Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-24 at 17:05

HEADLINES Rafah tunnel clearance intensifies amid Gaza crisis Hezbollah mourns second-in-command killed in strike Tehran influence network targets Israeli politics The time is now 12:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report. This is a midday news update. In the region, Israeli security forces have intensified operations around eastern Rafah, engaging Hamas militants and targeting a vast tunnel network as the Gaza Strip remains volatile. Observers describe troops working around the clock to clear tunnels and neutralize threats, while civilians in Gaza face ongoing hardship as aid flows remain constrained and the humanitarian situation worsens. In a separate security incident inside Israel, a driver without a license struck civilians near Beersheba during a police pursuit. The chase ended when a police officer shot the suspect in the shoulder, injuring them. Authorities say the assailant was not licensed to drive and the motive is under investigation. Across Lebanon, Israeli drones have flown over Beirut following an Israeli strike in the southern suburbs. Hezbollah has mourned the loss of its second-in-command and top military figure, Haytham Ali Tabatabai, who was killed in the operation. The organization has hinted at possible responses, though leadership debates emphasize restraint as regional lines shift and Iran’s influence operations continue to be monitored. In Europe, Poland summoned Israel’s ambassador after a post from Yad Vashem described Poland as the first country to require Jews to wear a distinctive badge during the Holocaust, a characterization Warsaw said should be understood as German-occupied Poland rather than Polish authorities. The dispute underscores ongoing sensitivities around historical memory and international diplomacy. In the West Bank, prosecutors moved to indict a suspect in a racially motivated assault on an elderly woman near Turmus Aiya, seeking detention until trial. The case highlights the continuing strain of violence and the contentious atmosphere in parts of the territory. Arab-Israeli politics remain deeply watched as tensions flare around the timing of elections. Mansour Abbas, leader of the Ra’am party, criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu for what he called attempts to influence or "steal" the elections. Netanyahu’s campaign has denied targeting Ra’am, while Abbas urged law enforcement agencies to resist political pressure and protect Arab voters’ rights. Iranian efforts to influence Israeli public life have garnered renewed attention. An analysis argues that Tehran has built a broad influence apparatus designed to undermine Israel’s political system through a network of online identities and disinformation campaigns. The report warns that interference could occur before, during, and after elections, employing social media manipulation, fake personas, and cyber tools to complicate the voting environment and political discourse. Humanitarian concerns in Gaza continue to loom large as aid networks reassess operations. A US-backed Gaza-focused humanitarian foundation announced it will cease operations in the Gaza Strip, prompting questions about immediate relief access for civilians and the future of coordinated aid in the territory. International reaction to regional events includes concern over a recent Israeli strike in Beirut and calls from partners for restraint to prevent escalation. France, for its part, urged all parties to exercise caution given the fragile ceasefire and ongoing tensions in the area. There are evolving signals from across the region as well. In southern Syria, a Druze community in Sweida has displayed strong pro-Israel messaging in public displays, reflecting cross-border currents of political sentiment and regional alignments that complicate the security picture. In the broader diaspora and online space, reports from Sweden describe investigations into charitable donations linked to Gaza that allegedly flowed to political activities of the Muslim Brotherhood, highlighting concerns about how aid flows can be redirected or misused. On the battlefield front, the IDF has reported clashes near the northern edge of Gaza and in other zones, with forces engaging suspects crossing the boundary as they enforce the terms of a fragile ceasefire. The military says it will continue to act to remove immediate threats while maintaining vigilance along the wider border and in surrounding fronts. In other regional notes, an emphasis remains on keeping civilians safe and ensuring access to humanitarian relief, even as fighting and political maneuvering on multiple fronts continue to complicate prospects for a durable peace. The region’s security picture remains dynamic, with regional actors recalibrating strategies in response to ongoing hostilities, shifting alliances, and external pressures from allied powers. This concludes the midday update. We will continue to monitor developments in Rafah, along the Gaza borde