Podcast Episode Details
Back to Podcast Episodes
Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-18 at 15:06
HEADLINES
Sea of Galilee dangerously low level
Rafah border reopens Monday for Gazans
Zeitoun strike kills 11 civilians
The time is now 11:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
This is a concise hourly update on developments across Israel, Gaza, the region, and related international dynamics.
Israel’s water authority reports Lake Kinneret, the Sea of Galilee, remains at dangerously low levels, with the surface measured at about 213.19 meters below sea level. In response, authorities have begun pumping water into the lake to stabilize supply and protect regional water infrastructure as drought pressures persist. Officials say the operation aims to preserve water flavor and quality for communities that rely on the lake as a critical resource.
Gaza’s Rafah border crossing, which has largely been shut since May of last year, is set to reopen on Monday, according to the Palestinian embassy in Egypt. The reopening will allow Palestinians living in Egypt to return to Gaza, marking a potential easing of restrictions that have constrained movement and aid flows in and out of the enclave.
On the ground in Gaza, a deadly incident occurred when Israeli forces fired on a vehicle near Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighborhood after it crossed the boundary known as the Yellow Line. Palestinian authorities said 11 members of the Abu Shaban family were killed, including children and women. The Israeli military said warning shots were fired and that the vehicle posed a threat before it was struck. Hamas denounced the strike as a grave crime against civilians. The Israel Defense Forces have emphasized earlier warnings to residents and to fighters about avoiding areas under Israeli control or approaching troops.
In related security operations, Israeli forces conducted an airstrike in Khan Younis after operatives emerged from a tunnel and posed an imminent threat to troops. Separately, an Israeli Navy vessel fired warning shots at several Palestinian boats off Gaza’s southern coast after they violated the naval blockade; no injuries were reported as the vessels turned away. The week also saw a continuing exchange of remains and hostages under the ceasefire framework brokered by the United States. The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said 15 remains were handed over, bringing the total number of bodies returned under the deal to 135. Hamas reported the release of 10 hostages on Friday, with 18 still in Gaza, while Israel indicated that some bodies held by Hamas remain to be exchanged for living captives as stipulated in the ceasefire accord.
Humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts remain central to mediators’ focus. United Nations aid chief Tom Fletcher stressed the scale of the challenge in Gaza, describing a “massive, massive job” to restore basic services. His assessment follows days of aid convoys entering Gaza through border crossings, with the Israeli defense body overseeing aid movements reporting hundreds of trucks moving goods. The World Food Programme and other agencies have warned of severe needs, including nourishment, health services, and shelter for winter. Gaza authorities say thousands have died from malnutrition-related causes since the war began in 2023, though international organizations dispute casualty tallies and emphasize the need for consistent humanitarian access. A target within the broader plan calls for a surge in food distribution, rehabilitation of the health sector, and the rapid restoration of water and sanitation systems as part of a broader effort to stabilize living conditions in Gaza.
Looking beyond Gaza, Guardian reporting cites Egypt as a possible leader of an international-backed interim security force for Gaza, with Turkey, Indonesia, Azerbaijan, and Egypt expected to contribute troops. The arrangement would aim to provide a stabilizing security framework whil
Published on 2 weeks, 4 days ago