Podcast Episode Details

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-28 at 05:06

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HEADLINES
Menashe region raid kills three near Jenin
Freed hostage recalls Hamas captivity ordeal
Jerusalem hosts largest Zionist Congress plenary

The time is now 1:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

This hour, Israeli security forces say they killed three terrorists who were planning an attack near Jenin in the northern West Bank. The operation was conducted in the area of the Menashe Regional Brigade, a zone responsible for counterterrorism work in Jenin, Tulkarm, and nearby communities. The incident underscores ongoing security pressures in the West Bank as Israeli authorities pursue militant cells while maintaining preparations for possible further confrontations in the region.

In a separate development from Gaza, a freed hostage described his time in Hamas captivity and the violence that accompanied his capture and release. Yosef-Chaim Ohana spoke with a reporter about the harsh conditions and the moment of liberation, marking his first public remarks since his release on October 12. He recalled the pressure and threats he endured while in captivity, providing a personal account of the dangers faced by hostages during the Gaza conflict.

The World Zionist Congress is convening in Jerusalem for its largest-ever plenary session, with about 2,500 delegates from 42 countries gathered to debate the Jewish future. Across three days, delegates will consider more than two dozen resolutions and amendments touching on topics from sovereignty and security to religious pluralism and education. The gathering will also decide leadership for key Zionist bodies and address how more than a billion dollars in annual funding will be allocated through the World Zionist Organization, Jewish Agency, and allied funds. The congress is historically a barometer of divergent views within the Jewish world, balancing concerns about Israel’s security with calls for social and political reform.

Across the border, an expanding multinational effort is visible in the southern city of Kiryat Gat, where United States troops have joined a civil-military coordination center overseeing the Gaza ceasefire, turning a relatively quiet city into a busy hub. The center opened recently and includes roughly 200 American personnel along with partners from other nations. Local residents report a mix of curiosity and concern as the presence of foreign troops creates a new dynamic in daily life and in regional security planning. Israeli officials emphasize the collaboration is focused on implementing a ceasefire and coordinating humanitarian relief, while some critics ask what this arrangement means for sovereignty and long-term security objectives.

In the air and on the ground near Jenin, Israeli authorities also reported airstrikes and ground engagements as part of ongoing operations in the Menashe region. After months of limited use of offensive air power, the army and Shin Bet say airstrikes targeted militant cells west of Jenin, with ground forces exchanging fire in an attempt to compel surrender. Military officials described the action as part of a broader effort to disrupt planned attacks and dismantle militant networks in the area.

Back in southern Israel, the Tekuma Directorate is revising its strategy to accelerate the rehabilitation of Gaza-border communities while coordinating with efforts to assist towns along the Lebanon border. A plan now under consideration would merge staff overseeing recovery in the Gaza border zones with the northern border program, a move seen as intended to pool resources and speed reconstruction. The government has spent several billion shekels on rehabilitating the south and plans a multi-year effort to attract investment and population growth in the north as well. Officials say the updated plan aims to double the northern border population by the early 2030s, supported by new housing, edu

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Published on 1 week ago