Episode Details
Back to Episodes
Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-18 at 00:06
Published 1 month, 1 week ago
Description
HEADLINES
Trump Named Gaza Board of Peace Chairman
Jeffers Named ISF Commander for Gaza Mission
Israeli Forces Quell Maḥmas Outpost Violence
The time is now 7:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
At 7:00 PM, this is your hourly briefing on the Middle East and related global developments that touch Jewish communities and Israel’s security.
A major new step in the Gaza initiative, the Board of Peace, has been unveiled by the United States. The proposed charter envisions an international body designed to promote stability, restore governance, and support durable peace in Gaza while advancing a path toward a Hamas disarmament and broader regional stabilization. Participation would be by invitation, with board membership limited to states that consent and, in many cases, contribute financially. The draft charter makes clear that member states would serve terms of up to three years, with a special provision that members contributing at least one billion dollars in cash within the first year would not be bound by the three-year limit. The charter further designates Donald J. Trump as the inaugural chairman and says the body may establish subsidiary entities and engage in peace-building activities under international law. In briefings and public statements, US officials emphasized that the Board of Peace is intended to help coordinate postwar reconstruction, governance, and security in Gaza, while advancing humanitarian access and stabilization.
Israel’s leadership has reacted with caution and concern about the makeup and autonomy of the Peace Board. Reports indicate Prime Minister Netanyahu's government was not formally notified in advance about the executive committee’s composition, which reportedly includes officials or representatives from Turkey and Qatar. Israeli officials and lawmakers have voiced unease that the arrangement could complicate regional dynamics or be perceived as sidelining existing diplomatic channels. In Israel, observers and opposition figures alike called for close consultation with Jerusalem on any international mechanism governing Gaza. The broader Israeli public debate remains focused on security, Hamas disarmament, and the conditions necessary for a sustainable calm in Gaza and along the border regions. Meanwhile, pro-Israel voices overseas have stressed the importance of ensuring that any international effort to stabilize Gaza is tightly linked to clear benchmarks, accountability, and safeguards for Israeli security.
In parallel, the United States has named a commander for an International Stabilization Force that would operate in Gaza. Major-General Jasper Jeffers has been designated to lead security operations intended to support a de‑militarized environment and enable humanitarian relief and reconstruction. The White House describes the ISF as a partner to other institutions, including the Gaza governance framework and regional actors, with a mandate to promote security and stability in the area. Jeffers’ long military background includes leadership roles in operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and his appointment signals Washington’s emphasis on a coordinated international approach to Gaza’s security landscape. Regional observers note that any such force will be closely watched by Gaza’s authorities, Israel, Egypt, and international partners as they seek to balance security with humanitarian access and political legitimacy.
On the ground in the West Bank, Israeli forces, police, and border police responded to a report of violence near the outpost of Maḥmas in the Binyamin region. Early accounts describe several structures and vehicles set on fire by Jewish rioters, with four Palestinians injured and evacuated for treatment. Israeli troops conducted searches for suspects, and a vehicle believed to be involved was seized for investigation. The incident underscores ongoin
Trump Named Gaza Board of Peace Chairman
Jeffers Named ISF Commander for Gaza Mission
Israeli Forces Quell Maḥmas Outpost Violence
The time is now 7:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
At 7:00 PM, this is your hourly briefing on the Middle East and related global developments that touch Jewish communities and Israel’s security.
A major new step in the Gaza initiative, the Board of Peace, has been unveiled by the United States. The proposed charter envisions an international body designed to promote stability, restore governance, and support durable peace in Gaza while advancing a path toward a Hamas disarmament and broader regional stabilization. Participation would be by invitation, with board membership limited to states that consent and, in many cases, contribute financially. The draft charter makes clear that member states would serve terms of up to three years, with a special provision that members contributing at least one billion dollars in cash within the first year would not be bound by the three-year limit. The charter further designates Donald J. Trump as the inaugural chairman and says the body may establish subsidiary entities and engage in peace-building activities under international law. In briefings and public statements, US officials emphasized that the Board of Peace is intended to help coordinate postwar reconstruction, governance, and security in Gaza, while advancing humanitarian access and stabilization.
Israel’s leadership has reacted with caution and concern about the makeup and autonomy of the Peace Board. Reports indicate Prime Minister Netanyahu's government was not formally notified in advance about the executive committee’s composition, which reportedly includes officials or representatives from Turkey and Qatar. Israeli officials and lawmakers have voiced unease that the arrangement could complicate regional dynamics or be perceived as sidelining existing diplomatic channels. In Israel, observers and opposition figures alike called for close consultation with Jerusalem on any international mechanism governing Gaza. The broader Israeli public debate remains focused on security, Hamas disarmament, and the conditions necessary for a sustainable calm in Gaza and along the border regions. Meanwhile, pro-Israel voices overseas have stressed the importance of ensuring that any international effort to stabilize Gaza is tightly linked to clear benchmarks, accountability, and safeguards for Israeli security.
In parallel, the United States has named a commander for an International Stabilization Force that would operate in Gaza. Major-General Jasper Jeffers has been designated to lead security operations intended to support a de‑militarized environment and enable humanitarian relief and reconstruction. The White House describes the ISF as a partner to other institutions, including the Gaza governance framework and regional actors, with a mandate to promote security and stability in the area. Jeffers’ long military background includes leadership roles in operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and his appointment signals Washington’s emphasis on a coordinated international approach to Gaza’s security landscape. Regional observers note that any such force will be closely watched by Gaza’s authorities, Israel, Egypt, and international partners as they seek to balance security with humanitarian access and political legitimacy.
On the ground in the West Bank, Israeli forces, police, and border police responded to a report of violence near the outpost of Maḥmas in the Binyamin region. Early accounts describe several structures and vehicles set on fire by Jewish rioters, with four Palestinians injured and evacuated for treatment. Israeli troops conducted searches for suspects, and a vehicle believed to be involved was seized for investigation. The incident underscores ongoin