Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-24 at 16:07

HEADLINES Israel hunts Hamas in Rafah tunnels Lebanon mourns Hezbollah commander as tensions spike Iran warns of direct clash France mediates The time is now 11:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report. This is the 11:00 AM news update. We begin with a concise briefing on the evolving security and diplomatic landscape across the Middle East, with attention to Israeli security concerns and relevant US policy positions. In Gaza, Israeli forces say they remain focused on locating Hamas operatives still believed to be holed up in the Rafah area. Military briefings describe dozens of fighters believed to be in the field, with assessments indicating the number is likely lower than earlier estimates as tunnels are destroyed and fighters are forced to improvise. The Israeli military says hundreds of meters of tunnels have been neutralized in recent days, and more than 60 targets including tunnel shafts and buildings have been struck. Officials stress the objective remains clear: locate those who remain and prevent any threat to Israeli troops or civilians. Across the Gaza border, observers note that some combatants have attempted to emerge from tunnels to search for food or supplies, with at least a few encountered and neutralized. The United States continues to press for practical outcomes under the framework of a broader ceasefire, while maintaining calls for humanitarian access and the safe movement of civilians. In Lebanon, crowds gathered in Beirut’s southern suburbs to bid farewell to Hezbollah’s top military figure Haytham Ali Tabtabai and several other fighters killed in an Israeli strike near the city’s outskirts. The funeral underscored continuing tensions as Israel maintains a broad campaign against Hezbollah’s drawn-out presence and capabilities. Israelis say surveillance and air operations over Beirut and the Bekaa Valley continue, and defense officials describe ongoing efforts to monitor Hezbollah’s activities and to counter any attempt to rebuild or rearm. Analysts note a leadership dynamic within Hezbollah as it reevaluates its posture amid a shifting regional environment, including signals from Iran and evolving regional diplomacy. The broader concern remains the potential for escalation along the border and in surrounding areas if hostilities resume or widen. Iran remains a central element in the regional calculus. An Iranian security official signaling a potential direct military bearing after recent Israeli actions expressed a warning that escalation could be met with a direct confrontation. Separately, in Europe, France said it will host Iran’s foreign minister for talks on November 26 to discuss bilateral and regional issues and Iran’s nuclear program, with a stated aim of securing Iran’s obligations to the IAEA and resuming cooperation with the agency. France also indicated it would discuss the plight of two French citizens detained in Iran. In the background, Iranian dissidents have been hosted in Israel this week for cultural events, described by Israeli officials as part of a broader effort to maintain dialogue and build people-to-people links even amid regional tensions. Israeli officials emphasize that any engagement with Iran remains guided by national security considerations and the goal of preventing a broader confrontation in the region. On the diplomatic front, developments surround the World Zionist Congress. A power-sharing agreement has been ratified to govern the World Zionist Organization and the Jewish National Fund, designating Doron Perez as president and Yaakov Hagoel as chair for the first half of the term, with a plan to rotate leadership and expand the organizational structure. Officials point to the expansion of departments from fourteen to twenty and the intention to pursue reforms in election processes after last year’s voting irregularities. The arrangement also excludes certain political figures from the coalition’s leadership roster, reflecting a broader effort to balance diverse factions within diaspora leadership while avoiding external influence in internal appointments. In the United States and its allies, the Gaza humanitarian effort has entered a new phase. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, funded in part by US supporters and aligned with the Trump administration’s humanitarian approach, announced it is winding down operations after delivering substantial aid, including tens of millions of meals and ready-to-use food packs intended to prevent diversion by Hamas and to reach civilians. The foundation says its model demonstrated a new approach to delivering aid, with plans to transfer knowledge and coordination responsibilities to other humanitarian actors working in Gaza. The shift comes amid continued international debate over how best to ensure aid reaches those in need while minimizing the risk of misuse in a conflict zone. In economic news, Israel’s central bank announced a quarter-point reduction in the key p