Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-21 at 18:09

HEADLINES - Gaza second-stage ceasefire hinges on hostages - Israel forms cabinet team for ceasefire phase - Zelensky warns over concessions as strikes persist The time is now 1:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report. This is an hourly news update prepared for broadcast. Tensions and humanitarian concerns continue to shape the region as fighting and political maneuvering unfold across Gaza, the West Bank, and the broader Middle East, with significant international diplomacy and domestic security considerations featured in the day’s reporting. In Gaza, the Israeli military says its forces and air defenses are actively working to dismantle remaining threats from underground attack networks. The latest figures from the Israeli army indicate that about 15 Hamas operatives emerged from tunnels in eastern Rafah on Friday. The army reports it killed six of those militants with airstrikes and captured five who surrendered, taking them for questioning. The sweep continues as authorities assess whether additional fighters remain hidden. The ceasefire’s second stage remains contingent on three elements: the release of hostages, disarmament of Hamas, and a broader security framework. Israel has signaled readiness to move forward on the international security component, with negotiators exploring the possibility of an Arab and Muslim-led force to police the truce. In parallel, the Gaza health ministry, controlled by Hamas, says casualties on the Palestinian side have continued amid ongoing hostilities, with the toll reaching into the hundreds since the ceasefire began. International aid organizations report a shifting humanitarian picture: doctors without borders says women and children have been treated this week for injuries from airstrikes and gunfire, including open fractures and gunshot wounds. UNICEF reports dozens of children have been killed in conflict-related incidents since the ceasefire took effect, underscoring the vulnerability of civilians even as the region seeks a path to longer-term peace. The World Food Programme notes some improvement in aid deliveries but stresses that food aid remains far short of what is needed to address acute hunger as winter approaches and meals are affected by seasonal rains and logistical challenges. The humanitarian picture remains precarious even as aid flows gradually increase. On the diplomatic front, there is movement around the second stage of the ceasefire agreement. The security cabinet in Jerusalem is reported to have approved a team of ministers to oversee the next phase, including Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. The arrangement reflects a balancing act within Israel’s coalition, with the two far-right ministers voting against the broader deal and other members backing it. Washington says it is working to assemble an international security framework for the second stage, consistent with the goal of disarming Hamas, while noting that no firm timetable has been announced for the next steps. The US plan also aims to secure a broader European and regional alignment, though European leaders publicly cautioned that any agreement must preserve Ukraine’s sovereignty and security, and not undermine broader European security interests. Meanwhile, the broader regional conflict continues to influence cross-border security dynamics. In southern Lebanon, Israeli forces say they struck a Hamas training facility and killed a number of militants in operations connected to a broader effort to confront terror networks near the border. The incident comes as Israel maintains a high state of alert along its northern frontier given regional spillovers and the fluid security situation across the area. In the West Bank, Palestinians report a wave of settler attacks overnight targeting homes, vehicles, and other property across multiple villages. Among the incidents, buildings were burned in Luban a-Sharqiya, a plant nursery was vandalized near Nablus, and a number of Palestinian-owned vehicles were set alight in Beita and Susya areas. There were no immediate reports of arrests, highlighting ongoing tensions between settlers and Palestinian residents that have drawn international attention and domestic political debate about how to curb violence. In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated a commitment to firm action against acts of violence by settlers and against the security forces, insisting that Israel remains a nation governed by law. Across the international arena, Singapore announced sanctions on four Israeli settler leaders for involvement in what it described as egregious acts of extreme violence against Palestinians, joining a list of measures already adopted by European Union, Canada, and others. The developments underscore a widening web of accountability efforts tied to the broader conflict and its most co