Podcast Episode Details

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-16 at 22:07

---

---

HEADLINES
US Expands Travel Ban Across Seven Countries
Israel Braces for Wider Hezbollah Clash
Two Teens Killed in West Bank Clashes

The time is now 5:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

This is the hourly international briefing with the latest developments from the Middle East and related security issues. The United States has announced a broad expansion of its travel ban, adding seven additional countries to full restrictions and extending restrictions to Palestinians holding Palestinian Authority travel documents, with a package of partial restrictions applying to a broader group of countries. The measure, building on an existing list of nations subject to entry limits, will take effect on January 1, 2026. Officials say the action reflects ongoing concerns about security, governance, and the ability to conduct reliable vetting. The expansion comes as the United States seeks to reinforce border controls and screening in a period of heightened regional volatility and shifting alliances.

Across the border in Lebanon, Israel is preparing for the possibility of a renewed, broader confrontation with Hezbollah as fighting in the south intensifies and diplomacy seeks to avert a widening war. Israeli military planners have underscored that while efforts continue to disarm the militant group by a deadline agreed in prior arrangements, Israeli officials believe the threat from Hezbollah remains real and significant. In parallel, Washington has signaled a desire to prevent a larger regional escalation even as operations on the ground proceed and the risk of spillover into neighboring areas remains a focal point for regional and international diplomacy.

In the West Bank, violence and tensions persist at a concerning level. Reports from Teqoa describe a sequence in which a teenager identified as Muheeb Ahmed Jibril, 16, was killed after what Palestinian officials described as a settler shooting incident. Earlier, another 16-year-old, Ammar Taamra, was killed in clashes with Israeli forces in the same town. The Israeli army has described the events as part of an operation that sparked a riot, saying riot-disposal methods were used and that a main instigator was targeted; the exact circumstances are the subject of a military investigation. On the ground, residents and local officials have described a pattern of settler violence and confrontations that, over months, have drawn attention from security agencies and human rights groups alike. As of early November, Israeli authorities had logged hundreds of nationalist crime and settler-violence incidents for the year, underscoring the ongoing fragility of daily life in the area and the difficulty of translating incidents into prosecutions or convictions.

In related developments, a delegation of Canadian lawmakers was denied entry to the occupied West Bank after crossing from Jordan. The six MPs were part of a trip organized by a charity group described as having sponsorship links to organizations designated by some governments as terror entities. Canadian officials have voiced objections to the incident, noting prior warnings and the government’s assurances given to Israeli authorities about the visit. The episode highlights the delicate balance of cross-border oversight, security concerns, and the broader tensions surrounding international visits to contested areas.

Hamas has reiterated its push for a new round of ceasefire discussions, even as mistrust lingers about US involvement and knowledge of recent operations in the region. The group has signaled a willingness to engage in talks while maintaining a cautious stance toward any agreement that might be seen as a breach of the current ceasefire in place for several weeks. The evolving dynamics of ceasefire talks continue to shape the calculus of Israeli strategy and Palestinian expectations, with regional and

---

Published on 7 hours ago