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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-22 at 19:07
HEADLINES
600 Rabbis Urge Voters to Back Israel
ICJ Urges Israel to Allow Gaza Relief
Knesset Advances Judea Samaria Sovereignty Bills
The time is now 3:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Today’s top developments span Washington, Jerusalem, and global capitals as the war in Gaza continues to shape policy, diplomacy, and public debate.
In the United States, a broad chorus of voices is shaping the domestic discourse about Israel’s security and US support. More than 600 American rabbis signed a letter urging American voters to back candidates who reject antisemitism and anti‑Zionism and affirm Israel’s right to exist in peace and security, underscoring a sustained emphasis in parts of the US Jewish community on maintaining robust, principled backing for Israel within the framework of democratic values. The letter reflects a concern that antisemitism and hostility to Israel remain pressing issues in US politics, even as lawmakers weigh security needs and regional stability.
Meanwhile, in partisan and policy circles, American political figures continue to engage directly with Israeli leaders and hostage families. JD Vance, during a visit with Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Herzog as well as families of hostages, stressed that the United States should not treat Israel as a protectorate and acknowledged the Gaza situation as a difficult challenge. The exchanges illustrate how US lawmakers seek to balance strategic support for Israel with concerns about sovereignty, regional security, and the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
In strategic and legal terms, the International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion focusing on humanitarian relief in Gaza. The court said Israel is obliged to allow and facilitate relief schemes provided by the United Nations and its entities, including UNRWA, and to ensure that Gaza’s population has essential daily life supplies such as food, water, clothing, shelter, fuel, medical supplies, and services. The opinion described UNRWA as an indispensable provider of humanitarian relief in Gaza, while noting that the opinion itself is non-binding. Israel’s Foreign Ministry rejected the advisory, insisting that Israel cannot cooperate with an organization it says is infiltrated by Hamas and accuses UNRWA of incitement to violence. The ICJ also found that while an occupying power may choose among humanitarian actors, the obligation to adequately supply the population remains, a finding that may influence debates over aid delivery channels in Gaza going forward. A dissenting judge voiced concern that Hamas infiltration into UNRWA had not been given sufficient consideration. Israel had argued that UNRWA’s neutrality could no longer be taken for granted, pointing to alleged Hamas presence among staff and governance structures.
On the political and security front inside Israel, the Knesset moved forward with sovereignty legislation affecting Judea and Samaria. In preliminary voting, the bills proceeded to committee for detailed consideration before three additional votes. Supporters say the measures reflect a long‑standing political stance regarding governance and security in those areas, while opponents warn of potential diplomatic consequences, particularly with regard to security coordination with the United States and regional allies. The legislation underscores how discussions of territorial governance remain a live, urgent matter inside Israel even as war and ceasefire negotiations continue.
Hostage and casualty narratives continue to shape public sentiment and diplomatic messaging. A recently released hostage, Nimrod Cohen, was met with a family’s emotional accounts of the ordeal and a vow to press for a comprehensive return of all captives. In Gaza, families and communities reflect on both the living and the deceased who have been returned in stages, wit
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