HEADLINES
Israel pledges hostage return as ceasefire advances
Egypt to form Gaza security force
Iran signals renewed pressure over Gaza moves

The time is now 8:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

As of 8:00 AM, Israel says it remains committed to securing the return of all hostages held in Gaza, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressing that the fight is not over and that every captive must be brought home. Hamas, under the ceasefire arrangement brokered with broad US mediation, has handed back the last surviving hostages it could access and has provided remains of some deceased captives, according to Israeli officials and regional observers. United States officials, speaking publicly, say Hamas has not violated the peace deal to date and are pressing for the next phase of the agreement, sometimes described as Phase 2, even as bodies of slain hostages remain a sensitive point in negotiations.

The talks are framed by the Sinai terms that guided earlier discussions, with Washington signaling that adherence to those terms remains central to ongoing diplomacy. In Washington’s view, progress on humanitarian aid and security arrangements in Gaza is being monitored as officials stress the importance of implementing additional steps stipulated in the ceasefire framework. Israel continues to cite the need for verifiable steps from Hamas, including full access to released hostages’ remains and assurances of a durable halt to hostilities.

On the regional front, Qatar and Egypt are cited as pivotal mediators shaping Gaza’s postwar order, while Turkey has signaled a larger role by appointing a former disaster management chief to oversee Ankara’s Gaza aid initiatives. Turkey’s leadership role adds another layer to the diplomacy around the ceasefire, as Ankara and its Gulf and Egyptian partners weigh how to balance humanitarian relief with security commitments. Egypt is reported to be planning to create a Gaza security force of about 1,000 Palestinian officers, with aims to expand to 10,000 as Israel manages its withdrawal from the territory, a move viewed by some analysts as a mechanism to stabilize the border and deter renewed conflict.

International observers also watch Iran’s stance, with Tehran signaling potential renewed pressure if Israel moves toward new operations, even as Iranian officials criticized perceived limits on action. In a separate development, Iran opened a metro station named after the Virgin Mary, described by Iranian authorities as a gesture of coexistence, though critics point to ongoing minority rights challenges inside the country.

Within Israel, a shifting debate inside the coalition centers on the pace and scope of the Gaza agreement’s implementation, with some leaders urging caution or pauses while others reiterate the priority of bringing hostages home. In New York, the frontrunner for mayor, Zohran Mamdani, said it is too early to credit President Trump for the Gaza ceasefire and declined to call for Hamas disarmament, instead focusing on local issues ahead of the city’s vote.

In other security news, a bus bombing in eastern Syria killed several defense ministry personnel, with ISIS suspected, underscoring that regional instability continues to pose broader security challenges beyond Gaza. The toll from the Gaza war remains heavy, with the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza reporting tens of thousands of casualties and hundreds of thousands injured since the conflict began, and officials noting the ongoing humanitarian crisis as aid corridors and ceasefire provisions are tested.

Diplomatic and strategic signaling continue to shape regional alignments. Serbia persists in deepening ties with Israel as part of a broader pattern of cooperation, while Vatican leadership has weighed in on humanitarian law, reiterating that starvation or hunger as a weapon in conflict constitutes a war crime. As the day unfolds, officials from multiple capitals will be watching for concrete steps toward a sustainable ceasefire, the return of hostages, and the stability of Gaza and the wider region.

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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