noting that attempts to intimidate or cancel dialogue undermine the democratic process and the prospects for collaboration in a volatile environment. In the broader regional secu