Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-18 at 06:05
Update: 2025-10-18
Description
HEADLINES
Margalit’s remains identified, returned home
Three British extremists jailed for race-war plot
Trump commutes Santos sentence, orders release
The time is now 2:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
At 2:00 a.m. local time, here are the latest developments shaping the regional security environment and related global headlines.
In Israel, the remains of Eliyahu Margalit, a Nir Oz resident known to neighbors as “Churchill,” have been identified and returned to the country. Margalit, 75, was killed in the October 7 attack and his body was held in Gaza before being handed over. He was married to Dafna and was a father to three children and a grandfather to three. The family issued a statement expressing deep sorrow, gratitude for public support, and a renewed commitment to seeking the return of all missing and captive loved ones. The identification was completed by the National Center for Forensic Medicine in cooperation with the police and the military rabbinate, and the Israeli military said the remains would be taken to burial in Israel. The incident underscores the ongoing grief and the still-fragile status of missing and captive negotiations, with 18 hostages reported to remain in Gaza.
In other security news, three British right‑wing extremists were jailed for planning attacks on mosques and synagogues as part of a broader “race war” plot. Prosecutors said the men discussed violent aims and operational details in online communications, including a Telegram group identified in court records. Sentences were handed down as follows: Brogan Stewart received 11 years, Christopher Ringrose 10 years, and Marco Pitzettu eight years. Authorities described their views as virulent and their planned actions as a real threat to public safety.
In the United States, President Donald Trump has commuted the sentence of former congressman George Santos, ordering his immediate release. Santos had been sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to fraud and identity theft. Trump cited alleged mistreatment in prison and described the action as correcting a grave injustice, a move that drew varying reactions from observers across the political spectrum.
A revealing exchange on US mediation and regional security emerged in a forthcoming CBS interview with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. They described feeling betrayed by an Israeli strike in Doha that targeted Hamas leadership, saying the action complicated ceasefire and hostage negotiations. The interview, which will be broadcast in full, also notes that the United States pledged to defend Qatar if attacked and that Prime Minister Netanyahu had apologized to Qatar following the strike. Qatar had long been a mediator, and reports indicate it had provided Hamas with financial support in prior years as part of broader regional dynamics surrounding the conflict.
On the battlefield, Hezbollah is preparing for a possible future confrontation with Israel by rebuilding its military capabilities. The group has been described as restocking missiles, drones, and other weaponry after sustaining heavy losses since 2023. Analysts caution that the pace and scale of rebuilding could influence the next phase of hostilities, should fighting resume.
In the realm of information and influence, a Times‑of‑Israel‑reported investigation details AI‑driven foreign influence campaigns aimed at Israelis on social media. An operation reportedly used AI-generated content to populate and manage groups that drew in conservatives and religious voters, with targets directed into private channels and data harvesting schemes. Researchers have pointed to possible involvement by state actors, including China, Russia, or Iran, drawing parallels to earlier campaigns observed in other countries. Meta has removed several of the implicated groups, but the episode highlights ongoing challenges in detecting and countering disinformation and covert influence operations. Experts warn that the sheer extent of social media use in Israel—nearly three‑quarters of adults as of early 2025—amplifies both the impact of such campaigns and the difficulty of safeguarding democratic processes. Analysts call for stronger regulatory frameworks, greater platform transparency, and a culture of skepticism among users to mitigate these risks.
In Gaza, reports from several channels indicate a devastating strike on a vehicle east of the city that has been attributed to Israeli forces. Palestinian authorities and regional press described the incident as one of the largest casualty tolls in recent days, with 11 people from a single extended family killed in the attack. Witnesses described the vehicle crossing a marked line before it was hit. Details on casualties and attribution remain contested amid ongoing fighting and shifting battlefield dynamics.
Turning to a personal note from Nir Oz, the community continues to reflect on the life of Eliyahu Margalit and the long shadow of the October 7 attacks. Margalit, rooted in his love of animals and the land, was a longtime steward of the kibbutz’s horse program and is remembered by neighbors for his generous spirit and dedication to his animals, his family, and his community. The burial arrangements will proceed in Israel as part of the broader effort to honor those lost and to support families still awaiting resolution in the hostages and missing persons cases.
These are the events shaping the day as the conflict persists, with security challenges, international diplomacy, and the digital frontier all testing the resilience and judgment of leaders and citizens alike. Please stand by for further updates as new information becomes available.
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.jpost.com/israel-news/article-870822
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-870820
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1242535
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-870817
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1242532
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hyobzilreg
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1242530
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1242529
https://www.timesofisrael.com/ai-tools-supercharge-foreign-influence-campaigns-targeting-israelis-on-social-media/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/3-uk-neo-nazis-jailed-for-planning-attacks-on-mosques-synagogues-to-incite-race-war/
https://t.me/newssil/175448
https://www.timesofisrael.com/witkoff-says-he-and-kushner-felt-a-little-bit-betrayed-by-israeli-strike-in-qatar/
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sjhuj5erxx
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1242524
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-870816
https://www.jpost.com/judaism/jewish-holidays/article-870175
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-870148
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1242521
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1242518
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1242517
Margalit’s remains identified, returned home
Three British extremists jailed for race-war plot
Trump commutes Santos sentence, orders release
The time is now 2:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
At 2:00 a.m. local time, here are the latest developments shaping the regional security environment and related global headlines.
