News Digest — 11/18/25
UNSC Passes US Resolution On Int’l Force In Gaza With Path To A Palestinian State
The Security Council on Monday (17th) approved the US-backed resolution to establish an International force in Gaza.
13 countries voted in favor, Russia and China abstained.
The proposal is based on US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for the Gaza Strip. Its main elements include establishing an international force to stabilize the region, disarming Hamas, and creating a “pathway” to the establishing of a Palestinian state.”
Presenting the resolution before the Council, US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said that the resolution is “a bold, pragmatic blueprint born from President Trump’s 20–point Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, forged in the fires of diplomacy with Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan, and Indonesia.”
He added, “I ask you if the region most affected, the Arab nations, the Muslim majority nations, the Palestinians, and the Israelis can accept this resolution, how could anyone be against it? There is an old saying, where I come from: ‘You can’t be more Catholic than the Pope.’ And I ask everyone today, are you more righteous in this cause than those who must live with it and will ultimately benefit from this plan for peace?”
Waltz noted that the first phase of the plan has seen the living hostages released and a ceasefire that is holding.
“Their plan has already silenced the guns and freed 45 hostages in this fragile, fragile first step. And let me be clear – the United States remains committed to ensuring that the remains of the last three hostages held by Hamas must come home,” he said.
Waltz warned that failure to advance Trump’s plan could lead to the ceasefire crumbling, adding that we cannot repeat the definition of insanity here by doing the same thing that was done before. And by returning to the same frameworks and same talking points that will doom us to repeat this horror all over again.”
“The clock is ticking, like a timebomb. So, let us vote for this resolution not as a compromise, but as a covenant. For the children of Gaza. And for peace that endures. And for a Middle East reborn,” he stated.
Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, responded to the resolution’s approval, noting that it includes an explicit statement on disarming Hamas.
“Disarming Hamas is a fundamental condition. There will be no future in Gaza as long as Hamas holds weapons,” Danon stated.
On Friday (14th), the United States and a coalition of key Middle Eastern and Muslim-majority nations issued a joint statement expressing strong support for the resolution, noting it “offers a pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood.”
The clause in the draft resolution calling for a pathway to the establishment of a Palestinian state drew sharp criticism from several government ministers in Israel, but the wording of the resolution was not amended prior to the vote.
On Sunday (16th), Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his long-standing opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state west of the Jordan River.
“Our opposition to a Palestinian state on any part of this territory has not changed in the slightest,” he clarified.
Before UN Vote: Hamas Rejects Trump’s Plan, Refuses To Disarm Or Allow International Force Into Gaza
The Hamas terror organization formally rejected key provisions of President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, just hours before an American draft resolution securing an international mandate for the plan went before the United Nations Security Council for a vote.
Overnight Sunday (16th) Hamas issued a statement written following consultations with other Palestinian terror groups denouncing “key clauses in President Trump’s 20-point plan” which the Palestinian factions deemed unacceptable.
The basic elements of the Trump plan Hamas rejected include the requirement that Hamas disarm and the Gaza Strip be demilitarized, and for an international stabilization force to be deployed in Gaza to ensure compliance with the agreement.
“The American proposal is dangerous – it calls for the deployment of an international force in Gaza,” Hamas protested. “This is an attempt to impose international guardianship over the Strip. The proposal reflects a pro-Israel bias.”
“We reject any foreign military presence or international bases inside the Strip – this constitutes a violation over sovereignty.”
While Hamas leaders have in the past wavered regarding American demands that the group disarm, this marks the first time the organization as a whole has explicitly stated Hamas will not comply.
The statement did leave some ambiguity, however, regarding the prospects for disarmament, suggesting an “internal Palestinian framework” could address the future of Hamas’ arsenal.
“We oppose the disarmament of Gaza. The Palestinian people have the right to defend themselves, and any discussion regarding weapons will take place within an internal Palestinian framework tied to ending the occupation and establishing a Palestinian state.”
Hamas also objected to plans for the formation of a Board of Peace, chaired by the US, to oversee the transitional administration and reconstruction of Gaza prior to self-rule.
