Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-23 at 22:07

HEADLINES - UNSC backs Gaza ceasefire, humanitarian pause - IDF disciplines senior officers after Oct 7 - Beirut strike confirms Hezbollah commander killed The time is now 5:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report. At five o’clock this afternoon, here is the hourly update on the Middle East and related global affairs. The United Nations Security Council voted to back a Gaza ceasefire plan put forward by the United States, a development that follows intense diplomacy surrounding renewed discussions of a path toward reducing fighting in Gaza. Officials in Washington framed the vote as a step toward a humanitarian pause while broader political arrangements are pursued. Officials in Jerusalem stressed the ongoing priority of security and the protection of civilians, underscoring that any ceasefire must be accompanied by verifiable commitments and security measures. In the West Bank, Israeli Defense Forces paratroopers killed a terrorist who hurled rocks at civilians and soldiers near Ofra, in what the army described as part of a broader effort to disrupt militant activity. The Israeli Defense Forces, acting with assistance from the Shin Bet, also reported the arrest of more than sixty wanted suspects across the West Bank in the past week, including eighteen Hamas operatives as part of a sustained security sweep. Separately, in a domestic security development, a prominent former defense official was reported to have left his residence on security grounds after a Shin Bet assessment, illustrating continued concern over risk to Israeli leadership and critical installations. Turning to the military command, Israeli Defense Forces Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir announced a series of disciplinary measures aimed at accountability for the October seventh incidents. The actions included the removal and public censure of several senior officers who led or oversaw key commands and intelligence posts on that day. Among those affected were former Military Intelligence Directorate chief Aharon Haliva, former Operations Directorate head Oded Basiuk, and former Southern Command chief Yaron Finkelman, all of whom will transition from their active reserve duties or be restricted in various capacities. Other commanders received formal reprimands but will remain in their posts through the end of their current terms. Zamir said the army would pursue a thorough and professional inquiry into what happened, underscoring that lessons must be learned to preserve trust in the command and to meet the security challenges visible on multiple fronts. He also noted that the investigation would involve external review and that a broader formal state inquiry would be weighed in light of ongoing government debates about how to proceed. Across the border in Lebanon, reporting detailed a broader escalation assessment linked to a cross-border strike. Israel reportedly updated the United States that it planned to intensify operations in Lebanon, and American officials were aware that Hezbollah’s top commander had been identified among potential targets, though the exact timing of any strike was not disclosed. US officials expressed concern that moves seen as a green light to eliminate Hezbollah leadership could complicate diplomatic efforts in Lebanon and disrupt a multilateral security framework operating in the region. In the aftermath of the strike, Hezbollah publicly confirmed the killing of its high-ranking commander in Beirut, with statements praising the fallen figure as a muhajid who had served the cause of Lebanon and the resistance. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in remarks following the operation, pledged that Israel would not allow Hezbollah to rebuild its capabilities and urged Lebanon to fulfill its obligations to disarm the organization in order to protect civilians on both sides of the border. In other developments, the World Zionist Organization announced a new coalition agreement appointing Doron Perez as president and Yossi Hagoel as chair. The arrangement is described as a shift that will expand engagement with budgetary and diaspora affairs, while maintaining many of the organization’s traditional, ceremonial duties. The leadership change arrives as Israeli public life and regional security concerns continue to converge with diaspora relations and international outreach. Diplomatic activity also extended to the broader war in Ukraine. In Geneva, Ukrainian, American, and European officials discussed a US peace plan for ending the war in Ukraine, a framework the United States has promoted amid concerns about concessions that Kyiv might be asked to accept. President Donald Trump has touted the plan publicly, while Ukrainian and European leaders urged careful scrutiny and insisted that Ukraine’s borders and military readiness remain central to any negotiated settlement. The United States delegation, led by the secretary of state, said the talks were productive and signaled a willingness