HEADLINES
- Gaza plan edges toward hostage deal
- Hamas taps Raed Saad as chief
- Qatar backs Gaza withdrawal fuels diplomacy

The time is now 4:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

The time is 4:00 PM. Here is your hourly update on the evolving security situation, hostage diplomacy, regional diplomacy, and notable developments from Israel, its neighbors, and the broader international conversation.

First, the Gaza plan, the hostages, and the Washington-Jerusalem dynamic
A sense of cautious momentum persists around Washington’s peace proposal for Gaza, even as key elements remain contested. Reports describe a tense exchange between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Hamas replied to the plan. An informed US official quoted in media reports said the conversation touched on the prospect that the plan could move forward, but also noted hesitancy within segments of Israel’s security establishment. In paraphrase of the exchange described by outlets, Trump urged Netanyahu to acknowledge what he called a favorable opening, telling him that “this is a win” even as some in Israel warned the plan would require hard concessions and verifications on the ground.

Across the bargaining table, mediators expect progress to be measured in days, not weeks. The plan envisions a staged Israeli withdrawal from parts of Gaza, coupled with the release of hostages and the disarmament of Hamas under international supervision. Hamas is reported to have indicated openness in principle to surrendering weapons, while insisting on guarantees about an Israeli withdrawal and the future governance of Gaza. The proposed framework would see Israel releasing a sizable number of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the broader hostages’ release; numbers widely cited in press accounts include around 48 hostages in the first phase and more than 1,700 detainees or prisoners on the Palestinian side included in the exchange, with roughly 250 prisoners with life sentences among those to be released by Israel. US officials and allied mediators caution that the specifics must be met in sequence and verified on the ground, with a Red Cross and international monitors likely to play roles in the process.

In parallel, mediators in Cairo and other capitals have signaled that they will test whether Hamas can deliver on hostage releases and whether Israel will sustain the necessary troop redeployments. Heartened by early signals from some Hamas leadership, negotiators warn that divisions among Hamas factions and questions about leadership continuity could complicate implementation. On the American side, there is reiteration that Washington intends to stand by Israel in the event of a delay, a breakdown, or a perceived failure to meet agreed timelines, while stressing the goal of a durable ceasefire and a path to postwar arrangements that address the security concerns Israel has long said are nonnegotiable.

On the Israeli end, the process faces scrutiny from within the coalition and among security officials who argue that any deal must guarantee that Hamas no longer maintains a capable, armed presence in Gaza. Prime Minister Netanyahu has publicly tempered optimism, underscoring that nothing moves ahead until all hostages return home, and stressing that the plan’s terms require careful translation into a verifiable Israeli withdrawal and a credible disarmament mechanism. Reports indicate that US envoy involvement and high-level meetings in Cairo are continuing, with the aim of reaching a roadmap that can win acceptance on the ground from both hostages’ families and political factions at home.

Hamas leadership, the hostage issue, and a shifting governance dynamic
Inside Hamas, leadership turnover and strategic recalibration are noted in reporting. A new chief of staff—Raed Saad—has taken a central role in shaping Gaza’s postconflict organization, working alongside other senior figures as the group recalibrates its strategy after significant battlefield losses. Hamas remains under international pressure to demonstrate seriousness about disarmament in any credible all-Israel withdrawal scenario, and its public posture has fluctuated between willingness to negotiate and insistence on terms tied to a broader Palestinian political framework.

Separately, a portion of reporting indicates that Hamas has asked for a cease-fire pause in air operations as it completes a process of handling remains of deceased hostages, a move described in some outlets as a practical step tied to the broader negotiations. Hamas officials have denied some reports that it has agreed to a stepwise disarmament, emphasizing instead that any disarmament would be conducted under supervision and with guarantees that Hamas would not be marginalized in a final status arrangement.

On the Israeli side, the hostage question remains the fulcrum of politics around Gaza policy. Government and opposition voices alike are watching the Cairo talks, with some ministers pressing for rigid conditions and others signaling flexibility to secure the release of captives. Defense and security appointments inside Israel, including debates over promotions tied to the October 7 operations, continue to surface as a backdrop to the negotiations.

Regional diplomacy, Gulf states, and the Qatar question
The diplomatic chorus around the Trump plan has been unusually broad. Foreign ministers from Qatar, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt issued a joint statement praising Hamas’s readiness to meet key demands in the plan and expressing support for an eventual full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and for a postwar Palestinian Authority return to the territory. The statement signals a regional preference for a negotiated path, tempered by concerns about security guarantees for Israel and the risk of renewed violence if negotiations stall.

Amid this, observers note Qatar’s prominent, often controversial role in regional diplomacy, with some voices in the international debate arguing that Doha’s influence has been instrumental in sustaining a dialogue that could unlock a broader settlement—while others critique what they see as Qatar’s perceived leverage over the broader process.

Meanwhile, Egypt remains a central broker for postwar cooperation discussions among Palestinian factions and the Israeli side. In Cairo, Palestinian officials and mediators have discussed how a post-conflict arrangement would be managed, including questions about security guarantees, border arrangements, and the future political status of Gaza. The Red Cross has also been involved, with organizers coordinating the transport and verification of hostages and detainees as negotiations progress.

Israel’s internal political and security developments
Within Israel, the ceasefire and hostage deal talks have spilled into domestic political and military leadership discussions. In a notable development, Prime Minister Netanyahu held a working meeting with the newly named Shin Bet chief, David Zini, and security adviser discussions have focused on how to align intelligence with policy moves in Gaza. Some prominent former Shin Bet chiefs have urged caution, arguing that any shift in leadership decisions at the security services level should be carefully synchronized with the political leadership and the negotiation timetable.

Defense Minister Israel Katz has been at the center of a separate intra-government debate about promotions and long-term readiness, including a temporary hold on promotions for officers tied to the October 7 timeline while the service contemplates its leadership structure. The Gvura Forum, a group representing families of soldiers killed in action in Gaza, has been active in the debate, with leaders calling for unity on the terms of any deal and for a clear timeline on hostage releases. In parallel, some right-wing ministers have questioned the pace and terms of any withdrawal, underscoring the political fragility of a fragile ceasefire and the importance of a durable security arrangement.

In foreign policy and public diplomacy, Prime Minister Netanyahu has faced questions about the trajectory of Trump’s plan and the path to implementing a deal that could satisfy security hardliners while delivering the hostages home. There is a public acknowledgment by Netanyahu that a successful outcome would require broad political consensus and international guarantees, and a commitment to a credible and verifiable disarmament process to prevent a resurgence of violence.

Humanitarian issues, public voices, and cultural dimensions
On the humanitarian front, stories from Gaza continue to underscore a devastating toll. A notable case involved a Gaza City evacuation dynamic in recent weeks, with hundreds of thousands moving as agencies assess the humanitarian landscape and the risk to civilian life. International medical teams have described the crisis in Gaza as catastrophic, emphasizing the need for sustained humanitarian access alongside any security framework that accompanies a ceasefire.

In other news, reporting highlights the broader cultural and societal dimensions of the conflict. Archaeology in the region has yielded a surprising discovery—a 1,500-year-old synagogue in the Golan Heights—reminding audiences that history and culture persist beyond the current conflict. In Gaza, reports about hostage remains and the handling of detainees continue to be a focal point for human rights advocates and international monitors, as various legal and humanitarian groups press for fair treatment of detainees and for transparency around the process.

Global and strategic perspectives
International obser