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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-05 at 13:06
HEADLINES
Hostage Release First Trump Plan On Hold
Hamas Open to Deal Divisions Persist
Israeli Coalition Trembles Over Hamas Terms
The time is now 9:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
This is the 9:00 a.m. update on the Israel-Hamas war and related regional developments. Diplomacy remains sharply focused on the US-backed plan to end the Gaza war, with negotiations underway and a Cairo meeting set to begin this coming Monday. Israel has made clear that no part of President Trump’s 21-clause package will move forward until the first clause—the unconditional release of all hostages, living and dead—has been satisfied and every hostage has crossed back into Israeli territory. Prime Minister Netanyahu reaffirmed that position in discussions with a forum of the families of the fallen and the missing, warning that if the hostages are not released by the deadline Trump set, Israel will return to intensive military action and proceed with the plan only in the framework that preserves Israeli security and demilitarization of the Gaza Strip.
On the Palestinian side, Hamas has signaled openness to a deal but argues that releasing all hostages within 72 hours is not feasible. Acknowledging the urgency of a breakthrough, Hamas officials have indicated willingness to engage with mediators on the core demands of the Trump plan and the mechanisms for implementation. Regional neighbors and mediators, including Gulf states and countries in the broader Arab world, have publicly welcomed Hamas’s apparent readiness to meet key demands and to begin shaping the ground conditions for a broader prisoner exchange and Israeli withdrawal. At the same time, reports from multiple sources point to internal divisions within Hamas over a full disarmament and the shape of its leadership after a potential ceasefire, complicating an otherwise united front in the talks.
Israel’s negotiating team is set to include Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, the government’s hostage liaison Gal Hirsch, and senior security officials from the Shin Bet and Mossad, with prime ministerial and security advisers overseeing the process. In Jerusalem, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s coalition partners, including the far-right wing of the government, have signaled resistance to any permanent change that would allow Hamas to maintain a role in Gaza’s future governance or preclude Israeli control of the Strip’s demilitarization. Several cabinet figures have warned they could withdraw their parties from the coalition if Netanyahu agrees to terms that would permit continued Hamas presence in Gaza after the hostages are returned.
In Gaza, the Palestinian Health Ministry reports continued casualties and displacement as Israeli operations persist. In the most recent 24 hours, dozens were killed and hundreds wounded, contributing to a grim toll since the war began more than two years ago. Families of hostages remain anxious, with some newly released or previously freed captives speaking publicly about the strain of captivity and the emotional stakes of any potential deal. The international community watches closely for a credible path to release all hostages while ensuring a verifiable end to hostilities and a secure, supervised demilitarization of the Gaza Strip.
Beyond Gaza, Pope Francis pressed for a peace process with clear steps toward a just and lasting peace, urging all parties to commit to the process as negotiations continue. In another corner of the world, a Turkish city canceled a planned Robbie Williams concert in Istanbul on safety grounds, reflecting how the broader regional climate can affect civil life amid ongoing regional tensions. In Europe and elsewhere, protests and political debate over Israel’s actions continue to ripple through public life, underscoring the global dimensions of the conflict.
Domestically in Israel, questions
Published on 1 month ago