“The proposal paves the way for external control over Palestinian decision-making and denies Palestinians their right to manage their own affairs,” Hamas argued.
The proposal transfers responsibility for the reconstruction of the Strip to a powerful international body. Humanitarian aid may become a tool of coercion that will push out the UNRWA and Palestinian institutions.”
The statement was released ahead of a planned vote at the United Nations Security Council on a draft resolution submitted by the US granting a mandate for an international stabilization force to police the Gaza Strip.
The proposed resolution, which includes as an annex the entire 20-point Gaza plan, is considered a necessary step for securing support from American allies who have expressed interest in contributing to the ISF.
Israel Shares War Lessons With 18 Armies In Global Seminar
An international seminar on Israel’s multi-front war over the past two years, attended by senior commanders and officers from militaries worldwide and led by the Israel Defense Forces Ground Forces commenced on Sunday (16th) and will continue throughout the week.
Military officers from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Finland, India, Greece, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Austria, Estonia, Japan, Morocco, Romania, Serbia, and Slovakia arrived in Israel to learn from the IDF’s experience, the Israeli military said in a statement.
The purpose of the gathering is to “strengthen cooperation, enhance familiarity with diverse operational approaches, exchange professional knowledge, and experience between the participating militaries.” the army said.
It went on to say that the IDF “continues to initiate and promote international cooperation with leading militaries worldwide as part of its ongoing effort to strengthen relationships, enhance collaboration, and foster shared learning in the face of evolving security challenges.”
According to Israel’s public broadcaster Kan, the military delegations will hear lectures, conduct tours in the Gaza Envelope, and meet with soldiers and civilians who took part in the defensive battles on October 7, 2023.
Israel was engaged in warfare on four major fronts – the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, Yemen, and Iran – for a little over two years in the wake of the Hamas-led invasion into Israel’s northeastern Negev on October 7, 2023, resulting in atrocities committed against civilians and security forces.
After decapitating most of Hezbollah’s leadership in Lebanon, Israel signed a truce with the Lebanese government on November 27, 2024.
A ceasefire with Hamas – brokered by Washington, Ankara, Cairo, and Doha – came into effect on October 10, potentially sealing the war, despite occasional flare-ups that have since occurred.
IDF To Political Echelon: F-35 Sale To Saudis Endangers Israeli Security
The IDF sent a professional document at the beginning of the week to the political echelon containing warnings against the American agreement to sell F-35 stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia.
According to a Ynet report, the document emphasizes the importance of Israel’s air superiority in the Middle East, which could significantly be set back if other countries were to acquire the fighter or other advanced aircraft, due to their extraordinary capabilities, which give Israel an edge over other countries in the region.
The military also stated that if such jets are sold to the Saudis, Israel would have to significantly increase its purchases of new aircraft and ensure they are delivered quickly, as the Saudis order would occupy production lines and delay the arrival of new Israeli jets.
Despite Israel’s objections, US President Donald Trump announced Monday (17th) that he would agree to sell F-35s to the Saudis. “They’ve been a great ally,” the President said of the Saudis.
Israel has opposed the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. Outgoing Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer visited Washington last week, where he met with senior Trump administration officials and delivered Israel’s message on the matter.
According to Kan News, Dermer reportedly made it clear that Israel fears such a sale could lead to the leak of sensitive security information to Russia and China, Saudi Arabia’s strategic partners, and could also undermine Israel’s qualitative aerial edge in the Middle East – a cornerstone of the country’s national security and regional deterrence.
Trump is scheduled to meet later on Tuesday (18th) with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House. The sale of the F-35s is expected to be one of the main subjects of conversation at their meeting.
IDF Reduces Drone Weapons Smuggling From Egypt, Stopping 130 Drones In A Month
The IDF’s 80th Division has succeeded in relative terms in reducing drone weapons-smuggling from Egypt, stopping 130 drones that tried to invade Israeli airspace this past month.
