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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-16 at 15:07
HEADLINES
Netanyahu frames war as light against darkness
Israel grants West Bank settlements legal status
Doha hosts Gaza stabilization talks Israel absent
The time is now 10:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Here is the hourly update:
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attended the Western Wall to light the second Hanukkah candle, telling IDF soldiers that they were in a war of light against darkness, that they were prevailing and performing miracles through bravery. The remarks underscore Israel’s framing of the current conflict as a struggle for security and national identity, even as fighting continues in Gaza and across the region.
Israel moved to grant legal status to 19 West Bank settlements, including two that were vacated in Israel’s 2005 disengagement. The step follows government approval for the construction of 764 housing units across three settlements, signaling a continuing pattern of settlement policy that Israel says supports security and regional governance, while critics view it as one element of a broader dispute over land, sovereignty, and the path to any future two-state arrangement.
Israel’s defense technology sector is increasingly playing a central role in regional military modernization, including Greece’s current overhauls. Analysts describe Athens’ defense modernization as its most ambitious in modern history, aimed at transforming the Hellenic Armed Forces into one of Europe’s most technologically advanced militaries. Israel’s defense industry, including dual‑use technologies developed amid the security challenges posed by Hamas and other regional actors, is a growing supplier to partners seeking rapid access to advanced capabilities.
In Washington, the United States will host Doha talks intended to advance a Gaza stabilization force, after previous delays. The plan contemplates a multinational security force that could include Egypt, the UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Azerbaijan, among others, though no participant has committed troops yet. The Doha talks focus on shaping the force’s structure, rules of engagement, arms policy, deployment zones, training locations, and the scope of its ground authority. Notably, Israel is not invited to these discussions, a point that reflects ongoing debates about who contributes to stabilization and how an external force would operate on the ground.
Cross-border security incidents continue to be reported in the region. Lebanese sources say another strike occurred in an unusual location: an Israeli drone reportedly targeted a water tanker near the village of Jadara, north of Sidon, in southern Lebanon, illustrating the persistent spillover risks in the area. The reports underscore ongoing tensions along Israel’s northern front and the potential for miscalculation or escalation amid a broader regional crisis.
Tehran has again signaled its willingness to engage in broader confrontation. An Iranian regime banner in Palestine Square in Tehran warns of Hezbollah’s conquest of Nahariya, a northern Israeli coastal city, should open conflict resume. The display signals Iran’s ongoing intention to project influence and threaten Israeli territorial continuity, a dynamic that complicates regional security calculations for Israel and its allies.
At a regional level, the United States is coordinating with partners on Gaza stabilization efforts, while Israel remains outside the Doha discussions. The broader international framework aims to shape the structure and rules of engagement for any force deployed to the Gaza Strip, including how it would interact with humanitarian operations and local authorities. The questions surrounding participation, mandate, and accountability remain central to expectations for any on‑the‑ground stabilization plan.
In security developments inside Israel, Shin Bet chief Davi
Published on 16 hours ago