HEADLINES
Families Seek Full Hostage Returns Closure
Hamas Reasserts Itself Post Ceasefire
Netanyahu Ben Gvir Clash Over Temple Mount

The time is now 10:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

This is the 10:00 PM update on the Israel-Hamas conflict, Day 739. The past 24 hours have underscored the fragility of the ceasefire and the continuing toll on families on both sides, even as diplomatic and political moments ripple through regional dynamics.

Yael Adar, the mother of slain hostage Tamir Adar, delivered a pointed critique this evening, telling Channel 12 that families feel they have been left without leverage to obtain the return of bodies held by Hamas. Her remarks highlighted a central tension in the current phase of the conflict: while a ceasefire has brought a pause to large-scale fighting, for many families the prize of a full accounting—living hostages returned and the bodies of the dead recovered—remains elusive. Adar described a perception among families that government deliberations and the terms of any deal may not fully translate into tangible results for those awaiting closure. Her account also touched on disagreements over what leverage Israel could or should wield to secure dead hostages, and she criticized moves she saw as signaling that the hostage issue was over.

On the battlefield and in the streets of Gaza, Hamas appears to be reasserting itself after the ceasefire, testing the confidence of regional and international mediators. Security sources in Gaza say Hamas fighters have resurfaced in the city and its outskirts in limited numbers as the group seeks to reestablish its presence with care not to trigger a renewed, wide-scale confrontation. The hard truth emerging from the ceasefire period is that Hamas remains weakened by sustained Israeli pressure, yet it continues to function as the governing power in Gaza with the capacity to fulfill or stall agreed terms. In parallel, Hamas publicly released the last living hostages it held, while continuing to face pressure from rival factions within Gaza and from international mediators who are pressing for disarmament and broader guarantees against renewed violence.

At the same time, the terms of the ceasefire agreement and the associated “Comprehensive End of Gaza War” document continue to be parsed by officials in Jerusalem and Washington. The agreement set a 72-hour window for Hamas to release all 20 living hostages and for it to locate and turn over the bodies of dead hostages it can find. While Hamas fulfilled the living-hostage portion, questions linger about the retrieval of all dead hostages. Iranian- or Gaza-linked factors have complicated the calculus, and Israeli officials have publicly warned that even when a deal is in place, imperfect compliance can delay closure. Some Israeli officials have told reporters that a subset of dead hostages may remain unrecovered within the constraints of ongoing searches and information sharing with mediators, a reality that feeds domestic frustration among families who lost loved ones.

In a separate development that has drawn wide attention, US President Donald Trump spoke to reporters about his recent address to the Knesset. He said he did not intend to call for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be pardoned, but that the moment and the applause surrounding Netanyahu’s leadership influenced his decision in the moment. Trump described the scene as “good timing,” and suggested that the public reception played a role in his choice, while emphasizing that it was not premeditated. The exchange underscores how American political debates about leadership, accountability, and diplomacy intersect with ongoing security concerns in Israel during a period of wartime stress.

Turning to casualties on the Israeli home front, the city of Ramat Gan reported the death of Aharon Mizrahi, 76, who was injured in the Iranian missile attack that struck the city in June. Mizrahi died this evening, leaving behind a trauma that illustrates the persistent threat from regional hostilities and the manner in which civilian lives continue to be altered by the broader conflict. His partner, Etti Cohen Engel, was killed in the same attack, underscoring the human cost borne by ordinary residents as the war continues to unfold.

In Gaza, Hamas’s efforts to reassert control have also included a display of force in the southern region near a hospital, where fighters were seen wearing the insignia of the organization’s elite units. Security officials noted that such demonstrations occur amid a broader effort to project strength while avoiding a full-scale front-line confrontation. Reports circulated of targeted violence against individuals described as collaborators, and there were videos circulated on social media showing gunmen forcing captives to kneel before executions, accompanied by crowd chants. While such footage is provocative and intended to send a message, observers caution that it also raises the risk of escalation should Israeli forces or allied groups respond.

On the Israeli political and religious landscape, the Temple Mount remains a flashpoint that continues to shape national discourse. During Sukkot, thousands of Jewish worshipers ascended to the Temple Mount, with more than 4,000 visitors recorded across the period and several attempts to pray in areas traditionally off-limits. Public commentary underscores a long-running debate within Israel’s Orthodox communities about the status quo and the acceptability of Jewish prayer in proximity to the Dome of the Rock. The government’s coalition dynamic remains a factor: Prime Minister Netanyahu did not publicly disavow remarks by Itamar Ben Gvir, the far-right national security minister, who has advocated expanded Jewish prayer space and has led prayers at the site. Netanyahu has typically stressed that the status quo has not fundamentally changed, even as the ground reality appears to be shifting in practice.

The evolution on the Temple Mount is closely tied to broader security calculations and regional sensitivities. Jordan’s waqf operates under a framework that has long constrained how and where Jewish prayer might occur, and observers note that guards and policing approaches have shifted in recent years. While some religious Zionist groups view increased access as a sign of consolidation of control, others—particularly within Haredi circles—warn that such changes could provoke tensions with the Arab and Muslim communities that regard the site as sacred and sensitive. The debate reflects a broader struggle within Israeli society over how to balance religious expression, national identity, and the stability required to avoid a broader regional flare-up.

Internationally, the situation remains tethered to ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at a broader settlement and disarmament of Hamas. The United States and other partners have signaled that any durable peace will require Hamas to disarm and to accept a return to a sustainable political arrangement that eliminates the conditions that gave rise to the current war. As talks and negotiations continue, the risk of miscalculation remains, particularly as both sides gauge each other’s resolve and as domestic political pressures mount on leaders to deliver results for families who have endured the worst of the conflict.

In summary, the past hours have offered a stark reminder that, even with a ceasefire, the conflict’s human toll and political ramifications persist. For families waiting for full accountability and return of loved ones, the path forward remains uncertain, with questions about leverage, timing, and the practical means to recover all remains of those taken or killed during the fighting. For Israel, security concerns are coupled with political calculations at home as the country seeks to manage both the immediate threat and the long-term implications of a shifting regional landscape. And for the international community, the challenge is to keep pressure on Hamas to disarm while sustaining aid, diplomacy, and guardrails that prevent a wider regional conflagration. This is the latest update on the evolving situation, with more developments expected as the day unfolds.

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.

SOURCES
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-october-14-2025/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-870382
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-870381
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-870380
https://www.timesofisrael.com/on-sukkot-eroding-temple-mount-status-quo-lays-bare-rifts-in-the-orthodox-world/