Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-03 at 21:08

HEADLINES Rafah ambush wounds five Israeli soldiers Jordan Gateway near Beit Shean industrial park UN chief says Gaza war fundamentally wrong The time is now 4:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report. At four o’clock this afternoon, here is the latest on matters shaping Israel’s security and the broader regional picture, along with developments that touch Jewish life and policy beyond the battlefield. Israel’s war with Hamas remains the central security issue. Five Israeli soldiers were wounded, one seriously, in an attack in Rafah as troops encountered militants emerging from a tunnel. A Namer armored vehicle was moving into the area when attackers opened fire with an RPG; two militants were killed and one wounded in the clash, with a third attacker also reported as wounded. The incident prompted renewed air and artillery strikes by the Israeli military in the Rafah area as forces conducted searches for other militants believed to be in the vicinity. The battlefield has seen ongoing Israeli operations in the southern Gaza Strip, while Israel says it is targeting weapons depots, command centers, and manufacturing facilities tied to Hamas and other groups. In recent weeks, Israeli forces have killed more than thirty militants and captured additional operatives, while hundreds of fighters are believed to remain in tunnels beneath Rafah, posing a persistent threat. On the international front, the Jordan Gateway project remains a focal point for broader economic and regional cooperation. The plan envisions a joint Israeli-Jordanian industrial park near Beit She’an, with a border-crossing and a proposed hospital to treat Jordanian patients on the Israeli side. Officials say the project, designed to create jobs for Jordanians and opportunities for Israeli firms, would sit at the midpoint of a wider ambition known as the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor. American and European partners have expressed interest, and US officials are expected to visit the site next week to review progress. Security arrangements are being refined to maintain a controlled, ex-territorial environment, allowing movement within the park while restricting access to the adjacent Jordanian border. The Jordan Gateway is intended to strengthen economic ties and disaster resilience, even as border security remains a critical concern in light of past and potential threats along the frontier. In economic and environmental news, a long-awaited draft law from the Finance Ministry seeks to redefine how Israel uses the Dead Sea’s minerals. The bill would raise the government’s share of profits from the Dead Sea Works concession to about half on a multi-year average, shrink the geographic footprint of the concession, and accelerate reporting and transparency. Officials argue the plan aims to balance revenue with responsible management of a shrinking resource, but environmental groups warn it does not enough address the sea’s ongoing decline and the need for new water inflows. The legislation follows a court ruling requiring the concession holder to pay for some of the water drawn from wells, a reminder that the Dead Sea is both an economic asset and an environmental challenge. A designated Dead Sea Affairs Directorate would oversee reporting and public access, while the tender process for the next concession is planned for next year. Separately, investigations and diplomacy continue around Gaza and beyond. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, speaking at a Reuters event, described the Gaza war as having been conducted in a way that was “fundamentally wrong” and said there are strong reasons to believe war crimes may have occurred. He complimented United States efforts to facilitate humanitarian aid to Gaza but warned that reduced aid could increase civilian suffering. The remarks come as Israel emphasizes its aim to minimize civilian harm and accuses Hamas of using civilians as human shields. The broader conflict remains entangled with regional and international diplomacy, including questions about Ukraine, international law, and sanctions versus humanitarian relief. In the United States’ political and public discourse, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton drew broad attention with remarks at a New York summit about the impact of social media on public understanding of Israel and the Gaza conflict, arguing that platforms like TikTok can distort perceptions among young Americans. The coverage highlighted a wider debate about information literacy, media responsibility, and the way public opinion shapes policy on Middle East crises. The discussion has reverberated in European and British media as well, illustrating how narratives from diverse audiences influence the international response to the Gaza war. Turning to human stories connected to the conflict, a high-profile Jewish cultural figure passed away this week. Carrie Soloway, a United States-based psychiatrist whose late-in