If, some years ago, the smuggling threat from Egypt into Israel was mainly related to drugs, in recent years, it has evolved to encompass a heavy weapons component, including weaponry that could make its way to Hamas in Gaza or to the West Bank.
Most of the munitions are produced in Iran or Yemen, according to IDF sources.
Overall military sources said the army has recently improved its interception of smuggling efforts by around 50%, which means it is possible that the 130 drones stopped last month were among 200 or more, since the 50% is a best guess.
That said, this improvement still marks a step forward after a period when Israel had clearly been on the losing side of this “battle.”
IDF Lt. Col. “Y” said, “We are acting to strengthen the western Egyptian border. The security of the nearby residents is the top priority. There are a variety of brigade tools that are being used to combat the drone threat.”
“Tactical forces within the battalion act in coordination with lookouts, advanced identification technologies, and different battle tactics. Their collective purpose is to locate and stop any drone that threatens Israeli security,” Y added.
“We continue to adapt our activities and train our forces to ensure the security of the residents of the area,” Y stated.
Another IDF official, Capt. “N,” told The Jerusalem Post that “recently, we have carried out excellent operations to thwart the drones using various classified means and forces in the field,” and that “we are always training to prevent terror attacks.”
“We learned from October 7 that even if the threat is not right in front of our eyes, it is always there, and so it is important to always be prepared for it,” N. said.
IDF sources estimate that before the military improved its capacity, along with the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and the police, to combat the issue, many thousands of weapons had already been smuggled into Israel via drones.
Part of the improvement has involved a larger number of air force, IDF intelligence, and Shin Bet personnel working more directly on site in a jointly-run command center with the IDF’s 80th Brigade, led by Commander BG Israel Friedler.
Notably, many of the drones, though small enough to avoid hi-tech radar detection, are no longer cheap or straightforward, they can cost anywhere from NIS 40,000 to NIS 110,000.
While on some days, as few as one or two drones launched from the Egyptian side of the border might cross into Israeli airspace, on other days, as many as 20 drones can cross the border from different locations at various times.
Eighty-five weapons, including 15 heavier guns and 66 fighter rifles, have been intercepted recently during Israel’s new campaign to improve its capacity for stopping drones.
Some of the launched drones come from as far as nine km. away from the border on the Israeli side or as far as two km. away on the Egyptian side to avoid detection.
This means that even when the military – or less frequently Egypt – downs drones, the success is usually tactical, not strategic. Put differently, it is the drone that is caught, not the person launching it. These individuals are generally nowhere near the scene.
Germany To Resume Arms Exports To Israel Next Week: Sa’ar Urges Others To Follow
Germany will lift an order suspending some weapons sales to Israel beginning next week, following the Gaza ceasefire agreement reached last month, a German government spokesperson announced Monday (17th), adding that the decision was contingent on the maintenance of the truce.
“The government will, as a general rule, revert to case-by-case reviews in decisions on arms exports and respond to further developments,” the spokesperson, Sebastian Hille, said in the announcement.
The ceasefire “is the basis for this decision, and we expect everyone to abide by the agreements that have been made,” he said, adding that it “includes maintaining the ceasefire,”
Israeli Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa’ar celebrated the decision in a post on X, urging other countries to take similar measures: ‘I welcome Chancellor Merz’s move to revoke the decision regarding the partial embargo. I call on other governments to adopt similar decisions, following Germany.’
Berlin suspended some arms trade with Israel in August over the Israeli Cabinet’s decision to conquer Gaza City in its war against Hamas in Gaza. Germany is the second-largest arms exporter to Israel, after the United States. And Israel’s main backer in the EU.
After the decision in August, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Germany was “rewarding Hamas terrorism.”
Now, ahead of Germany’s announcement to resume arms trade, Merz and Netanyahu spoke on the phone Sunday (16th) about “diplomatic and regional matters,” in what the premier’s office described as a “good and friendly conversation.”
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Germany provided 30 percent of Israel’s major arms imports in 2019-2023, primarily naval equipment, including Sa’ar 6-class frigates (MEKO A-100 Light Frigates), which have been used in the Gaza War.
