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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-29 at 23:07
HEADLINES
Gaza aims disarm Hamas hostage talks advance
Yair Netanyahu nomination sparks Zionist rift
US weighs RSF designation amid Sudan escalations
The time is now 7:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Israel maintains that the objective in Gaza remains clear and urgent: the disarmament of Hamas and the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, a goal reiterated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a visit to the US Central Command coordination center in southern Israel. He stressed that progress is being pursued in phases with American partners and Israeli security leaders, emphasizing that the objective is security for Israel and a reduced threat from Hamas. Officials in Jerusalem say coordination with Washington remains strong, even as they weigh the best path to release hostages and manage the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
In the field, Israeli forces conducted aerial activity in the region of Khan Yunis, according to Arab and regional reporting, with emphasis on targeting what authorities describe as militant infrastructure. The Israeli military has not publicly confirmed all operational details, but Israeli officials say strikes are part of a broader campaign to degrade Hamas capabilities while avoiding civilian harm to the extent possible.
Israel is also preparing for the possible return of additional Israeli hostages, with one Israeli official indicating that a second exchange may occur within the next 24 hours. The government has cautioned that while progress can be announced, operational realities on the ground and the need for careful coordination with international partners mean the path forward will take time. A key domestic signal from Jerusalem has been to emphasize that any expansion of the territory controlled in Gaza or shifts in the front lines are not currently on the agenda, even as discussions with Washington continue about the contours of a long-term settlement.
The political arena in Israel remains highly charged. In Jerusalem, debate over leadership appointments within the Zionist world broadened into public disagreement. Delegates to the World Zionist Congress reportedly pushed back on the nomination of Yair Netanyahu, the prime minister’s son, for a senior post, arguing that public institutions should avoid familial appointments. In parallel, other figures in the ruling coalition faced internal pressure about who should fill key posts within the Zionist movement, and discussions paused as lawmakers and delegates recalibrated expectations.
On the defense committee front in the Knesset, the Likud's Tally Gotliv was named to replace a cabinet-ousted colleague on the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, a move that also places her in the intelligence subcommittee. This appointment, given her previous controversial statements and an outstanding investigation related to disclosures of a Shin Bet officer’s identity, has drawn criticism from former prime minister Naftali Bennett and other critics who argue it could curtail candid oversight. Bennett described the decision as extremely irresponsible, warning that it could chill open discussion in forums that oversee Israel’s security establishment.
In the political chatter surrounding the Zionist movement, another line of discussion concerned a broader “deal” among opposition and coalition parties about appointments and roles in national Jewish organizations. Some participants observed that while the arrangement allowed for a spectrum of voices, it also produced surprise moves, including attempts to appoint Yair Netanyahu to a senior role in the Zionist apparatus. After a period of agitation, talks paused and are expected to resume in about two weeks, with no final agreement yet in place.
Beyond Israel, the United States is weighing responses to security developments across the region. In Sudan, lawm
Published on 5 days, 5 hours ago