Podcast Episode Details

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-11 at 18:09

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HEADLINES
Pause holds as Israel withdraws to lines
Hamas mobilizes 7000 security forces in Gaza
Identifying 28 hostages' bodies underway

The time is now 2:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

Two o’clock in the afternoon, and this is the hour’s update on the developing situation in Israel, Gaza, and the broader Middle East. A US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas announced in Sharm el-Sheikh remains the central thread, with both sides reporting adherence to the lines laid out in the Trump peace plan’s first phase. American officials, including the White House envoy Steve Witkoff and CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper, have publicly reaffirmed that Israeli forces in Gaza have withdrawn to the agreed positions, signaling a pause that many hope can hold as the terms of the ceasefire are tested in the days ahead. The framing from Washington has emphasized the goal of stabilizing a volatile situation through peace through strength, a principle proponents say aligns with Israel’s security needs and its insistence on guarding against renewed threats on multiple fronts.

In Gaza, Israeli forces began a partial withdrawal in alignment with the first phase of the ceasefire framework, as part of an orderly transition toward the location-based lines agreed in Sharm el-Sheikh. Preparations are underway to receive the 48 hostages still held by Hamas, with authorities signaling a meticulous, careful approach to any further movement or handover. Israel’s security establishment has underscored that the disengagement is designed to reduce civilian hardship while maintaining the capability to respond decisively if Hamas violates the terms of the arrangement. The operational mood in Jerusalem remains resolute: security authorities say the threat landscape outside Gaza’s immediate border remains complex, and any gains must be safeguarded against a range of hostile actions.

Across Gaza, Hamas has moved to reassert control over areas recently vacated by the Israeli Defense Forces. Reports, including BBC sourcing cited by Israel Hayom, indicate that roughly 7,000 members of Hamas’s internal security forces have been mobilized, with five new governors appointed to oversee different districts. The move is described as an effort to reestablish administrative and security control, including deployments by former armed wing commanders and militants who have influenced the strip’s power balance for years. The recruitment push reportedly reached members by phone and text messages, rallying them to report within 24 hours. Local observers warn that the redeployment could heighten internal friction and potentially spark clashes as factions jockey for influence in a post-withdrawal environment. A veteran Palestinian security officer and other local voices described a Gaza in flux, concerned about a slide into renewed intra-Palestinian violence even as Hamas seeks to project authority.

Within Israel’s broader narrative, the American effort remains a defining backdrop. Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and adviser, has publicly shared reflections on the past ten months, emphasizing partnership with Israeli leaders and the shared sense of responsibility for regional stability. In remarks delivered to audiences in the space known as the “Hostages’ Square,” Kushner and Witkoff have framed the moment as the convergence of determination and courage that can yield a durable path to peace. The exchanges have underscored a view that the path forward requires steadfast leadership from Israel and persistent, principled diplomacy from American partners, with a message of gratitude extended to regional allies who supported the effort. The tone has been celebratory of a difficult breakthrough, tempered by the recognition that the road ahead will demand continued restraint, coordination, and vigilance from all sides.

From the s

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Published on 3 weeks, 4 days ago