Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-24 at 19:09

HEADLINES Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Ends Amid Deaths Israel Defense Clash Over War Review Promotions Saudi Unveils Region First Industrial Quantum Computer The time is now 2:03 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report. This hour’s update surveys a set of developments shaping the Middle East and adjacent regions, with emphasis on security, humanitarian questions, and diplomacy. In Gaza, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a United States- and Israeli-backed effort to distribute aid bypassing the United Nations and traditional aid agencies, announced it is ending operations after months of criticism over the deaths of Palestinians near its distribution hubs. The foundation began distributing food in late May, with most of its sites located in southern Gaza away from much of the population. Palestinians were killed while approaching sites during the early phase of the program, with the Israeli military saying it fired on Palestinians who approached soldiers. The foundation’s executive director said the program demonstrated there is a better way to deliver aid and that it would wind down after achieving its mission of demonstrating alternatives. The foundation said it had delivered 187 million meals to Gazans since beginning nearly six months ago, a figure that critics say does not reflect the scale of need in a population of around two million. The United States had provided tens of millions of dollars to finance the operation, while the foundation did not disclose all sources of funding. A clause in President Donald Trump’s plan to end the Gaza war bars institutions associated with either side from taking part in aid distribution, a factor cited in assessing the GHF’s future. European leadership, including Austrian officials, had raised questions about the reliability of such arrangements. The foundation had sought to work with United Nations agencies to hand out aid but was not able to secure their partnership. In remarks following the announcement, a US State Department spokesperson said the organization had offered valuable lessons learned, and the broader policy discussions continue as Washington and partners reassess how aid is delivered in Gaza. In Israel, a public clash within the security establishment over the war review and senior command promotions spilled into the political arena. The Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, publicly rebuked the Defense Minister for casting doubt on a seven-month review of the October 7 attack and for freezing high‑level appointments, warning such moves could affect readiness. The Defense Minister responded by ordering a fresh thirty-day examination, saying promotions would be decided only after the review is complete. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu summoned both figures for a clarifying meeting as the government grapples with ongoing security assessments and the political implications of the war’s aftermath. Weather and travel advisories were issued for portions of the country. Meteorologists warned of rainfall along the coastal plain and in the Shfela, spreading inland toward the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea region, with the northern and central districts at particular risk of flooding. Police were coordinating to maintain road safety, and authorities cautioned the public to avoid areas with high weather hazards and to monitor forecast updates. Disruptions on major routes, including Highway 90 between the Arava and the Dead Sea region, were anticipated on Tuesday as conditions evolve. In regional diplomacy and security, a Turkish parliamentary delegation overseeing the disarmament of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party visited the jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan on Imrali island near Istanbul. The delegation pressed for details on the PKK’s dissolution and disarmament and discussed the implementation of a deal with the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces. Iranian state-aligned outlets and commentators signaled a threat environment in the region, with statements from the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps indicating retaliation for actions against allied groups, including Hezbollah, and warning that a response would come at an appropriate time. The rhetoric underscores persistent tensions among regional actors and the potential for escalation. Saudi Arabia announced the region’s first industrial quantum computer, a development tied to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy to diversify the economy beyond oil in the coming years. The move reflects Saudi efforts to position itself at the forefront of emerging technologies and regional development. In Sudan, humanitarian workers described dire conditions in displacement camps as the country’s conflict continues to drive large-scale displacement and strain healthcare services. Doctors and nurses, working in makeshift clinics, faced scarce supplies as they treated patients with respiratory, diarrheal, and other infections in crowded, under-resourced setting