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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-31 at 12:07
HEADLINES
Saudi airstrikes target UAE-backed forces
Gaza plan ties rebuild to Hamas disarmament
Iran names bank governor amid protests
The time is now 7:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
It is 7:00 AM. Here is the morning briefing on the Middle East and the Jewish world, prepared for an international audience with careful attention to security concerns, policy positions, and the broader implications for stability.
Tensions within the Gulf bloc have resurfaced as Saudi Arabia publicly pushed back against the UAE’s role in Yemen. Riyadh said airstrikes targeted forces backed by Abu Dhabi, accusing them of seizing territory and threatening regional stability. The episode underscores the fragility of Gulf alignments and the ongoing recalibration of strategies toward Yemen and Iran, even as the United States works to align its diplomatic posture with regional partners.
Across the Israel-Gaza front, there is ongoing attention to security, governance, and humanitarian realities. In Israeli domestic affairs, a Knesset session featured a clash between right‑wing ministers and opposition lawmakers, with Attorney General Ben-Gvir presenting arguments amid a broader debate over security and policy. In Gaza’s border region, the population has risen to about 65,000, more than pre‑October 7 levels as communities rebuild and new residents move in. By tradition, this border area remains a focal point for security considerations, displacement, and plans for future stability.
In Washington‑brokered efforts related to Gaza, a multilateral approach is taking shape that could place a reconstruction and security framework on a formal footing by the middle of January. Diplomatic reporting indicates that the United States is pursuing a Gaza reconstruction oversight council, with discussions about a multinational security presence that would operate alongside Israeli authorities and, potentially, a Palestinian security role. Prime Minister Netanyahu has signaled that any Palestinian participation would come with stringent reforms—most notably measures to disarm Hamas and to alter how education and subsidy policies address incitement—conditions that have fed intense internal coalition discussions about the path forward. The arrangement would require broad regional and international buy‑in, and it remains to be seen which nations would participate and under what command structure, with Israel emphasizing coordination and consent.
On the security‑oriented periphery, the Israeli Defense Forces reported readiness improvements at southern bases amid tensions with criminal elements within Bedouin communities and related regional dynamics. The security posture reflects a blend of counterterrorism vigilance and domestic security concerns in places where criminal violence and security risk intersect.
In addition to security concerns, there is political development on the ground in the West Bank and beyond. Israel approved plans to rebuild a Samaria town evacuated in 2005 during the disengagement, signaling a policy shift toward resettlement and expansion in certain areas, a move that is likely to attract both support and opposition within domestic political debates.
Iranian domestic developments are also shaping regional perceptions of threat and stability. Iran’s chief prosecutor warned that peaceful economic protests will be met with a decisive response if they threaten public order or are used as a tool to undermine security. In the financial realm, Abdolnasser Hemmati was named as the new central bank governor following a period of currency volatility and inflation that has strained households. The rial’s exchange rate and inflation have contributed to rising prices for everyday goods, leading to public discontent and a bank holiday in Tehran while authorities manage energy and schooling disruptions. Ob
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