HEADLINES
Ceasefire framework advances, hostage swap underway
Gaza toll reaches 67,000, hospitals strained
Israeli coalition frays as ceasefire looms

The time is now 6:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

An uneasy pause in the Gaza war is taking shape tonight as a US-brokered framework seeks to set a path to a ceasefire, a phased Israeli withdrawal, and a hostage exchange. President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that Israel has agreed to an initial withdrawal line from Gaza and that, once Hamas confirms, the ceasefire will take effect immediately and a prisoner exchange will begin. The plan envisions Israeli forces keeping control of the Philadelphi Corridor, Rafah, and the approaches to Gaza City, while mediators in Doha, Cairo, and Ankara push for rapid progress in Egypt, where Monday’s talks are slated to work out the practical steps of the first phase.

Hamas has signaled acceptance in principle, but officials say reservations remain about specific terms, including how and when the Israeli withdrawal would occur and the long-term role of armed factions in the vacated zones. Some reports note that Hamas would be required to provide information on three unaccounted-for hostages among those believed alive as part of the bargaining for broader concessions.

On the ground in Gaza City, the pace of Israeli strikes has fallen markedly as the IDF shifts from offensive to defensive operations, a shift that follows intense pressure from Washington and mounting international concern over the humanitarian toll. The latest daily briefings describe continued fighting in some neighborhoods, with casualties reported across the territory. The Hamas-run health ministry says more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, a figure that is difficult to verify independently. In Gaza City, evenings have brought renewed clashes in parts of the city, including the Tel al-Hawa district, where officials say civilian deaths occurred as the IDF targeted what it described as a Hamas operative posing a threat to troops. Aid groups warn that the humanitarian situation remains dire: hundreds of thousands are displaced, and access to food, water, and medical care remains inconsistent.

Displacement remains a defining feature of life in Gaza. Officials say around 870,000 Palestinians have fled Gaza City since the Israeli push began, with southern Gaza communities reopening streets and clearing rubble to facilitate aid and movement for the displaced. The World Health Organization notes that about 22 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are no longer fully functional, and the remainder operate at partial capacity. The IDF says it uncovered a Hamas underground weapons workshop adjacent to a Gaza City hospital and an entrance to a tunnel near another medical facility, with journalists shown the site during a restricted briefing. Jordanian officials deny involvement in any Hamas activity tied to the hospital complexes, a point reiterated by the Israeli military.

Domestically, the political debate over the plan continues. Itamar Ben-Gvir warned he could leave the government if Hamas remains in power, while Bezalel Smotrich described the ceasefire framework as a grave error. Prime Minister Netanyahu has addressed the nation, expressing hope that all 48 hostages could be returned during the upcoming Sukkot holiday as negotiation teams head to Egypt, while stressing that any agreement must preserve Israel’s security and strategic interests.

Internationally, US mediation remains central, with Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey playing pivotal roles in the ongoing discussions. Israel says the plan offers a path to end the war through a staged withdrawal and a comprehensive hostage release, but critics warn that a fragile pause could enable Hamas to rebuild strength if the terms are not carefully calibrated and verifiable. The parties are training their attention on the technical steps that will translate political commitments into on-the-ground action, including the management of sites that will fall under new security and civil arrangements and the mechanism for ongoing verification of Hamas’s disarmament commitments, if any, as the process moves from the first phase into subsequent stages.

In related notes from the broader region, a UK museum scheduled to host an exhibit on Jewish life said it would delay the show until October 2026 because of sensitivities around current events. Separately, activists aboard a Turkish-led flotilla have accused Israel of providing little food and water and placing some detainees in cells described as infested with bugs, a claim being contested amid broader tensions surrounding maritime interdictions and humanitarian access.

As this hour closes, the central questions remain whether Hamas will align fully with the terms presented, whether the Israeli withdrawal can be implemented without destabilizing the security framework Israel seeks, and how the hostage release and humanitarian relief will be synchronized with the battlefield realities on the ground. The coming days will test the patience of those seeking a durable resolution and the resilience of the people enduring the consequences of a war that has already claimed tens of thousands of lives.

Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.
I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.
Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description.

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