Podcast Episode Details
Back to Podcast Episodes
Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-11 at 19:06
HEADLINES
Ceasefire holds as Gaza pullback progresses
Hamas mobilizes 7,000, installs five governors
Witkoff Kushner push peace amid boos
The time is now 3:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Good afternoon. A United States brokered ceasefire announced in Sharm el-Sheikh remains in effect as Israel reports a partial withdrawal from Gaza in line with the first phase of the plan endorsed by Washington. Israeli forces have pulled back from the areas they occupied in southern Gaza and now hold positions along a line described by officials as the yellow line, with preparations continuing to receive hostages held by Hamas. Officials say evidence of progress toward release of hostages continues, though the timetable remains uncertain and negotiations over disarmament and governance features of any long term arrangement are expected to be difficult.
In Israel, the military and intelligence community advance with a sense of caution, acknowledging significant challenges ahead as families of the missing and the dead hold vigil. A reservist who was gravely wounded in an October 7 operation in southern Gaza, Master Sergeant Shmuel Gad Rahamim, age 31 from Giv’at Ze’ev, has died of his wounds. Rahamim’s passing follows the deaths of others who were injured in the same October 7 incident, with two additional reserve soldiers injured in the same flare of fighting. Israeli authorities say preparations to identify the remains of hostages and fallen soldiers are proceeding under strict security protocols.
The ceasefire environment comes amid reporting that Hamas has begun to reassert some control in Gaza after the IDF redeployed from areas recently vacated. BBC reporting, citing local sources, indicates Hamas mobilized roughly 7,000 members of its internal security forces to deploy across districts it says it has cleared of combatants and to appoint five new governors to oversee areas of the Gaza Strip. The organization reportedly issued calls for mobilization and warned that forces in civilian clothes and in uniforms alike could appear in public spaces as part of efforts to re-establish authority. Palestinian officials and observers caution that such moves could presage renewed internal tensions or new clashes as negotiations progress.
On the diplomatic front, US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner addressed crowds in Tel Aviv’s Hostages’ Square, delivering messages of perseverance and partnership. Witkoff told the crowd—before pauses and cheers interjected by sections of the audience—that he dreamed of the night’s scene, praising the ability of leaders and families to endure and to work toward peace through courage. Kushner, standing alongside Witkoff, spoke to the gathering with a mixture of praise and humility, saying he was honored to work with the people and leaders who have borne the burden of the crisis. The crowd reacted with visible mixed emotions, including boos when Kushner’s name was invoked, reflecting the tense political currents inside Israel as the peace process unfolds.
In remarks that drew attention from many watching around the world, Kushner emphasized that the peace process in the region is not a surrender but a commitment to security and stability. He and Witkoff credited Israeli leadership with steadfast resolve in the face of extraordinary challenges, and Kushner underscored the importance of maintaining momentum toward the return of hostages. He also offered personal reflections on the night of October 7, recalling how events unfolded and the deep pain that followed for families on all sides. In the same venue, former White House adviser Jared Kushner reiterated that the operation would not be about surrender but about securing a future in which Israel can live in safety and its neighbors can prosper.
Analysts caution that while the ceasefire provides a tactical pause, the s
Published on 3 weeks, 4 days ago