Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-05-20 at 12:09

HEADLINES
Israeli Students Caught Spying for Iran in Deadly Plot
US Pressures Lebanon to Disarm Hezbollah Amid Tensions
Gaza Strikes Destroy Over 100 Hamas Targets

The time is now 08:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

$news_data = {
"Israel_National_Security": {
"Iran_Spy_Plot": {
"suspects": ["Roi Mizrahi", "Almog Atias"],
"ages": [24, 24],
"residences": ["Nesher"],
"background": "Students at Technion",
"crimes": ["severe security violations", "collecting intelligence", "moving explosive device", "attempted surveillance"],
"methods": ["photo surveillance", "moving buried bag believed to contain an explosive", "setting up surveillance cameras"],
"communication": "Maintained contact with Iranian terror agents throughout 2025",
"motivations": "Financial incentives",
"actions": [
"Acquired mobile phone with specialized app",
"Moved buried bag with instructions from handlers",
"Attempted to place surveillance camera near Katz's hometown"
],
"arrest": "April 2025, after over 20 thwarted plots since war began",
"threats": "Iranian terror network targeting Israeli leaders and citizens, with intent to undermine security",
"Israeli_Response": [
"Defense Minister Israel Katz praised security agencies for thwarting the plot",
"Katz emphasized ongoing commitment to prevent Iran's nuclear ambitions and terror activities"
]
},
"Domestic_Issues": {
"warnings": "Shin Bet and police issued renewed alerts against contact with foreign entities",
"Personal belongings": ["keys", "forged passports", "photos"]
}
},
"International_Politics": {
"US_Lebanon": {
"White_House_Policy": "Link aid to Lebanon with normalization and Hezbollah disarmament",
"US_Envoy": "Morgan Ortagus to visit Beirut to push for disarmament and regional normalization",
"Lebanese_Response": "Support for regional normalization, dropping land claim disputes",
"Syria_Connection": "Syria's President met with Trump, indicating possible steps toward Abraham Accords",
"US_Policy": "Expand Arab normalization with Israel, conditional aid based on disarmament and territorial disputes"
},
"France_and_EU": {
"France_Position": "Warns Israel that aid resumption is insufficient, threatens to suspend EU-Israel trade if military actions continue",
"Aid": "Calls for immediate, massive humanitarian aid to Gaza",
"Recognition": "Determined to recognize Palestinian statehood, planning summits in June",
"Diplomacy": "Reprimands Israel over Gaza offensive, seeks broader regional peace"
}
},
"Military_Operations": {
"Gaza": {
"Operation_Gideon": {
"aim": "Target Hamas military infrastructure",
"actions": "Over 100 targets destroyed in recent days, including command centers, weapons depots, and underground tunnels",
"IDF_Statement": "Rules of engagement remain unchanged; targeting is precise and moral",
"Casualties": "Three civilians lightly to moderately injured in road accident"
},
"Security_Measures": "IDF and Shin Bet continue to target Hamas and other terrorist groups, with significant strikes on command structures and infrastructure"
}
},
"Other_News": {
"Asteroid_2025_KF": {
"Size": "Estimated at 23 meters, comparable to 12.5 gorillas",
"Trajectory": "Closest approach at 111,000 km, no impact risk",
"Potential_Damage": "Likely airburst, minimal threat to Earth",
"Scientific_Insight": "Rubble pile...