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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-07-18 at 16:04
HEADLINES
Israel Advances in Negotiations Despite Hamas Resistance
Hamas Vows Prolonged Conflict Amid Hostage Deadlock
Gaza Strikes and Israeli Military Target Hamas Infrastructure
The time is now 12:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Thank you for your instructions. Here is the final report prepared for the 12:00 PM news update:
Today, tensions remain high across the Middle East amidst ongoing conflicts and diplomatic efforts. In recent developments, Israel reports significant progress in negotiations with Qatar aimed at easing hostilities, although Hamas continues to complicate these efforts. An Israeli official stated that while Israel has shown flexibility and a constructive approach, Hamas has been resistant, demanding the release of all hostages and refusing to accept interim truces or partial agreements. Hamas has also publicly claimed it proposed releasing all hostages to end the war but warned that if no agreement is reached, future ceasefire negotiations may be impossible.
In Gaza, the hostage situation remains tense, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicating that hostage talks are in advanced stages during a phone call with the Pope. Meanwhile, Hamas’s military spokesperson, Abu Obeida, issued a stark video message, reaffirming the organization's readiness for a prolonged conflict and admitting attempts to abduct more soldiers, nearly succeeding last week. This signals Hamas’s continued resolve despite mounting Israeli military pressure.
Israeli military operations persist in Gaza, with the Israeli Air Force reportedly striking hundreds of targets over the past week, including militant infrastructure, weapon depots, and launch sites. The Israel Defense Forces also confirmed the targeted killing of a Hamas commander, Mahmoud Abu El-Baraa, along with his son, in an airstrike in Gaza, which they say significantly hampers Hamas’s operational capabilities.
On the ground, Israeli forces continue to respond to threats and clashes in the West Bank and northern territories. Notably, Israeli settlers have been accused of attacking Palestinian Bedouins, with reports of livestock being killed in what Palestinian leaders describe as attempts to displace residents. Meanwhile, political tensions within Israel are mounting, as the coalition faces a crisis over a controversial Haredi draft law, threatening to fracture the government further.
Internationally, diplomatic tensions persist. China has formally expressed dissatisfaction to the Philippines over recent maritime and security issues related to Taiwan, signaling ongoing regional rivalries. In Iraq, after more than a decade of conflict, Mosul’s reopened airport was inaugurated this week, symbolizing a step forward in Iraq’s recovery following the defeat of ISIS. The airport, heavily damaged during ISIS control, is now capable of handling hundreds of thousands of passengers annually, serving as a vital link for the region.
Meanwhile, in the United States, a congressional report suggests that nearly one billion dollars in US funds may have indirectly financed anti-government protests in Israel, raising concerns about foreign influence and domestic political stability. Back in Israel, the Supreme Court ruled that the government cannot immediately dismiss the attorney general without judicial review, complicating ongoing political disputes over judicial reforms.
In Syria, reports emerge of intense clashes near Suwayda, where Druze and Bedouin tribal factions are engaged in violent confrontations, and a viral video revealed the survival of an elderly Druze cleric after rumors of his death during violence in the south. Additionally, Lebanon’s Druze leader warned of a prolonged crisis as Israeli strikes and regional tensions continue, with some reports of ongoing hostilities on the Syria-Lebanon border.<
Published on 12 hours ago