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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-12 at 07:06
HEADLINES
Hostage Release Promised in Phase A Ceasefire
Hamas Tightens Grip as Gaza Crisis Deepens
Sharm Gaza Summit Tests US Led Accord
The time is now 3:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
At 3:00 a.m., the latest developments in Israel and Gaza center on the ceasefire brokered in Sharm el-Sheikh by the United States with Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar. The agreement aims to halt the fighting between Israel and Hamas and establish a framework for the next steps, beginning with Phase A of the Trump administration’s settlement plan. That phase envisions a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and a pathway toward discussions on broader security and governance arrangements. Notably, Hamas will not participate in the signing ceremony; mediators along with American and Israeli officials are expected to be in attendance to formalize the moment.
Behind the scenes, diplomats are circulating a proposal for the next phase of the plan, which envisions the establishment of a Palestinian government in Gaza that is not affiliated with Hamas. An Arab diplomat described the concept as a possible path to broaden acceptance of the arrangement and to create a more credible civilian framework for Gaza. Observers note that the United States, in coordinating with regional partners, would seek to couple any new governance arrangement with commitments on disarmament and security guarantees. Some Israeli observers indicate that Washington is unlikely to stand in the way of Israel’s efforts to curb Hamas’s armed capabilities, so long as international mechanisms accompany such measures.
On the ground in Gaza, observers report that Hamas is moving to consolidate its control in the wake of the ceasefire. It has been expanding the presence of security forces in central districts and along major corridors, while security operations target groups seen as potential rivals to Hamas’s monopoly over security. In Khan Younis, officials say large portions of the city have suffered extensive damage, with critical infrastructure like water and sewage systems disrupted. Amid the relief and reconstruction efforts, residents are setting up temporary shelters as authorities work to restore basic services and curb any stray security threats. Analysts caution that the effort to tighten control is designed to deter alternatives to Hamas dominance, even as humanitarian needs rise.
Internationally, the arrangement reflects a shift in regional diplomacy. Europe’s involvement remains limited, while Washington pushes a model of mediation that pairs incentives with pressure. Turkey and Qatar are playing active roles as sub-mediators, with the United States pressing for disarmament and a path toward broader normalization under regional frameworks like the Abraham Accords. Observers note that the deal signals a significant reorientation of Middle East diplomacy toward a US-led, multi-country framework, with potential implications for how neighboring states engage with Gaza, Israel, and the broader region.
Israeli officials have outlined the operational implications of the ceasefire and hostage process. The defense leadership has stressed that the primary challenge after the initial phase will be the direct destruction of Hamas’s tunnel network in Gaza, a task that Israel plans to pursue with its own forces and through international mechanisms designed to oversee Gaza’s disarmament. Meanwhile, the Israeli military has prepared, in coordination with civilian authorities, for the immediate reception of hostages if and when they are released, with units already positioned along the border to respond to a range of scenarios. Medical teams and air defense assets are standing by at the reception sites to handle any contingencies.
In parallel, new reports detail operational and political moves that shape the broader landscape. There are indications tha
Published on 3 weeks, 4 days ago