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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-22 at 15:08
HEADLINES
Gaza ceasefire plan hinges on Hamas disarmament
Knesset advances de facto West Bank sovereignty
Iran backed cyber operations hit Israeli hospitals
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 the hourly news update at 11:00 AM. We begin with developments shaping the Middle East and the wider region, with emphasis on Israeli security concerns, regional diplomacy, and US policy stances.
First, the Gaza ceasefire landscape. Turkish and Qatari leaders intensified efforts to preserve the fragile pause in fighting, with Turkish intelligence officials and foreign ministers engaging Hamas in Doha as part of a broader diplomatic push to stabilize the Gaza front. In Jerusalem, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Vice President JD Vance both underscored a partnership in pursuing a comprehensive plan for Gaza that includes disarmament of Hamas, reconstruction, and security arrangements. At the same time, Israel has signaled that any future security guarantees or foreign troop deployments in Gaza would be decided in consultation with regional partners, and officials have publicly rejected the idea of Turkish military involvement in Gaza at this stage. The discussions come as Washington seeks to anchor a broader framework intended to translate the ceasefire into lasting regional stability, with US officials describing the Gaza plan as a joint enterprise in which American and Israeli goals align with Gulf and other regional partners.
On the diplomatic front, sources report that Turkey and Qatar are coordinating with intelligence and diplomatic channels to deter renewed hostilities, signaling convergence on the need to prevent a relapse into open conflict while addressing humanitarian and governance questions in the Strip. In parallel, the White House and Jerusalem are weighing how the plan’s milestones—such as Hamas disarmament, international security guarantees, and Gaza’s reconstruction—could unlock a wider regional alignment and potentially advance the broader normalization process.
Turning to Israel’s domestic and strategic priorities, the Knesset advanced a bill that would apply Israeli law to the occupied West Bank, a move observers describe as de facto annexation. The preliminary vote occurred amid the visit of the US Vice President, highlighting the sensitivity of American-Israeli discussions about the future status of the West Bank. The measure, which would extend Israeli civil and legal authority over settlement areas in Judea and Samaria, is part of a broader debate inside Israel about sovereignty, security, and international reaction. US officials have cautioned that changes on the ground could affect relations with partners in the region and beyond, reinforcing the importance of careful diplomacy as Washington calibrates its stance ahead of broader negotiations.
In related policy signals, Washington has reiterated its desire for a stable security environment and progress on a Gaza deal while maintaining a strong alliance with Israel. Recent remarks from US and Israeli leaders have stressed partnership and shared strategic aims, while rejecting the characterization of Israel as a client state. The dialogue continues to emphasize mutual interests in advancing a plan that safeguards civilian lives, secures hostages, and stabilizes the broader region.
Security and cyber developments also feature prominently. Israel’s National Cyber Directorate reported a wave of Iranian-backed cyber operations targeting Israeli entities, including a hospital network and other critical infrastructure. The agency described a broad campaign in which attackers sought to steal credentials and infiltrate systems, noting that several intrusions were blocked and that the episode underscores ongoing cyber threats linked to Iran’s wider pressure campaign. In a separate note on civil p
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