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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-17 at 20:07
HEADLINES
- Historic 48 Hostages Freed More Remain
- EU Presses US to Safeguard Palestinian State
- Gaza Rebuilding Bill Hits 70B
The time is now 4:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
From Jerusalem at 4:00 PM, this is the 4:00 PM hourly update on the conflict and diplomacy in the Middle East.
A landmark development on the ground in Gaza’s negotiations area centers on the hostage deal. In a scene described by observers as historic, more than 48 hostages have been freed and are back on Israeli soil. The crowds outside Hostage Square testified to relief and tension alike. One account quoted an emotions-laden line: “Until all 48 hostages are freed and back on Israeli soil, I cannot breathe.” The broader aim remains to secure the return of every captive, with families and communities watching closely for further progress.
In parallel, the European Union is weighing its next steps in reducing risk to the political process. The European External Action Service signaled it will press the United States through further diplomatic channels to ensure that a ceasefire plan does not undermine the viability of a future Palestinian state. The dialogue underscores a shared interest among Western partners in balancing security with political horizons for Palestinians, while the immediate focus remains on safe, verifiable hostages’ release and the normalization of life in Gaza.
On the reconstruction front, international institutions are revisiting Gaza’s needs. The World Bank, the United Nations, and the European Union had previously estimated more than 50 billion dollars would be required to rebuild Gaza, and they are finalizing a new interim estimate that projects costs around 70 billion dollars. Experts caution that such numbers reflect not just concrete infrastructure but also the long-term economic and governance challenges that shadow reconstruction efforts.
Two years of captivity for some hostages are being framed in broader terms by analysts and family members. Descriptions of those elapsed years highlight a clash of timelines: the hostage experiences, frozen at the moment of abduction on October 7, stand beside the ongoing political and military countdowns, complicating the path to resolution for families and negotiators alike.
In another development tied to the ceasefire, Israel is preparing to receive the remains of a hostage, following pressure from mediators and in alignment with a framework associated with a prior understanding linked to a presidential administration. Officials say the remains are likely to be delivered tonight, with 19 hostages still held in Gaza. The timing and handling of remains are watched closely by both sides as a measure of adherence to the ceasefire terms.
The Israeli military reports continued activity in Gaza, including strikes against terrorists emerging from tunnels in the Khan Younis area. The operation is described as part of the ceasefire framework oriented toward removing immediate threats. Earlier today, militants in the Rafah area fired toward Israeli forces; there were no reported injuries on the Israeli side. The army says it will keep forces deployed to remove any immediate threats and to uphold the terms of the ceasefire.
In related security statements, the Israeli defense establishment noted two separate incidents in the southern Gaza Strip where militants emerged from tunnels near Khan Younis and near Rafah, approaching Israeli troops and prompting air strikes to neutralize the threat. The military reiterated that it will respond to threats in accordance with the ceasefire agreement and will continue operations to secure surrounding areas.
Hamas has reiterated its position on disarmament, declining to give a straightforward yes or no answer. The group cautions that disarmament depends on the scope and nature of any
Published on 2 weeks, 5 days ago