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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-21 at 13:07
HEADLINES
JCPOA Ends as UN Resolution Expires
Gaza Under Ceasefire Strain; 20,000 Hamas Operatives
Diplomats Rally Around Trump's 20-Point Gaza Plan
The time is now 9:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
This is the hourly update. We begin with the day’s broader developments and then move into scene by scene updates from the region and beyond.
Iran says the era of the 2015 nuclear deal is over as the UN resolution endorsing that agreement has expired. Tehran, along with Russia and China, notified the United Nations Security Council that Resolution 2231 has expired, effectively marking what Iran calls the formal end of the agreement. Iran has argued that its nuclear program will proceed free of the constraints embedded in the JCPOA, while Western partners have indicated they will reassess how to engage on the issue. The development comes amid long‑standing disputes over Iran’s uranium enrichment and access for international inspectors, and it adds a new layer to regional calculations about security, diplomacy, and deterrence. Israel continues to frame the issue within its core security concerns, highlighting the potential implications for regional stability and the need for credible guarantees on any future arrangements. The United States has signaled that it will pursue its own approach to Iran’s program, balancing diplomatic channels with ongoing pressure tools that have remained a feature of American policy for years.
In Gaza, the security picture remains tightly watched. Israeli intelligence assessments indicate Hamas has an estimated 20,000 armed operatives and hundreds of rockets still in Gaza, even as the group has faced losses in its military capability. The militant group continues to exercise a high degree of control across parts of the Strip, with local dynamics now shaped by a fragile ceasefire and the emergence of armed factions and militias that operate at times like a mosaic of power rather than a single, unified authority. Residents describe a climate of fear and uncertainty as the ceasefire pressure points persist, and as questions about postwar governance remain unresolved. The evolving security landscape in Gaza raises difficult questions for the civilian population and for international actors seeking to stabilize the region while addressing humanitarian needs.
Diplomatic activity remains intense around Gaza as mediators push forward Donald Trump’s 20‑point ceasefire plan. The United States, Egypt, and Qatar have stepped up talks in Cairo, with a Hamas delegation led by Khalil al‑Hayya in attendance. The objective is to stabilize the early phase of the truce, sustain quiet, and advance a broader political framework. The US administration continues to emphasize the need for a sustainable ceasefire, the disarmament of armed groups, and practical steps to improve humanitarian access and governance in Gaza. In the wake of discussions, international envoys, including US special envoy Steve Witkoff and White House adviser Jared Kushner, have engaged with released hostages’ families and with officials trying to secure the fate of those held by Hamas. At the same time, the ceasefire agreement that began last month does not resolve postwar governance, a question that remains central to stability and future reconstruction.
Among high‑level political exchanges, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met in Jerusalem with the head of Egyptian intelligence. The discussions covered advancing Washington’s plan, strengthening Israel–Egypt relations, and broader regional peace prospects. The dialogue underscores ongoing attempts to synchronize security considerations with diplomatic channels, a pattern seen in prior rounds of diplomacy that seek to align regional actors around a shared framework for peace and security.
Elsewhere, regional channels continue to shepherd relations and expect
Published on 2 weeks, 1 day ago