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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-09 at 21:05
HEADLINES
Israel Nears Cabinet Seal of Ceasefire Framework
Gaza City Strike Kills Four, 40 Missing
Mediators Rally Regional Powers Toward Lasting Peace
The time is now 5:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
This is the hourly update on the Gaza ceasefire and related developments.
A US-brokered effort to end the Gaza war is entering a decisive moment as Israeli and Hamas negotiators move toward implementing the first phase of a broader peace plan. Israeli authorities say the cabinet was expected to approve the cease-fire framework, while Palestinian officials reported that a strike on a Gaza City building killed four civilians and left about 40 others unaccounted for. The two numbers reflect the contested and chaotic nature of the conflict’s latest chapter, with Hamas reportedly targeted in the attack and others saying the blast caused a wider toll. In Gaza City, the scene remained unstable as rescuers worked to recover the dead and locate the missing amid the debris.
On the diplomacy front, exiled Hamas leadership in Gaza described assurances from mediators and other states that the war in Gaza has ended, while hawkish voices inside Israel pressed for caution and insisted any end must include durable security guarantees and a clear path to disarmament and post-war governance. Hamas officials also signaled that guarantees from the United States and regional mediators underpin their acceptance of a pause, though collective conclusions about the war’s permanent end remain open to interpretation and implementation challenges.
The Trump administration has framed the deal as a significant step toward ending the war, while signaling that post-war arrangements are still to be negotiated. The president has said he plans to travel to the region soon and has pressed for a rapid hostage resolution, with indications that the release of captives and the return of remains would occur in the near term. In Washington, some aides described the effort as a multiyear process, with a first phase concentrated on hostages and prisoners exchanged and a partial withdrawal from Gaza, followed by more comprehensive steps. Analysts note that even as momentum builds, many details—such as the final lists of prisoners to be freed, the scope of any future Palestinian governance in Gaza, and the funding and structure of a possible stabilization force—remain unresolved.
Across the region, support and pressure are shaping the path forward. Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey helped marshal pushback against Hamas’s earlier conduct and pressed for a settlement that would keep Israel secure while allowing civilian life to resume in Gaza. Arab states and Western partners have floated options for post-war reconstruction, but the bill for rebuilding Gaza and the political status of the enclave will require long-term funding and oversight. In parallel, some international voices advocate for stricter scrutiny of Israeli security measures and calls for cautious calibration of any post-war arrangements to avoid a relapse into broader conflict.
Internally in Israel, Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government have faced intense debate over the concessions embedded in the framework. Some cabinet members have warned that concessions could provoke opposition within the coalition, particularly around security guarantees and the pace of any withdrawal. The Israeli defense establishment has underscored that the danger from Hamas remains and that any future peace must be anchored in a strong, deterrent security posture. In public remarks, Netanyahu has emphasized safeguarding Israeli security while indicating openness to the broader peace framework the United States has championed with regional partners.
On the international legal front, questions linger about the future of investigations and court cases that have loomed over Israel and
Published on 3 weeks, 6 days ago