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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-21 at 14:05
HEADLINES
Canada urged to drop Netanyahu arrest pledge
Hamas to deliver two more hostage bodies
Saudi crown prince to discuss Israel normalization
The time is now 10:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Good morning. Here is your 10:00 AM update on events shaping the Middle East and related global developments.
Israel pressed Canada to drop its pledge to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he travels to Canada, arguing that he leads the Jewish state and a cornerstone democracy in the region. Israeli officials urged Ottawa to welcome Netanyahu rather than pursue the ICC arrest warrant, saying Canada should reconsider in the interest of stability and security in the Middle East.
In a separate diplomatic development, Hassan Mahmoud Rashad, head of Egypt’s General Intelligence Service, arrived in Israel for talks with Prime Minister Netanyahu and other Israeli officials. The discussions focused on the Gaza truce framework negotiated under US mediation and the flow of aid to Gaza, including what steps might be taken to support civilians while preserving security interests for Israel and its partners.
On the US side, President Donald Trump said that several Middle East allies had expressed willingness to enter Gaza with significant force to “straighten out Hamas” if Hamas violates its understandings. He tempered that stance with the remark that the option is not needed now and that there remains hope Hamas will do what is right. He thanked those countries for offering help and reiterated that any action would depend on Hamas’s conduct.
Hamas signaled possible progress on a separate track, stating it would hand over two more hostage bodies at 9:00 PM local time. This development comes amid ongoing negotiations tied to a broader deal to disarm Hamas in Gaza and establish a transitional governance framework, as outlined in a US-brokered roadmap. Earlier this week, families of American victims filed a lawsuit against the PLO alleging payments to terrorists, part of ongoing US legal action tied to the broader conflict.
Meanwhile, a number of recently released Israeli hostages met with US envoy Steve Witkoff and former White House adviser Jared Kushner in Tel Aviv, underscoring continued US engagement with the humanitarian and security dimensions of the crisis.
In Gaza, Israeli forces reported a confrontation near Khan Younis in which a tank struck a mine during a security-clearing operation. Two Israeli soldiers were lightly injured and evacuated for medical treatment, and the IDF said it subsequently targeted several terrorist sites in response to the incident.
International diplomacy continues to evolve around the broader regional questions. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is expected to visit the White House on November 18, with normalization discussions with Israel anticipated to feature on the agenda—though outcomes may depend on the trajectory of the Gaza situation in the weeks ahead.
Lebanese officials caution that Hezbollah’s resistance has regained strength and could confront Israel if a broader conflict resumes, highlighting the spillover risk from Gaza into nearby fronts and the ongoing need for deterrence and readiness on multiple fronts.
The day’s domestic reporting includes a warning from Israel’s State Comptroller about reforms and data systems, noting weaknesses in the coordination of major government reforms and in the management of key ministries. A separate audit highlights concerns about the balance between teaching quality and research emphasis in higher education, calling for a strategic shift in Israel’s academic sector to ensure long-term resilience and accountability.
In other regional news, Tunisian workers in Gabes have begun a general strike over pollution linked to a state-run phosphate processing p
Published on 2 weeks, 1 day ago