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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-28 at 06:04
HEADLINES
Jenin raid foils imminent attack three killed
Ohana reveals Hamas coercion during captivity
Smotrich pushes West Bank settlements amid elections
The time is now 2:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
This is your hourly news update at 2:00 AM. Israeli forces reported the end of an overnight operation near Jenin in which three terrorists were killed in a joint IDF and police action aimed at thwarting an imminent attack. Security officials say the operation disrupted a planned assault and showcased continued cooperation between military and law enforcement to neutralize threats in the West Bank. In Hebron, troops and allied units conducted further operations, uncovering weapons workshops and arresting individuals suspected of online incitement to terrorism.
A former hostage, Yosef-Chaim Ohana, spoke to N12 about his experiences in Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip, describing threats and coercive behavior he faced, his remarks marking his first public account since his October release.
In domestic politics, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is moving to press ahead with settlement construction, land declarations, and infrastructure projects in the West Bank as elections approach, a push aimed at shaping the regional map and reinforcing what supporters describe as Israeli sovereignty.
IDF leadership has launched comprehensive war investigations two years after ground operations began in Gaza and Lebanon. Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir formed a panel led by Major General Dan Noiman to review major battles from the recent period, with the aim of extracting lessons for force structure and strategy. A separate decorations committee is also in the works to recommend honors for acts of valor and service.
Overnight, an air-backed operation near Jenin was part of ongoing efforts to prevent attacks, with ground forces engaging suspected militants. The series of coordinated actions underscores the continuing security focus on threats in the northern West Bank and Gaza vicinity.
In the United States, testimony and briefings outline five options if Hamas does not return the remains of hostages, reflecting ongoing contingency planning and the close security coordination with Israel as the hostage issue remains central to policy discussions.
On the homeland front, Israel’s plan to merge staff overseeing northern border recovery with the existing Gaza border rehabilitation effort was announced as a way to streamline funding and personnel. The revised strategy prioritizes rebuilding and growth in the Gaza border region, with a long-term objective of expanding the northern corridor’s resilience and demographic reach, including investments in health, education, and infrastructure. Officials stressed that funding levels for 2026 remain subject to budget processes, but the aim is to accelerate rehabilitation and economic activity in border communities.
Prime Minister Netanyahu reaffirmed that Israel would not permit Turkish troops in Gaza and emphasized that Israel remains fully sovereign in its actions there. Critics, however, warn that the new US-linked command center in Kiryat Gat shifts operational emphasis toward humanitarian coordination and ceasefire management, rather than aggressive disarmament or anti-smuggling objectives. Some residents and commentators have voiced concerns about security implications, while others welcome the presence as a stabilizing factor and an opportunity for cross-border coordination.
Across the corridor of influence, reports from the region indicate ongoing vigilance as security forces pursue insurgent networks and monitor incitement, with regional partners and international observers watching developments closely as tactical, political, and humanitarian dimensions unfold.
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Published on 1 week ago