Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-24 at 23:06

HEADLINES US eyes MB chapters as foreign terrorists Nablus operation ends 18-month manhunt Hezbollah chief Tabatabai killed in Beirut strike The time is now 6:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report. Good evening. Here is your hourly update on the changing geopolitical landscape in the Middle East and significant global developments shaping the region and beyond. The White House has signed an executive order directing a review to determine whether to designate certain chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations and specially designated global terrorists. Officials say the action targets a transnational network they describe as fueling violence and destabilization across the region and beyond, including in parts of the Middle East where US interests and allies are affected. In parallel, experts warn that attempts to curb or ban an ideology can have far reaching and unpredictable consequences, potentially disrupting communities and networks that operate across borders. Washington emphasizes the broader goal of limiting support for violence while maintaining attention to human rights and regional stability. In Israel, security forces announced the end of an 18-month manhunt with the killing of a Palestinian terrorist in Nablus, linked to the May 2024 car-ramming that killed two soldiers. Israeli police, the Shin Bet internal security service, and the army confirmed the operation, in which the assailant, Abdel-Raouf Shatyeh, was found hiding and killed after security forces determined he was armed. The manhunt drew on intensive intelligence and joint action among Israeli units, and authorities noted that several associates were detained during the operation. Violence in the West Bank has surged since the Gaza conflict intensified last year, adding to ongoing security concerns for Israeli civilians and security personnel. A major development in Lebanon and southern Lebanon concerns the assassination of Hezbollah’s military chief Haytham Tabatabai in Beirut. His death, attributed to an Israeli airstrike, provoked a large funeral turnout with thousands of mourners, some of whom chanted calls for retaliation. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and Hezbollah factions voiced vows for revenge, while Western nations urged restraint to avoid broader escalation. Israel has signaled it will respond to threats and said it reserves the right to act against what it views as threats from Hezbollah. Across the border, reports of Israeli artillery exchanges and ongoing pressure on Hezbollah’s operations have intensified despite the year-old ceasefire framework. France expressed concern over the possibility of escalation and urged all sides to exercise restraint and adhere to ceasefire monitoring mechanisms designed to protect civilians. Humanitarian movement and medical evacuations continued from Gaza as demonstrations of coordinated response by regional and international partners. Nearly 300 Gazans requiring medical care were evacuated for treatment abroad after vetting and coordination with partners, reflecting ongoing cross-border cooperation to address urgent health needs in a densely populated area facing a prolonged crisis. In the broader Middle East, Palestinian activists have been seen copying the Israeli “Bring them home” hostage campaign, displaying ribbons and banners calling for the release of Palestinian captives. The visual campaign underscores how hostage issues remain at the forefront of political messaging and mobilization on multiple sides of the conflict. Turning to Europe, Poland drew attention for a controversy after Yad Vashem posted a note that some observers said implied a blame-laden narrative about identifying armbands during the Holocaust. Polish officials summoned the Israeli ambassador to seek clarification, with authorities stressing that the admonition referred to historical events under German occupation and not the modern state of Poland. The exchange highlighted sensitivities around historical memory and contemporary Jewish life in Europe. In the technology and finance arena, victims of Hamas’ October 2023 attack on Israel filed a lawsuit against Binance and its founder Changpeng Zhao, alleging that the platform facilitated millions of dollars in payments to Hamas and other US-designated groups even after penalties and guilty pleas related to sanctions and anti-money-laundering violations. The plaintiffs accuse Binance of knowingly providing a vehicle for illicit financing, seeking compensatory and treble damages. Binance has said it complies with applicable laws, while Zhao pleaded guilty in related matters in the past. The case underscores ongoing concerns about the role of digital platforms in supporting or enabling terrorist financing. On the diplomatic front, the administration is weighing designations that would extend to MB chapters in Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan, while skipping some other chapters in places like Turkey an