Podcast Episode Details

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-28 at 16:07

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HEADLINES
Hamas to Return More Hostage Remains Tonight
US Pushes Hezbollah Disarmament Across Lebanon
Sudan Crisis Risks Wider Regional Fallout

The time is now 12:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

This is the 12:00 PM update on the evolving security picture in the Middle East and adjacent regional dynamics. The focus remains on Gaza, southern Lebanon, and related security challenges, with emphasis on Israeli security concerns, Palestinian and Lebanese perspectives, and the roles of regional and international partners.

In Gaza, the humanitarian ceasefire framework remains in place as tactical violence and diplomacy continue to move in parallel. Hamas has announced it will hand over another tranche of hostage remains at 8:00 PM, bringing to 16 the number of hostage bodies returned under the US-brokered ceasefire deal. The movement’s leadership has signaled that while it seeks to advance negotiations and prisoner exchanges, it will press for its own terms within the overarching ceasefire framework. On the other side, Israeli authorities report that their forces have targeted what they describe as legitimate military targets in Rafah in response to violations of the ceasefire by Hamas, including rocket and incendiary activity and other hostile actions aimed at Israeli forces. Officials in Jerusalem say any future actions will be calibrated to deter assaults on Israeli troops and civilians, while public discussions continue about the appropriate scale and scope of a prospective broader response. In Jerusalem, Prime Minister Netanyahu is scheduled to speak with President Trump in the near term to review the situation and discuss possible next steps, though official channels indicate no final decision has been made regarding the breadth of any new military action in response to the latest breaches. In parallel, the Israeli military has continued to gather intelligence and coordinate with allied partners as it prepares for potential contingencies while stressing the importance of protecting Israeli civilians and soldiers. Within Israel, the Defense Ministry and military health systems are intensifying mental health support for personnel, alongside ongoing measures to maintain readiness amid extended deployments.

In southern Lebanon, the United States is actively backing a strategy to disarm Hezbollah and restore state control over arms across the country. US envoy Morgan Ortagus is in Beirut this week to discuss momentum on Hezbollah disarmament with Lebanese leaders, with Washington stressing the urgency of advancing the ceasefire framework and a transition toward a state monopoly on arms. Lebanese authorities, backed by international partners, are pursuing a five-phase plan that prioritizes the south before moving to other areas, while seeking a political consensus to avoid destabilizing the country’s Shiite communities. The Lebanese army says it has run through a large portion of its southward inspection and demolition missions, including the destruction of a number of arms caches, and is moving to seal tunnels and monitor border areas. It has warned that its missions could be delayed by security considerations and by Israeli actions along the border, including disputed hilltop control and aerial operations. US aid to Lebanon has included demolition charges and other assistance designed to degrade Hezbollah’s capabilities, alongside significant development and training support for the Lebanese Armed Forces. Washington has underscored that the disarmament process should apply nationwide, not just in the south, and has warned that delays could affect regional stability and security assistance. Hezbollah has publicly supported the principle of state disarmament in general but has signaled it would not surrender weapons outside a defined area and has suggested that any move against its arsenal would require broader politica

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Published on 6 days, 22 hours ago