Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-22 at 02:11
Update: 2025-10-22
Description
HEADLINES
Identified Nir Oz hostages Adar and Zalmanowicz
US launches CMCC to stabilize Gaza
Hamas remains 20,000 fighters, ceasefire fragile
The time is now 10:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Good evening. Here is your hour-by-hour briefing on the Middle East and related developments shaping the region today.
Israeli and hostage-related developments continued to mark the day. The Israeli government confirmed the identification of Tamir Adar, a Kibbutz Nir Oz resident who was killed defending his community during the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack and subsequently abducted to Gaza. Forensic authorities completed the identification, and military officials conveyed to his family that Adar has been returned to Israel for burial. He was 38 years old and is survived by his wife, two children, his parents, and three siblings. The Prime Minister’s Office and military spokespeople highlighted his courage and the personal sacrifice of many keeping vigil in the wake of the attack. Separately, Israel announced the identification of Arie Zalmanowicz, an 85-year-old Nir Oz resident who was taken during the same assault and died in captivity. His death date has been recorded as November 17, 2023, and his remains were identified as part of ongoing efforts to account for all those taken in the fighting. The Israeli military has emphasized that it continues investigations into the circumstances of each hostage’s death while pursuing all avenues to secure the return of the remaining captives and the dead for proper burial.
On the diplomatic and security front, the United States is expanding its stabilization efforts in Gaza through a new Civil-Military Coordination Center, or CMCC, to be based in southern Israel. Over the next two weeks, roughly 200 US troops and personnel from partner countries, NGOs, international organizations, and the private sector will be brought together to support stabilization, humanitarian flow, and the coordination of security assistance. US Central Command described the CMCC as a facility to monitor ceasefire implementation and to coordinate real-time assessments of developments in Gaza. Importantly, officials stressed that American personnel will not deploy into Gaza themselves; their role is to facilitate the transfer of humanitarian relief and coordinate security support with international partners. In accompanying visits, US officials indicated that the center would also serve as an operations floor to evaluate how the ceasefire is functioning on the ground and to help ensure that stabilization efforts advance a path toward a peaceful, sustainable transition.
In Washington, policy discussions continued about the broader framework for Gaza and the future of its governance. US President Donald Trump’s team has tied the ceasefire framework to a longer-term plan that envisions disarming Hamas and a transition toward a different governance arrangement for Gaza. At the same time, senior aides have signaled that any reconstruction funds would be contingent on Hamas’s compliance with security commitments. Jared Kushner, a longtime broker of the ceasefire deal, reiterated that reconstruction funds would not flow to areas under Hamas control as the administration weighs how to structure a postwar Gaza. Israeli and regional discussions about a broader normalization trajectory with Saudi Arabia remain intertwined with the Gaza ceasefire and the prospects for a two-state framework, even as Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government faces domestic debates over settlement activity and territorial questions.
The broader political landscape in the United States also appeared in the mix. A delegation of Democrats in the Senate circulated a letter applauding President Trump’s stated opposition to West Bank annexation and urging continued commitment to a two-state framework and to the existing Abraham Accords. While the letter drew wide signatures, it is not binding and reflects the ongoing, cross-partisan interest in how US policy steers toward negotiations and stability in the region. In parallel, discussions continued about the scope and nature of international involvement in Gaza, including the possibility of a broader stabilization role by international forces, the legal framework for any deployments, and how such arrangements would coexist with Israel’s security concerns.
Centrally related to battlefield realities, Israeli military assessments updated this week indicate Hamas remains a significant presence in Gaza. The IDF estimates Hamas still fields roughly 20,000 fighters in its military wing, down from pre-war levels but retained capacity for episodic operations. The agency reports that while an estimated one-quarter of Hamas’s tunnel network has been destroyed, the organization retains thousands of rockets and small arms, with some rockets capable of reaching central Israel. The IDF has also noted that while it has neutralized many of Hamas’s key leadership and infrastructure nodes, the group has reorganized and recruited new fighters, albeit with a pool described as qualitatively smaller and less trained than before. This assessment underscores the fragility of any ceasefire and the difficulty of ensuring long-term quiet without broader political progress.
Beyond the battlefield, regional dynamics continued to fill headlines. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is slated to visit the White House in November to discuss security guarantees and broader regional normalization efforts, a visit that officials say will be used to advance dialogue on a comprehensive peace framework. Riyadh has long tied normalization to a credible, irreversible path toward Palestinian statehood, a condition Prime Minister Netanyahu has publicly opposed in its current form. At the same time, US officials and their partners are pursuing a coordinated approach to stabilize Gaza, deliver humanitarian relief, and define governance arrangements for a post-conflict environment that keeps open the possibility of broader regional integrations.
