Podcast Episode Details

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-12 at 11:04

---

---

HEADLINES
- Ceasefire holds as Trump facilitates hostage handover
- Iran's influence shifts as Syria drifts away
- UNIFIL observer hurt by Israeli drone grenade

The time is now 7:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

At 7:00 AM, the latest from the Gaza front centers on a ceasefire that has held into a third day as both sides prepare for a staged exchange of hostages and prisoners, a process brokered by the United States under President Donald Trump. Hamas has informed mediators that it can begin releasing living Israeli hostages as early as Sunday, conditional on Israel revising the list of prisoners to be freed, specifically two of its preferred seven prisoners. Israel has signaled readiness to receive the hostages, with planners aiming to align the handover with the president’s visit to the region.

The arrangement, billed as part of a broader peace through strength approach, envisions Hamas disarmament and a civilian administration in Gaza under international supervision, with the goal of stabilizing the area and enabling a wider ceasefire. A 72-hour window was established to move toward the handover, and Israeli officials have said every logistical detail is in place as Palestinian factions coordinate the swap, including the possible recovery of bodies in a single-stage exchange.

On the international front, Iran’s influence and its proxies figure in assessments of the region’s security picture. A regime-aligned newspaper described the October 7 attacks as a misstep that cost Iran dearly, noting that the assault damaged the standing of the Axis of Resistance and contributed to Syria’s drift away from Iranian influence. The same reporting underscores a shift in some regional dynamics as Gaza, Lebanon, and the wider theater test the coalition that has sustained Iran’s regional posture.

In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stressed readiness for an immediate handover of all living hostages, while security and transportation adjustments accompany President Trump’s anticipated visit. Authorities have announced travel and traffic measures around Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, including a security-focused operation branded to support Trump’s trip. Public transit is to be enhanced in some corridors, and road access to the city corridors will be restricted to facilitate arrivals and security screenings. Military and police officials caution the public to follow official routing guidance and to expect delays surrounding travel for the president’s arrival and events.

In other developments touching the frontline, UNIFIL confirmed an incident in southern Lebanon in which an observer was lightly injured by a grenade dropped from an Israeli drone. The peacekeeping force noted that two drones flew near their position before the grenade exploded near a UNIFIL post, with no immediate comment from the IDF. UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Lebanon war, remains the framework for the force, which has carried out duties alongside the Lebanese military since then.

Beyond the battlefield briefings, broader Israeli life and international reactions continue to unfold. An OECD survey highlighted that Israelis report high job morale and heavy use of AI among teachers, even as the country faces shortages of certified teachers and strains in public education. In other news, a Kyiv assault outside a synagogue and a pepper-spray incident added to a rising concern about antisemitic acts abroad. In sports diplomacy, Indonesia’s decision to deny visas to Israeli gymnasts drew swift condemnation from Israel’s gymnastics federation, which intends to pursue arbitration to challenge the ruling. Australia saw large-scale pro-Palestinian protests, including tens of thousands in several cities, as international sentiment swelled around the Gaza crisis and the ceasefire talks, with Jewish leaders

---

Published on 3 weeks, 4 days ago