HEADLINES West Bank approves 764 new settlement homes Gaza talks stalled until hostage body returned Israel warns Hezbollah rebuilding south of Litani The time is now 2:08 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report. Today’s hourly update on the Middle East and related global developments. Storm Byron is shaping operations across Israel, with security and civilian authorities coordinating to weather the weather event. The Israeli military has ordered curfews and reduced all activities to essentials ahead of the weekend, prohibiting troops from leaving bases, delaying nonessential drills and naval exercises, and restricting travel and outdoor deployments as the storm moves through the region. The weather disruption adds a layer of risk for transport, infrastructure, and humanitarian coordination in affected areas, even as security remains a priority. In security leadership, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved the appointment of a Mossad deputy director candidate with more than two decades in the agency. The selection, reported by The Jerusalem Post, centers on a senior operative described as bringing broad regional experience and operational depth to the agency’s leadership team. The move underscores Iran and regional threats as a continuing priority for Israel’s intelligence community, even as the government emphasizes continuity and institutional strength in a period of heightened security vigilance. On the ground in the West Bank, Israel’s Higher Planning Council approved the construction of 764 new housing units across three settlements, Hashmonaim, Beitar Illit, and Givat Ze’ev. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich framed the decision as part of a strategic move to strengthen settlement continuity and daily life, security, and growth. The announcement comes amid international attention and Palestinian criticism, with the Palestinian Authority describing settlement expansion as inflaming tensions and threatening a future Palestinian state. Since Smotrich assumed civilian oversight in the West Bank, the total number of approved housing units has risen into the tens of thousands, a statistic that continues to inflame international debates about legality and the path to any two-state outcome. Diplomacy around Gaza remains tethered to broader negotiations and hostage issues. Reports circulating from prominent outlets indicate that second-phase talks toward a broader Gaza accord are unlikely to begin until the body of the last kidnapped person is returned. The precise terms and timing of any such accord remain disputed and subject to shifting political calculations among regional actors and international mediators. Lebanon and the Hezbollah threat profile continue to influence strategic calculations. Israel has warned that Hezbollah is rebuilding its capabilities south of the Litani River and signaled the possibility of a major offensive should timelines move toward a critical juncture as a US and international decision loom. Lebanon has claimed it dismantled a substantial portion of weapons near the Litani, but Israel has questioned whether Beirut will meet a year-end deadline. Washington has asked for more time as President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu consider next steps. The broader concern is that a long-pressured regional balance could shift as the war in Gaza evolves and regional actors re-evaluate their deterrents and commitments. In Yemen, the Southern Transitional Council has expanded its reach, seizing key territory in the south and raising questions about possible moves toward a separate South Yemen. The STC’s advances have unsettled both the internationally recognized government and its Gulf partners, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, who share a common aim of countering Houthi influence while also managing divergent long-term regional interests. Analysts caution that a formal secession remains uncertain, given the region’s complex power-sharing arrangements and external guarantees. The developments could, however, influence regional diplomacy and the configuration of possible future security alignments, potentially including new considerations for Israel’s regional strategy and its ties with Gulf partners. Three IRGC members were reported killed near the Iran–Pakistan border, highlighting ongoing security tensions in the broader Iran region and signaling the continued strain across Tehran’s frontiers. Iran has been pushing for closer security cooperation with Pakistan amid cross-border unrest and insurgent activity, a dynamic that informs external considerations for US policy and regional alliances. In Washington, US policy signals continue to shape regional diplomacy. A US envoy described talks on Turkey rejoining the F-35 program as fruitful, signaling potential recalibration of Ankara’s role in security architectures after the 2019 S-400 dispute. The discussions occur amid broader debates about alliance cohesion in the face of regional chal
