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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-26 at 22:08
HEADLINES
Leaks claim Israel urged Qatar fund Gaza
Israel's Matzpen unit powers cross-border ops
West Bank annexation bills strain Netanyahu coalition
The time is now 6:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Good evening. Here is a concise briefing of the latest developments shaping the Middle East and related global dynamics, with attention to Israel’s security concerns, US policy stances, and the wider international context.
Palestinian Authority pay for slay payouts persist despite formal cancellation. Watchdogs are reporting that a program described by Palestinian officials as canceled nevertheless continues to disburse payments on Saturdays, raising questions about oversight and the reach of funding tied to attacks against Israelis. The February decree by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to end the program drew broad European and international relief, but observers warn that the practical effects remain disputed on the ground and that the payments continue to surface in monitoring reports. The episode underscores ongoing tensions over security assistance and the broader debate over how external actors influence Palestinian incentives and attitudes toward violence.
Israel’s defense and intelligence apparatus continues to harness large‑scale data to inform operations beyond Israel’s borders. An exclusive look reveals the Matzpen unit within the Israel Defense Forces’ intelligence and cyber communications framework coordinating with Mossad and the Shin Bet to tailor applications used in operations across Gaza, Lebanon, Iran, and more. The integration of data analytics and cross‑agency collaboration illustrates how Israel seeks to anticipate threats, disrupt hostile networks, and protect civilians through precise, covert activity. The portrayal of this unit emphasizes the ongoing emphasis on information dominance as a pillar of Israel’s security approach.
A milestone echoed in history sits alongside ongoing upheaval: the 1994 peace treaty between Israel and Jordan. On This Day, Jordan became the second Arab country after Egypt to sign a peace agreement with Israel, marking a historic pivot in regional relations. The anniversary remains a touchstone for discussions about stability, diplomacy, and the evolving regional architecture in which current crises unfold, even as new security challenges test longtime arrangements.
Leaked documents purport to show Israel urged Qatar to fund Gaza despite sums reaching Hamas; Netanyahu defended the policy from 2018. The revelations suggest a complex set of calculations aimed at sustaining humanitarian relief channels while balancing security concerns. Washington’s stance has long been cautious about external funding flowing into Gaza, and any disclosure of past persuasion raises questions about how aid flows are managed and perceived by allies and adversaries alike. The episode adds texture to the broader debate about the appropriate channels for aid, oversight of funds, and the impulse to influence outcomes in a volatile theater.
Israel warns it will take action if Hamas fails to return hostage remains; unusual diplomacy accompanies the effort to locate the missing. In a notable move, an Israeli official signaled possible action if Hamas does not comply with demands regarding hostage remains. An unusual step occurred when a Hamas representative was allowed into the Israeli‑controlled area of the Gaza Strip to work with Egyptian representatives and the International Committee of the Red Cross in efforts to locate remains. The development highlights the fragile diplomacy at work around one of the war’s most sensitive issues and reflects how humanitarian concerns sometimes intersect with strategic imperatives.
A Canadian parliamentarian calls for war crimes vetting of IDF veterans before entry to Canada; Jewish organizations say
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