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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-31 at 11:06
HEADLINES
- Explosive-packed armored vehicles deployed before Gaza ceasefire
- Iran protests persist, nationwide strike urged
- Israel expands border periphery toward 120,000 residents
The time is now 6:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
This is the 6:00 a.m. update on events shaping the Middle East and Israel’s security outlook.
Israel’s southern front remains the focus of heightened readiness as authorities report continuing tensions with criminal elements within a Bedouin community. The Camp Defense Array of the Operations Directorate conducted a situational evaluation after a police operation in Givot Bar and related weekend incidents, underscoring the ongoing administration and defense posture along the border.
In Gaza, reporting suggests that the IDF deployed explosive-packed armored vehicles in the days leading up to a ceasefire, with investigators later finding remains among the rubble. The use of such armor highlights the intensity of urban combat scenarios encountered during the conflict and remains a point of reference for assessments of the fighting dynamics and safety considerations for civilians in affected areas.
Iranian authorities are facing sustained protests that have entered their fourth day, driven by economic distress and grievances with the regime. A royal statement from Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi called for a nationwide strike, urging unity in opposition to the authorities. The protests have drawn participation from students in major universities and shopkeepers in Tehran’s markets, while security forces have responded with measures reported as forceful. Tehran has responded with a bank holiday, temporarily closing schools, banks, and many public institutions, as authorities emphasize that peaceful protests are a recognized facet of public life, while warning that attempts to destabilize the country will be met with a decisive response. Analysts note that sanctions, inflation, and currency pressures have intensified civil unrest, adding a layer of risk to the regional picture.
On the domestic front, Israel’s border-periphery communities near Gaza continue to be a central policy focus. Recent accounts indicate that the area now houses approximately 65,000 residents, about 3,000 more than before October 7, with 42 communities having returned to normal life while five communities—Nir Oz, Be’eri, Kfar Aza, Kisufim, and Holit—have not yet returned to pre-conflict status. In a long-term strategic initiative, planners describe a goal of expanding the periphery population to around 120,000. A major element of this plan involves building a new city designed to support a growing middle class, with institutional financing and government subsidies to facilitate housing, transportation, and education. The plan emphasizes two critical components: upgrading transportation infrastructure to support dense development and delivering robust educational systems to meet the needs of families relocating to the area. Critics point to the need for coherent, cross-ministerial coordination to ensure that transportation, education, and housing policies align with growth projections. Within this framework, some discussions reference the government’s fiscal strategies and debates over how public funds should best support economic mobility for young families and workers.
In a related development, security officials have signaled a tough stance toward internal and external threats. In Iran, the leadership’s response to unrest continues to be closely watched, as does the internal realignment indicated by a top military reshuffle that moves Ibrahim Avahidi, formerly deputy head of the general staff, to a senior position within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The change is interpreted as a move to reinforce loyalty to the Supreme Leader amid perceptions of internal tensions tied to the
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