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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-24 at 01:07
HEADLINES
Hamas ATV stolen in Gaza border breach
Hamas PA Cairo talks on Gaza postwar
Peter Williams charged selling secrets to Russia
The time is now 9:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
At nine o’clock in the evening, here is the latest from the region and beyond.
A security incident on the Gaza border has drawn renewed attention to the immediacy of the threat along Israel’s southern frontier. Hamas terrorists breached the border and, according to initial accounts, stole an Israeli Defense Forces reservist’s ATV. A video later circulating shows armed, masked men riding the ATV in Gaza, parked next to a United Nations vehicle. The Israeli military says it is reviewing the incident as part of ongoing efforts to prevent cross-border infiltration and to maintain stability in border communities.
In Jerusalem and among Israeli political circles, a sharp domestic debate has resurfaced over security and governance. Far-left MK Ofer Cassif sparked controversy by labeling the new Shin Bet chief, Major-General (ret.) David Zini, a “dangerous jihadist” who seeks “eternal war.” The comments reflect the fraught nature of security leadership debates in Israel, even as security agencies and a broad majority of lawmakers emphasize the importance of a professional, nonpartisan intelligence apparatus in safeguarding the state.
Across the Atlantic, US prosecutors brought new charges in a separate matter of national security concerns, accusing Peter Williams of selling US trade secrets to a Russian buyer for $1.3 million. The case underscores ongoing vigilance by US authorities against espionage and illicit transfer of sensitive technology and information.
A civilian incident in Israel also drew attention to regional safety conditions. Near the Ari interchange, a two-vehicle collision left a 51-year-old man in moderate condition with abdominal injuries and three others with minor injuries. Medics treated the injured at the scene and evacuated them to Laniado Hospital for further care.
Turning to humanitarian policy, Washington is weighing a Gaza aid plan that would supersede the current Gaza Humanitarian Foundation operation. Under the contemplated approach, funding would allow humanitarian relief activities to continue through the end of November, after which a new framework would be implemented. The aim appears to be maintaining relief flows to Gaza while aligning relief mechanisms with security and governance considerations.
In Ukraine, a significant development affected Jewish communities in Kherson. A synagogue there was struck by a Russian missile, causing substantial damage but, according to sources affiliated with Chabad-Lubavitch, no injuries. Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Wolff had reportedly stepped out moments earlier to affix a mezuzah on a doorpost elsewhere, a moment described by the rabbi as one of divine supervision and resilience. The attack follows a pattern of incidents targeting Jewish community spaces amid the broader conflict, as Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities continue to face periodic strikes and disruption. The community has seen a mixture of displacement and fierce commitment to rebuilding, with Chabad networks maintaining a heavy presence across Ukraine despite the dangers.
In the arena of regional diplomacy, Hamas and Palestinian Authority leaders met in Cairo, marking the first high-level talks since the latest round of conflict intensified. The discussions focused on Gaza’s postwar political and security arrangements and on managing the Rafah crossing, a critical gateway between Gaza and neighboring Egypt. The talks come as factions on the Palestinian side urge international pressure on Israel to honor cease-fire commitments and to establish a framework for governance and security in Gaza after the fighting ends.
From a broader policy perspective,
Published on 1 week, 5 days ago