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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-17 at 00:05
HEADLINES
Kasau Case Shin Bet Expands Search
Bondi Hanukkah Terror Kills Fifteen
Tehran Banner Urges Nahariya Brace for War
The time is now 7:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Good evening. Here is your hourly update on developments affecting security, policy, and the Jewish world from the Middle East to the diaspora.
In Israel, police say the case of Haymanut Kasau, the Ethiopian-Israeli girl who disappeared in Safed in February 2024, has been transferred to Lahav 433, the police’s major crimes unit, following a status review ordered by Police Chief Danny Levy. Kasau disappeared when she was nine; she was last seen handing out leaflets outside the Jewish Agency absorption center. Officials caution that there are no confirmed breakthroughs at this time. In a related development, security cameras in Beersheba captured footage of an apparent attempted abduction of a girl who is described as a friend of Kasau. The video shows a man approaching an apartment door, the door opening, and the girl fleeing as a chase unfolds. Kasau’s relatives say the man in the footage is from Safed and knows their family. Channel 12 reports the Beersheba incident may be linked to Kasau’s disappearance, though police say there are no specific developments to report. The case transfer to Lahav 433 is being described as bringing an additional set of eyes to the investigation, while authorities pursue new leads. Ben Gvir, the national security minister, has said he plans to involve the Shin Bet in searches for Kasau, and Kasau’s father has urged that the case be treated as a kidnapping rather than a missing person inquiry.
Across the region, security concerns remain acute. A banner displayed in Tehran’s Palestine Square invites Nahariya to “be prepared for the next war,” depicting Hezbollah, underscoring ongoing tensions and the broader challenge posed by Iran-backed groups that Israel cites as a key strategic threat along its northern front.
Globally, the Jewish community continues to grapple with a deadly act of antisemitic violence. In Sydney, funeral services are set for victims of the Bondi Beach terror attack, with large crowds expected at Chabad of Bondi to honor Rabbi Eli Schlanger and Rabbi Yaakov Levitan. The attack, which authorities say killed 15 people at a Hanukkah festival on a Sydney beach, has reverberated through Jewish communities worldwide and raised questions about security and rhetoric surrounding Israel and Palestinian issues.
In Gaza, the Israeli Defense Forces say it is conducting routine activity to destroy Hamas infrastructure in eastern Gaza City, on the Israeli side of the ceasefire line, as Palestinian media report Israeli strikes. The IDF notes that its efforts focus on Hamas tunnels and other military sites inside the Strip’s Israeli-controlled areas, with the ceasefire continuing to define the operational environment.
In the United States, policy signals continue to emphasize security and border controls related to the Palestinian territories. Reports indicate expanded travel restrictions on Palestinian nationals, with five additional countries added to the list of broadly restricted entries, reflecting ongoing concerns about security, travel, and governance in the broader region.
Human rights developments in Iran remain a focus for international observers. Iran is reported to be blocking independent medical examination for Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi after her arrest, drawing condemnations from Amnesty International and rights groups. Mohammadi’s supporters say she suffered injuries during detention, and activists plan to pursue accountability before international bodies, including possible communications to the International Criminal Court, even though Iran is not a party to the Rome Statute. The crackdown on dissent continues amid a broader context
Published on 5 hours ago