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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-05 at 12:07
HEADLINES
- Cairo talks hinge on complete hostage release
- Gaza toll climbs as hospitals struggle
- Iran rejects binding IAEA framework
The time is now 8:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
This hour, the region remains in a cautious lull as Cairo hosts talks on a US-backed plan to end the Gaza war. Israel says any path forward hinges on the simultaneous return of every hostage, with the first condition being the release of all captives before any step beyond the opening clause—an approach reiterated by Prime Minister Netanyahu in recent discussions with the governing forum and at a security briefing. Hamas has signaled the position that releasing all hostages within a 72-hour window is not feasible, and Israeli officials have warned that if that timing cannot be met, planning will revert to security measures and potential renewed military pressure. Negotiations in Cairo are expected to focus on conditions on the ground, logistics, and the timetable for prisoner exchanges, with delays anticipated as talks proceed.
On the humanitarian front, Gaza’s health authorities report a continuing high casualty trajectory. In the past 24 hours, 63 Palestinians were killed and 153 were wounded, bringing the total toll since the war began to roughly 67,139 dead and about 169,500 injured. The Palestinian Health Ministry also notes ongoing reports of casualties in targeted strikes and drone operations as fighting persists in urban areas. Hospital officials stress the strain on medical facilities under daily bombardment and access restrictions.
Israel’s security posture and the hostage issue remain tightly linked to the broader political narrative. In Jerusalem, the government has underscored that it will not depart from the aim of restoring all hostages before any passage to further steps in the plan. The leadership of the Forum Gvura, which has engaged families of the abducted, reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu reaffirmed the government’s position: the first clause—unconditional release of all hostages, living or dead—must be fulfilled before any other provision is moved. Family members expressed cautious optimism but underscored the urgency of securing the captives’ return.
Iran’s position in relation to international oversight remains a talking point in parallel diplomacy. Iran’s foreign ministry has signaled that the Cairo framework for cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency is not a valid basis for binding Iran to enhanced cooperation, and Tehran has indicated it will publish its stance on the IAEA collaboration soon. This dynamic underscores the broader regional calculus as negotiations move forward, with Tehran signaling a separate track from the ongoing talks in Cairo.
In other developments, a number of journalists and political figures weighed in on the broader conflict and Western responses. In Barcelona, clashes during a Palestine-related march led to multiple arrests and injuries to police officers, illustrating the spillover of the conflict into European streets. In London, British authorities announced expanded powers for police to curb repeat protests in the same location, a move framed by officials as a safety measure for communities targeted by demonstrations. The United Kingdom also faced heightened vigilance in the wake of a deadly Manchester attack, with counter-terrorism police granted extended detention powers for several suspects as investigations continue.
Across Europe, commentary and coverage reflect a spectrum of viewpoints on the war, with some observers arguing that past mediation has yielded concessions in the past, while others emphasize the security needs of Israel and the imperative of safeguarding civilians. The public discourse has also touched on cultural and political tensions, including a controversy in Israel over inviting a controversial
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