Podcast Episode Details
Back to Podcast Episodes
Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-11 at 22:06
HEADLINES
Ceasefire advances 48 hostages slated
Sharm summit Iran invited Netanyahu excluded
Iran open to nuclear talks no normalization
The time is now 6:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
This is the hour update. Good evening.
A US brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remains the defining thread of the day as the first phase of the agreement progresses toward a hoped-for end to the gravest burst of hostilities in years. The parties have agreed to begin exchanging hostages for prisoners under a framework announced in Sharm el-Sheikh, with the aim of releasing 48 hostages held in Gaza. Of those, 20 are believed to be alive and set to be returned in the coming days, while the exchange includes the release of about 2,000 Palestinian detainees held in Israeli facilities. The arrangement envisions a multi‑stage process that observers say could stretch over the next 72 hours, with medical checks, identification procedures, and a handover overseen by the International Red Cross at designated crossings.
On the diplomatic front, Egypt’s leadership has signaled that Sharm el-Sheikh will host a high-level international summit on Monday, intended to validate and push forward the ceasefire and hostage release efforts. President Abdel Fattah el‑Sisi will preside over the gathering, with participation from President Donald Trump and leaders from around two dozen countries. The arrangements call for a broader push toward regional security, peace, and stability, though Israel has not been invited to participate in the formal summit itself. The United States has widened the guest list to include countries such as Spain, Japan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Hungary, India, and others, and word from official channels indicates that Iran has been invited to attend as part of a broader regional outreach. The aim is to demonstrate a path toward reducing conflict and expanding dialogue after the Gaza crisis.
In the arena of security and diplomacy, Iran has signaled a cautious openness. Tehran’s foreign minister said Iran would consider a fair, balanced US proposal for nuclear talks but rejected any suggestion of normalization of relations with Israel under current conditions. The assessment underscores a broader regional calculus in which Tehran weighs engagement in talks against the possibility of reducing regional tensions and preserving its own strategic aims.
Three Qatari diplomats were reported killed in a traffic accident in Sharm el‑Sheikh, a development that, in the middle of efforts to advance negotiations, spotlights the risks and fragility of regional diplomacy. The Qatar delegation has been closely involved in mediation efforts and in coordinating contacts among negotiating parties during the talks around the ceasefire and hostage return.
Back home in Israel, the atmosphere at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv reflected the emotional stakes of the moment. Leaders and families of hostages filled the square and surrounding avenues as special envoy Steve Witkoff praised the role of President Trump and other negotiators in shaping what many described as a breakthrough. Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump were among the high-profile figures present, echoing a sentiment of gratitude and resolve. The cheers for Trump were loud and sustained, while Netanyahu’s name drew jeers from portions of the crowd. The scene drew comment from across the political spectrum, including Benny Gantz, who called booing the prime minister a mistake in the presence of international officials and hostage families. Ministers from Netanyahu’s Likud party defended the prime minister, stressing that leadership and decisions taken under extraordinary pressure were essential to obtaining the hostage returns announced in the ceasefire framework.
Families of slain hostages and those still awaiting news spoke at the rallies with a mi
Published on 3 weeks, 4 days ago