Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-22 at 02:10

HEADLINES - Lebanon opens talks on five border outposts - US plans Hamas free zones in Gaza - Greene resigns after rift with Trump The time is now 9:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report. Good evening. Here is the latest news with emphasis on the Middle East, Israel and Jewish communities, and related global developments. Lebanon says it is prepared for talks toward an agreement to end Israeli strikes on its territory. Aoun indicated discussions would include steps toward the Israeli military withdrawal from five border outposts along the frontier, each to be staffed by a company of troops. The remarks come as regional diplomacy searches for ways to ease cross-border tensions and prevent escalation along the Lebanon-Israel line, where history of incidents and intermittent exchanges have raised concerns about wider confrontation. In Gaza, United States officials are reportedly pursuing a plan that would create Hamas-free zones within the enclave and divide the territory into areas controlled by Hamas or by the Israeli Defense Forces. The proposal envisions temporary Palestinian communities in the south, beginning with Rafah, aimed at reducing civilian harm and facilitating humanitarian access. The plan has drawn questions from regional neighbors and international organizations about feasibility, security, and the practical implications for civilians who remain within densely populated urban areas. In Washington, a high profile political development unfolded as Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene announced she would resign after a public rupture with former president Donald Trump. Trump publicly characterized Greene as someone who spends more time “complaining” than contributing, a setback for allies within a polarized political environment, and a reflection of shifting dynamics between Republican factions and the former president. Turning to the broader international stage, a Kremlin envoy, Dmitry Dmitriev, stated on social media that what he described as Trump’s peace plan is designed to prevent Ukraine from losing more land and lives. He framed the plan as a mechanism to counter war-mongering narratives and to preserve Ukrainian territory, a framing that underscores how global actors continue to pursue diplomatic outlets amid ongoing conflict in Europe and amid debates over bargaining power, sanctions, and security guarantees. In other international commentary, an opinion piece urged Pope Leo the Fourteenth to publicly denounce Candace Owens and Nick Fuentes for antisemitism, arguing that their public statements violate Catholic teaching and endanger Jewish communities. The appeal highlights how religious leaders and communities grapple with antisemitism at a time of broad political and social tension across Western societies. On the security front in the region, the United States continues to press for arrangements intended to reduce hostilities and improve civilian safety in and around Gaza, while navigating concerns from Israel about security guarantees, border control, and the risk of renewed cross-border violence. The goal stated by US officials is to minimize civilian harm while ensuring that militant groups cannot regain footholds, a balancing act that remains central to debates over humanitarian corridors, surveillance, and the protection of Israeli civilians. In the field of science, researchers reported the discovery of RNA molecules from a mammoth that disappeared roughly forty thousand years ago. The finding provides a unique biological snapshot and offers new insight into the life and final moments of a prehistoric species, contributing to the broader understanding of extinction events and ancient ecosystems. Another topic drawing attention among Jewish communities concerns education funding. A Jewish group is reviving a push for public funding of religious schools in a movement that seeks to integrate Jewish studies with broader state academic standards. The effort arrives amid ongoing legal debates over the proper role of religion in public schooling and the interpretation of constitutional protections for religious education. Humanitarian concerns remained acute after a mass kidnapping in Nigeria, where gunmen abducted hundreds of students and teachers from St. Mary’s Catholic School in the country’s northwest. The Christian Association of Nigeria reported that at least two hundred seventeen students and twelve teachers were seized, underscoring persistent violence and security challenges in parts of Africa that sit far from the immediate Middle East theater but contribute to a broader global risk landscape. On the diplomatic front, a United States policy direction continues to draw scrutiny as officials discuss a plan to establish Hamas-free zones in Gaza and to relocate displaced Palestinians into temporary communities in the south. While framed as a humanitarian measure, the plan also faces questions about implementation, governance, an