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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-20 at 17:12
HEADLINES
Red Cross to ID Gaza hostage coffin
Iran's Shamkhani wounded in Israeli strike
Sarkozy begins five year prison sentence
The time is now 1:07 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
At 1:06 PM, this is a live update on the Middle East and related global developments.
Israeli military and Shin Bet agencies released a joint briefing noting that the Red Cross is en route to a meeting point in the southern Gaza Strip, where a coffin bearing the body of a captive will be handed over for identification. The Israel Defense Forces said they expect the exchange to proceed with sensitivity and asked that official verification be provided first to the families of the captives. The briefing also stressed that Hamas must meet its commitments under the agreement and undertake the necessary steps to bring home the hostages and the fallen.
In parallel, the broader exchange and its implications continue to shape conversations about security and humanitarian access in Gaza. Israel’s leadership has repeatedly linked the return of all hostages and the fate of civilians to the broader objective of stabilizing the region, while stressing the need for strict monitoring and international cooperation to ensure compliance.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke this week about the overarching strategy in the conflict, reiterating that any resolution would require the return of the hostages en masse, sustained Israeli security control in most of Gaza, and a broader international framework for demilitarization and disarmament of Hamas. He warned that any deviation from the agreed terms would undermine the prospects for a durable outcome and insisted that Israel would not accept coercive ultimatums or unilateral concessions that could compromise its security.
On the international stage, President Donald Trump asserted a hard line against Hamas in remarks during a White House briefing with Australia’s prime minister. He said a deal with Hamas was intended to ensure they behave, and warned that if they do not, they will be destroyed. Trump also suggested that the leadership of Hamas may not be fully behind certain recent incidents, while underscoring that, in his view, actions would be met with force should Hamas continue to violate agreements. His comments reflect a continued insistence on swift and severe consequences for Hamas if it does not comply with terms he associates with the administration’s approach to the conflict.
Border developments in the region include a Lebanese military move related to Gaza-area activity. Reports indicate that the Lebanese army today removed tank obstacles that the Israeli Defense Forces had placed near the village of Etaroun in southern Lebanon, a step described as aimed at preventing cross-border movement. The incident underscores the volatility of the border region and the ongoing caution exercised by neighboring states.
In a separate security development, Iran’s senior security official Ali Shamkhani, a key figure in coordinating Iran’s nuclear project and a close advisor to the Supreme Leader, was wounded in an operation described as an Israeli action during the broader regional conflict. Iranian outlets noted that Shamkhani attended his daughter’s wedding as reports of the attack circulated, drawing international attention to the potential spillover effects of the fighting and the renewed attention on Iran’s role in the regional dynamic.
Distant flare-ups also figure in regional reporting. Turkish-language and other outlets have carried brief notices that Israel allowed members of the Hamás leader Ismail Haniyeh’s family to leave Gaza, along with Turkish and Palestinian nationals, at Ankara’s request. The move was described by some as a goodwill gesture toward Turkey amid ongoing diplomacy over the Gaza situation.
In political developments
Published on 2 weeks, 2 days ago