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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-29 at 16:05
HEADLINES
Beit Lahiya depot strike shatters ceasefire
Palestinian toll tops 100; Hamas leaders killed
Knesset votes to split attorney general's office
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 hourly news update from the Middle East desk at noon. The Israeli military says it struck a weapons depot in Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza after announcing a resumption of the ceasefire. The military describes the site as a terrorist facility housing weapons and aerial assets that it says were intended for an imminent attack against Israeli forces and civilians. The strike underscores the fragility of the pause and the ongoing contest over security in Gaza.
Across Gaza, the casualty picture remains severe. The army said overnight it identified and eliminated senior commanders from Hamas’s Nukhba and other jihadist groups in airstrikes tied to a ceasefire breach that killed a reservist with dual American-Israeli ties. Palestinian health officials reported more than 100 Palestinians killed in the bombardment, highlighting the high human cost on a battlefield where fighting and negotiations continue to collide.
On the diplomatic front, Qatar’s prime minister told Reuters the events of the past 24 hours in Gaza were deeply disappointing and frustrating. He said Doha would press Hamas to decide on disarming and surrendering its weapons as part of the broader framework, while acknowledging the difficulty of the task and the need for a coordinated, multilateral approach.
In Jerusalem, the Knesset advanced a package of government-backed bills that would split the attorney general’s office into three posts: the government’s legal adviser, the head of the state prosecution, and a government representative in the courts. The measure would shift appointment power into the hands of political processes and could reconfigure how the government and judiciary interact with the AG’s office. Critics from opposition parties and watchdog groups warned the plan would weaken checks and balances, especially in a moment of heightened political stress and security concerns.
In a separate development, the military prosecutor announced a leave of absence while investigators probe a leak connected to a video showing a Palestinian detainee being mistreated. Defense Minister called the leak a blood libel against IDF troops and urged full accountability as investigators examine whether senior legal figures were involved.
Turning to human stories from captivity, ex-hostage Yosef-Haim Ohana, who spent more than two years in Hamas captivity and was released last year, spoke of the long process of readjustment, the emotional and physical toll, and the moments of calculation he used to survive. He recalled hiding with other hostages, the difficulty of daily life in the tunnels, and the ultimate return home, noting that the experience connected him to a broader history of Israeli resilience.
And a routine reminder of civilian life: a 21-year-old motorcyclist was seriously injured when a car struck him on Route 42 near the First South interchange, and EMT teams transported him to hospital for treatment of pelvic and facial injuries.
On the international stage, Hamas has suggested the United States bears direct responsibility for Gaza violence in the wake of an Israeli response to a Hamas attack, reflecting the sharp rhetoric and deep divisions over who bears responsibility for the ongoing cycle of violence. At the same time, observers note that US officials have continued to engage with mediators and supporters of the ceasefire framework, and discussions continue about a longer-term settlement that would reconfigure governance in Gaza and curb Hamas’s military capabilities.
Some observers cite a broader strategic approach to Gaza that envisions Hamas’s disarmament and demilitar
Published on 5 days, 12 hours ago