Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-12 at 15:07

HEADLINES Israel to shut Army Radio by 2026 Gaza hospitals crippled as ceasefire strains Iran faces worst water crisis in decades The time is now 10:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report. At 10:00 in the morning, the day’s reporting across the Middle East and the broader region centers on security, diplomacy, and humanitarian strains that touch ordinary lives from Tel Aviv to Tehran and beyond. First, in Israel, a major policy shift is unfolding in the media landscape. Defense Minister Israel Katz announced plans to shut down Army Radio, the 75-year-old military broadcaster, by March 1, 2026. He said the civilian-style journalism on the station has harmed the war effort and morale, and he framed the move as bringing the outlet in line with a nonpartisan military mandate. The announcement has sparked a broader debate about government influence over the news ecosystem, with critics warning of a chilling effect on press freedom and supporters arguing that reforms are needed to restore balance and efficiency. The proposal must win cabinet approval, and legal challenges are anticipated from Station leadership, journalist unions, and press councils which contend that current law anchors the station in public broadcasting trappings that should not be decided by ministers alone. Army Radio has long served as a bridge between the military and the public, and its sister network Galgalatz remains a key traffic and information service. The government’s move sits within a larger set of reforms aimed at reshaping how Israel’s media is supervised and funded, raising questions about the future independence of public broadcasting and the protections offered to reporters working inside and outside the military framework. Turning to the Gaza context, hospitals across the strip remain under severe strain in the wake of the ceasefire that began last month. Fourteen-year-old Mohammed Wael Helles, who was left with a serious spinal injury from an Israeli airstrike, has waited weeks for surgery as clinicians triage a swelling list of urgent cases. World Health Organization assessments show that only about half of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are functioning at a meaningful level, with shortages of staff, medicine, and fuel compounding the crisis. Health authorities report that more than 60 percent of essential medicines are unavailable, and electricity remains unreliable due to fuel constraints. In the north, doctors describe a grim calculus of deciding which patients receive operations first, with consequences for cancer care and trauma rehabilitation. Aid has entered Gaza since the ceasefire, but the daily delivery rate remains a point of dispute, with figures sometimes conflicting between the Gaza authorities and aid organizations. The health system’s collapse continues to be a pressing concern for civilians caught in a conflict that has already displaced or injured large portions of Gaza’s population. On the diplomatic and legal front, a ruling from London’s Court of Appeal reaffirmed a government stance on export controls related to F-35 fighter jets. The court said that a Palestinian non-governmental organization, Al-Haq, cannot appeal a decision that Britain lawfully allowed the indirect export of F-35 parts to Israel under a carve-out. The decision underscores how national security assessments weigh against civil society challenges when national defense programs are at stake. The ruling arrived as Israel and Hamas pursued a hostage release ceasefire and amid ongoing debate about how Western partners balance arms transfers with international humanitarian law obligations. Israel has repeatedly denounced claims of violations and has emphasized its right to defend its citizens amid ongoing security threats. In Washington, the political temperature around Israel’s leadership remains high and highly scrutinized. United States President Donald Trump sent a formal request to President Isaac Herzog to consider pardoning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a move that drew swift reaction from opposition leader Yair Lapid, who noted that any pardon would require that Netanyahu first be found guilty of charges levelled in domestic proceedings. President Herzog’s office stated that pardons follow established procedures, including formal requests, and stressed respect for Israel’s legal process. The episode reflects enduring US-Israel dynamics, including ongoing attention from allied leaders and a perception that domestic legal issues can become international diplomatic moments, especially during a period of regional tensions and hostage diplomacy. In the arena of regional culture and international sport, Israel faces a pivotal moment regarding its Eurovision participation. With a decision looming from the European Broadcasting Union, host Austria has pressed for Israel to remain in next year’s contest. Israel continues preparations for its contestant, even as some member states threaten to withdr