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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-23 at 09:05
HEADLINES
No PA, Turkish presence non-starter in Gaza
Hamas regains de facto Gaza control
IDF drills simulate Hezbollah attack from Lebanon
The time is now 5:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
At five in the morning, the latest developments in the Middle East and related global responses are shaping the news cycle around Israel, its security interests, and international diplomacy. A senior Israeli official says UNRWA will no longer set foot in Gaza, despite an International Court of Justice urging support for UN relief efforts. Israel contends that past UN relief efforts have failed to deliver reliable outcomes and that operational realities on the ground require a different approach to aid and governance in Gaza.
On the northern frontier, the Israeli Defense Forces conducted a large-scale drill simulating an October 7-style attack from Hezbollah from Lebanon. Forces practiced defending border communities, protecting key facilities and outposts, and repelling simultaneous threats in multiple sectors along the frontier. The exercise underscores ongoing concerns about escalation on the northern front as regional tensions persist.
In domestic politics, the Shas party has announced it will withdraw from its coalition posts following the stalled effort to advance a draft bill governing exemptions for yeshiva students. Party leaders say they will continue to press for a government policy that they argue reflects religious study while addressing national security needs. The move has been described by some as a crisis-point for Prime Minister Netanyahu’s coalition, while others within the coalition press for rapid legislative progress. At the same time, other political actors are signaling potential legislative steps that aim to regulate draft obligations and maintain broad national support for security requirements.
Diplomatically, Prime Minister Netanyahu met with Vice President Vance, outlining Israel’s red lines for Gaza’s post-war governance. Reports indicate Israel asserted there should be no involvement by the Palestinian Authority in Gaza after the conflict, and that Turkish military presence in Gaza, a post-war PA role, and an early IDF withdrawal were non-starters in any future arrangements. The discussions reflect a continuation of friction over who will shape governance and security in Gaza if and when fighting ends.
In Gaza’s humanitarian sphere, the World Health Organization reports that 41 Gazans were evacuated along with 151 accompanying persons, with about 15,000 additional patients waiting for evacuation to receive medical treatment abroad. The toll of the war continues to stress medical and logistical networks as international and local agencies seek safe passage for those in urgent need of care.
Israeli intelligence has assessed that Hamas has regained de facto control over the Gaza Strip. While many residents express opposition to Hamas, there is little confidence in a ready alternative to assume governance, complicating any transition plan and raising concerns about long-term stability and security on the ground.
Funerals and public memorials continue to reflect the human cost of the conflict. More than a thousand people attended the funeral for a slain hostage in Nir Oz, with President Isaac Herzog and former IDF chief Herzi Halevi among the mourners. The service underscored the personal dimensions of the war and the enduring toll on families and communities.
International reactions to developments in the region include Indonesia’s defense of its decision to deny visas to Israeli gymnasts at a World Championship event in Jakarta, a move criticized by the International Olympic Committee, which urged Indonesia to reconsider hosting policies that exclude Israeli athletes. Israel’s Olympic Committee chief welcomed IOC’s stance, while noting the broade
Published on 1 week, 6 days ago