In Israel, the remains of Eliyahu Margalit, a Nir Oz resident known to neighbors as “Churchill,” have been identified and returned to the country. Margalit, 75, was killed in the October 7 attack and his body was held in Gaza before being handed over. He was married to Dafna and was a father to three children and a grandfather to three. The family issued a statement expressing deep sorrow, gratitude for public support, and a renewed commitment to seeking the return of all missing and captive loved ones. The identification was completed by the National Center for Forensic Medicine in cooperation with the police and the military rabbinate, and the Israeli military said the remains would be taken to burial in Israel. The incident underscores the ongoing grief and the still-fragile status of missing and captive negotiations, with 18 hostages reported to remain in Gaza.
In other security news, three British right‑wing extremists were jailed for planning attacks on mosques and synagogues as part of a broader “race war” plot. Prosecutors said the men discussed violent aims and operational details in online communications, including a Telegram group identified in court records. Sentences were handed down as follows: Brogan Stewart received 11 years, Christopher Ringrose 10 years, and Marco Pitzettu eight years. Authorities described their views as virulent and their planned actions as a real threat to public safety.
In the United States, President Donald Trump has commuted the sentence of former congressman George Santos, ordering his immediate release. Santos had been sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to fraud and identity theft. Trump cited alleged mistreatment in prison and described the action as correcting a grave injustice, a move that drew varying reactions from observers across the political spectrum.
A revealing exchange on US mediation and regional security emerged in a forthcoming CBS interview with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. They described feeling betrayed by an Israeli strike in Doha that targeted Hamas leadership, saying the action complicated ceasefire and hostage negotiations. The interview, which will be broadcast in full, also notes that the United States pledged to defend Qatar if attacked and that Prime Minister Netanyahu had apologized to Qatar following the strike. Qatar had long been a mediator, and reports indicate it had provided Hamas with financial support in prior years as part of broader regional dynamics surrounding the conflict.
On the battlefield, Hezbollah is preparing for a possible future confrontation with Israel by rebuilding its military capabilities. The group has been described as restocking missiles, drones, and other weaponry after sustaining heavy losses since 2023. Analysts caution that the pace and scale of rebuilding could influence the next phase of hostilities, should fighting resume.
In the realm of information and influence, a Times‑of‑Israel‑reported investigation details AI‑driven foreign influence campaigns aimed at Israelis on social media. An operation reportedly used AI-generated content to populate and manage groups that drew in conservatives and religious voters, with targets directed into private channels and data harvesting schemes. Researchers have pointed to possible involvement by state actors, including China, Russia, or Iran, drawing parallels to earlier campaigns observed in other countries. Meta has removed several of the implicated groups, but the episode highlights ongoing challenges in detecting and countering disinformation and covert influence operations. Experts warn that the sheer extent of social media use in Israel—nearly three‑quarters of adults as of early 2025—amplifies both the impact of such campaigns and the difficulty of safeguarding democratic processes. Analysts call for stronger regulatory frameworks, greater platform transparency, and a culture of skepticism among users to mitigate these risks.
In Gaza, reports from several channels indicate a devastating strike on a vehicle east of the city that has been attributed to Israeli forces. Palestinian authorities and regional press described the incident as one of the largest casualty tolls in recent days, with 11 people from a single extended family killed in the attack. Witnesses described the vehicle crossing a marked line before it was hit. Details on casualties and attribution remain contested amid ongoing fighting and shifting battlefield dynamics.
Turning to a personal note from Nir Oz, the community continues to reflect on the life of Eliyahu Margalit and the long shadow of the October 7 attacks. Margalit, rooted in his love of animals and the land, was a longtime steward of the kibbutz’s horse program and is remembered by neighbors for his generous spirit and dedication to his animals, his family, and his community. The burial arrangements will proceed in Israel as part of the broader effort to honor those lost and to support families still awaiting resolution in the hostages and missing persons cases.
These are the events shaping the day as the conflict persists, with security challenges, international diplomacy, and the digital frontier all testing the resilience and judgment of leaders and citizens alike. Please stand by for further updates as new information becomes available.
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.jpost.com/israel-news/article-870822
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-870820
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1242535
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-870817
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1242532
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hyobzilreg
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1242530
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1242529
https://www.timesofisrael.com/ai-tools-supercharge-foreign-influence-campaigns-targeting-israelis-on-social-media/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/3-uk-neo-nazis-jailed-for-planning-attacks-on-mosques-synagogues-to-incite-race-war/
https://t.me/newssil/175448
https://www.timesofisrael.com/witkoff-says-he-and-kushner-felt-a-little-bit-betrayed-by-israeli-strike-in-qatar/
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sjhuj5erxx
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1242524
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-870816
https://www.jpost.com/judaism/jewish-holidays/article-870175
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-870148
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1242521
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1242518
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1242517
Comments
In Channel
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States00:00
00:00
x
