Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-25 at 13:07

HEADLINES Israeli patients' own cells target blood cancer Turkey inches toward PKK talks with Ocalan Palestinian economy shrivels to 2003 levels The time is now 8:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report. Good morning. This is your eight o’clock update on the developing regional storylines shaping security, diplomacy, and daily life across the Middle East and adjacent areas. Israeli medical breakthrough reported as patients’ own cells attack blood cancer Israeli doctors report a medical breakthrough in which patients’ own cells are used to target blood cancer cells. The first three patients underwent the procedure without complication and were discharged as planned, according to Rabin Medical Center. The development highlights advances in personalized medicine and could influence future approaches to hematologic malignancies, while officials stressed the need for ongoing monitoring and larger studies to assess long-term outcomes. Turkey moves toward PKK peace talks with Ocalan engagement Turkish lawmakers are preparing to visit jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan as part of efforts to formalize peace talks, following signals of de-escalation and coordinated parliamentary backing. The effort reflects a potential shift in Turkey’s approach to the PKK and a broader attempt to stabilize southeastern Turkey and border areas, though observers caution that monitoring and verification will be essential as discussions proceed. Clashes in Syria’s Homs renew concerns over state control In Syria’s Homs province, deadly clashes have revived concerns about state control and minority safety, with reports that Bedouin fighters targeted Alawite communities and authorities imposed extended curfews. The fighting underscores persistent fault lines across central Syria and the fragility of security in areas where government forces have struggled to assert full authority. UN rights office cites civilian toll in Lebanon since ceasefire The United Nations human rights office says 127 civilians have been killed in Lebanon by Israeli strikes since the ceasefire took effect, with casualties continuing to be reported in cross-border incidents. The figure illustrates the ongoing human impact of hostilities along the border and the continuing imperative for de-escalation and humanitarian access. Hostage remains and ceasefire compliance Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad say they will transfer the remains of a hostage at four o’clock this afternoon, following previous delays cited by Israeli authorities. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office condemned the groups’ delay as a violation of the ceasefire agreement, while emphasizing the ongoing hope for the return of all hostages and remains. Archaeology note: Osorkon II tomb yields publicity around possible double burial Archaeologists report the discovery of 225 inscribed funerary statues beside an unmarked sarcophagus in Osorkon II’s tomb, increasing the case for two royal burials at Tanis, Egypt. While of cultural significance, researchers stressed that the find provides context for ancient burial practices rather than immediate geopolitical implications. Israel’s cabinet leadership and governance questions In a political development, the Knesset ratified the cabinet’s nominations of Tourism Minister Haim Katz and Justice Minister Yariv Levin to head five ministries left leaderless when ultra-Orthodox lawmakers withdrew from the government. While the arrangement reduces the number of ministries without full-time ministers, critics warn that the government may struggle to manage portfolios such as health, welfare, and education effectively. Supporters argue the appointments restore functioning leadership, while opponents say the arrangement risks deferring difficult policy decisions until the return of the original ministers. West Bank violence and security operations In the West Bank, authorities reported continued pressure from security forces following a recent wave of violence linked to the Gaza conflict. A Palestinian attacker who killed an Israeli security guard in a northern West Bank industrial park in 2024 was killed by Israeli forces in a firefight near Jenin, with five suspected accomplices detained. In the same period, another assailant who killed soldiers last year was killed in Nablus, and counterterrorism operations continued to track down suspects. The broader pattern includes heightened clashes, with more than 1,000 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces or settlers since the Gaza war began, according to Palestinian health data, and dozens of Israeli fatalities in attacks and firefights. The year has also seen a rise in nationalist crimes and settler violence, with hundreds of incidents recorded across the West Bank. Winter storm impacts across Israel A winter storm delivered heavy rain, lightning, and thunder across Israel, ending a prolonged dry spell. Authorities reported flooding in parts of Samaria, the Benjamin region,