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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-18 at 01:06
HEADLINES
Casket Remains For Identification After Hamas Handover
Turkish Rescue Team Awaits Israeli Clearance
IDF Strikes Near Khan Younis Tensions Rise
The time is now 9:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
At 9:00 PM, the situation along the Israel-Gaza front remains shaped by a fragile ceasefire and the ongoing work to account for missing and deceased hostages, even as Israeli forces continue to respond to threats and to redeploy as the agreement envisions. The day’s events underscore a balance between military readiness and the political effort to implement the ceasefire, with attention to both security concerns and humanitarian considerations.
Israeli authorities confirmed that a casket containing the apparent remains of a hostage handed over by Hamas was retrieved from Khan Younis by the Red Cross and transported to the Abu Kabir forensic institute in Tel Aviv for identification. The process is expected to take up to two days, and Hamas did not identify the person, leaving open questions about whether the remains belong to a hostage or another casualty. If confirmed as a hostage, the number of dead captives in Gaza would reach 18, while 12 or more others remain unaccounted for, depending on how the remaining corpses are identified through the first phase of the ceasefire arrangement.
Meanwhile, Hamas reiterated its stated position that it will return the bodies of captives and adhere to the ceasefire agreement, while also calling for mediators to advance the remaining provisions of the US-brokered deal and to complete the formation of a community support committee for the Gaza Strip. Senior Hamas figures have stressed that the situation is complex after the conflict altered the landscape of Gaza and warned against pressure tactics, signaling that progress will require patience and continued mediation.
In parallel, the Turkish disaster response agency AFAD announced it has an 81-person team at the Egyptian border awaiting Israeli authorization to enter Gaza and assist in search-and-recovery operations. The team’s equipment includes life-detection devices and trained search dogs, and Turkish officials suggested a willingness to work with Qataris and other mediators to locate both Palestinian and Israeli victims buried under rubble. Israeli authorities have not yet commented on clearance to the Turkish team, and crossings are paused in observance of the Jewish Sabbath.
On the military front, the Israel Defense Forces said it carried out airstrikes against operatives who emerged from a tunnel near Khan Younis and posed an imminent threat to troops. Separate reports described another group of operatives that opened fire after approaching forces in the Rafah area, and a vehicle that crossed the so-called Yellow Line in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighborhood was struck after warnings and continued approach. The army noted that a family in the Zeitoun area was reportedly killed by a vehicle incident connected to displacement efforts, underscoring the human toll of ongoing moves around the front lines. Defense Minister Israel Katz said markers would be placed along the Yellow Line to clearly mark the boundaries of Israeli control and deter further incursions.
Across the border with Lebanon, Israeli and allied forces have maintained a high level of readiness as warnings persist about potential cross-border activity. Hezbollah reportedly made renewed attempts to approach the border, prompting substantial airstrikes by the IDF and a major safety posture as the army drills its forces in what is described as a major divisional exercise not seen since the current phase of the war began.
In the diplomatic sphere, Washington’s focus remains on stabilizing the region and advancing the first phase of the ceasefire, with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff preparing to travel to the region to co
Published on 2 weeks, 4 days ago