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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-22 at 23:05
HEADLINES
- Gaza ceasefire fragile; thousands await evacuation
- Qatar Turkey lead Gaza mediation US aids
- Turkey eyes 40 jets via Qatar
The time is now 7:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Update at 7:00 PM. In Gaza, the ceasefire remains fragile as aid flows and negotiations continue over the next phase of the arrangement. The World Health Organization confirms it led the medical evacuation of 41 critical patients and 145 companions from Gaza, while more than 15,000 Gaza patients still await evacuation, including 3,800 children. As the humanitarian corridor operates under intense scrutiny, Israeli authorities have indicated that further steps, including additional hostage and civilian exchanges, are contingent on conditions on the ground and the actions of Hamas. In parallel, mediators report continued friction with Egypt over the opening of Rafah crossing, with Israel citing unresolved terms and the status of 13 hostages and deceased remains as a hurdle to advance the current exchange schedule.
Diplomatic maneuvering in the region remains brisk. Within Washington’s circle, President Trump’s campaign-focused diplomacy has elevated Qatar and Turkey as central mediators, seen as leveraging regional influence to push Hamas toward accepting the plan. US envoy Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met in Jeddah and Abu Dhabi with senior Saudi and Emirati officials, seeking assurances that their regional influence would remain intact under the evolving blueprint. In Israel, Vice President Kamala Harris’s designated successor, incoming US officials and the broader administration have signaled the importance of close coordination with Jerusalem as talks progress on the next phase, including the potential composition of a future international stabilization force and a technocratic government for Gaza, with a focus on disarming Hamas.
On the ground in Israel and the West Bank, clashes have continued in various hotspots. In the Kalandiya area north of Jerusalem, Israeli forces clashed with militants; reports say a militant was wounded by IDF fire. The incident underscores the ongoing volatility even as ceasefire provisions hold in some sectors. Israeli security officials are balancing the need to prevent an escalation with the practicalities of maintaining humanitarian access and a path toward a broader, durable settlement.
Meanwhile, Turkey’s Erdogan is pushing for a major arms refresh, seeking to purchase about 40 second-hand fighter jets from Qatar, a deal that would be supported by UK facilitation and valued in the multi‑billion-dollar range. The move signals Ankara’s effort to refresh its older air fleet while navigating its role in broader regional diplomacy, where Doha and Ankara are stepping into more prominent positions alongside Washington’s efforts to marshal regional partners around the Gaza plan. In parallel, there is renewed attention to the role of Turkey and Qatar in Gaza’s reconstruction and governance, with a clear emphasis on ensuring that any future arrangements do not grant Hamas a renewed foothold or a veto over postwar arrangements.
In the broader international arena, a letter circulating among Jewish communities and leaders urges action at the United Nations and among world leaders to hold Israel to account for what its authors describe as violations of international law, while also stressing the necessity of a ceasefire as a starting point. Separately, hundreds of US rabbis have called on Americans to back candidates who reject antisemitism and anti‑Zionism and affirm Israel’s right to exist in peace and security, signaling active engagement from faith communities in electoral politics around Israel and the region.
On the economic and strategic front, the United States announced sweeping sanctions against Russia’s two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, as part of a
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