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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-19 at 05:04
HEADLINES
US warns Hamas of imminent ceasefire breach
Netanyahu ends war only with Hamas disarmed
Ronen Engel burial amid hostage reunions
The time is now 1:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
This is the 1:00 a.m. update on the Middle East news cycle. The United States on Saturday issued a warning that Hamas could be preparing an attack that would breach the Gaza ceasefire. The State Department said it had informed mediators Qatar, Turkey and Egypt of credible reports indicating an imminent plan by Hamas to attack Palestinian civilians, a move it described as a direct and grave violation of the ceasefire. The statement stressed that should such a step occur, measures would be taken to protect civilians in Gaza and to preserve the integrity of the ceasefire, while reaffirming the guarantor states’ commitment to civilian safety and to the mediation effort.
In Jerusalem, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised interview that the war would end only when Hamas is disarmed and Gaza demilitarized, and he urged that the full terms of the ceasefire be carried out, including the return of all dead hostages. He denied that President Trump forced him into the agreement, saying he helped shape Trump’s proposal and made changes up to the last minute. Netanyahu also indicated he intends to run again in the next election and expressed confidence in victory.
Editorial and opinion pages have highlighted divergent views on leadership at this moment. One piece argued that a public figure showed animus toward Israel by refusing to condemn terror, a stance described as revealing deeper political priorities. The coverage also noted sharp criticism from families of hostages, including expressions from relatives who questioned the government’s handling, with at least one family member sarcastically thanking the prime minister for returning a loved one “in a coffin.”
Stories of personal endurance and sorrow continued to unfold. Freed hostages, including Omer Wenkert and the couples Guy Gilboa-Dalal and Evyatar David, shared emotional reunions and footage from their return. In a separate development, Israeli authorities announced the identification and return for burial of Ronen Engel, a 54-year-old hostage killed during the Hamas assault on October 7. His family and the Nir Oz community described him as devoted, energetic and a steadfast defender of his loved ones.
Public safety notices reported several local incidents. A 20-year-old man sustained a moderate head injury in a traffic crash in Netanya and was transported to hospital after treatment by medics. A 16-year-old girl in Ashkelon was moderately injured in a car rollover, and a one-year-old child in Migdal HaEmek was treated for burns and taken to Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, both in stable condition.
A northern security drill was announced to begin today and run through Thursday. The exercise involves large ground forces, drones and pyrotechnics as part of a major readiness operation along the northern border, with authorities pledging to issue notices if security events warrant it.
On the diplomatic and strategic front, US and other mediators continue to emphasize that any breach of the ceasefire by Hamas would be met with responses designed to protect civilians and preserve the path toward broader arrangements. In comments tied to the war, Netanyahu highlighted close coordination with the United States on security matters and described ongoing conversations about Iran’s nuclear threat, recalling past actions taken to deter Iran when Israel assessed a nuclear program might advance.
Weatherwise, the forecast calls for a mostly cloudy to clear sky with seasonal temperatures, light to moderate NW to north winds off the Mediterranean, and a sea state ranging from calm to moderate. Temperatures across major cities ar
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