On the humanitarian and practical front, El Al resumed its Tel Aviv–Eilat route after more than a decade, offering two daily flights and special fares for local residents. The revival of air service between Israel’s two southern cities signals a measure of normalization and domestic connectivity amid the broader security situation, with attention turning to how such domestic developments intersect with international and regional security concerns.
Looking ahead, observers will want to watch several developments in the hours to come. The status and staffing of the CMCC will be watched to see how it affects the flow of aid and the monitoring of the ceasefire. The dialogue between Washington and Riyadh will be closely followed for signals about the pace of normalization and any conditions attached to security guarantees. Within Israel and among its partners, anticipation centers on whether Hamas complies with ceasefire terms and how the IDF proceeds in response to any violations. In Gaza, present conditions suggest that while a formal political framework is forming, the path to a durable peace remains contingent on progress in parallel tracks—security assurances, humanitarian relief, and a recognized political horizon that addresses Palestinian aspirations.
This hour’s takeaway: the ceasefire landscape remains fragile, tied to both on-the-ground realities in Gaza and the broader strategic posture of the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and other regional and international partners. Watch for updates on CMCC operations, the Saudi visit schedule, and further identifications or burials related to hostages, as these elements will shape the tempo of diplomacy, security measures, and daily life in the region in the hours ahead.
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/opinion/article-871129
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-870867
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-870866
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-871228
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-871144
https://www.al-monitor.com/__%3C%21--%20THEME%20DEBUG%20--%3E_%3C%21--%20THEME%20HOOK%3A%20%27views_view_field%27%20--%3E_%3C%21--%20BEGIN%20OUTPUT%20from%20%27core/themes/stable9/templates/views/views-view-field.html.twig%27%20--%3E_/originals/2025/10/china-accuses-australia-covering-airspace-intrusion-south-china-sea_%3C%21--%20END%20OUTPUT%20from%20%27core/themes/stable9/templates/views/views-view-field.html.twig%27%20--%3E__
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-october-2
Identified Nir Oz hostages Adar and Zalmanowicz
US launches CMCC to stabilize Gaza
Hamas remains 20,000 fighters, ceasefire fragile
The time is now 10:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Good evening. Here is your hour-by-hour briefing on the Middle East and related developments shaping the region today.
Israeli and hostage-related developments continued to mark the day. The Israeli government confirmed the identification of Tamir Adar, a Kibbutz Nir Oz resident who was killed defending his community during the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack and subsequently abducted to Gaza. Forensic authorities completed the identification, and military officials conveyed to his family that Adar has been returned to Israel for burial. He was 38 years old and is survived by his wife, two children, his parents, and three siblings. The Prime Minister’s Office and military spokespeople highlighted his courage and the personal sacrifice of many keeping vigil in the wake of the attack. Separately, Israel announced the identification of Arie Zalmanowicz, an 85-year-old Nir Oz resident who was taken during the same assault and died in captivity. His death date has been recorded as November 17, 2023, and his remains were identified as part of ongoing efforts to account for all those taken in the fighting. The Israeli military has emphasized that it continues investigations into the circumstances of each hostage’s death while pursuing all avenues to secure the return of the remaining captives and the dead for proper burial.
On the diplomatic and security front, the United States is expanding its stabilization efforts in Gaza through a new Civil-Military Coordination Center, or CMCC, to be based in southern Israel. Over the next two weeks, roughly 200 US troops and personnel from partner countries, NGOs, international organizations, and the private sector will be brought together to support stabilization, humanitarian flow, and the coordination of security assistance. US Central Command described the CMCC as a facility to monitor ceasefire implementation and to coordinate real-time assessments of developments in Gaza. Importantly, officials stressed that American personnel will not deploy into Gaza themselves; their role is to facilitate the transfer of humanitarian relief and coordinate security support with international partners. In accompanying visits, US officials indicated that the center would also serve as an operations floor to evaluate how the ceasefire is functioning on the ground and to help ensure that stabilization efforts advance a path toward a peaceful, sustainable transition.
In Washington, policy discussions continued about the broader framework for Gaza and the future of its governance. US President Donald Trump’s team has tied the ceasefire framework to a longer-term plan that envisions disarming Hamas and a transition toward a different governance arrangement for Gaza. At the same time, senior aides have signaled that any reconstruction funds would be contingent on Hamas’s compliance with security commitments. Jared Kushner, a longtime broker of the ceasefire deal, reiterated that reconstruction funds would not flow to areas under Hamas control as the administration weighs how to structure a postwar Gaza. Israeli and regional discussions about a broader normalization trajectory with Saudi Arabia remain intertwined with the Gaza ceasefire and the prospects for a two-state framework, even as Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government faces domestic debates over settlement activity and territorial questions.
The broader political landscape in the United States also appeared in the mix. A delegation of Democrats in the Senate circulated a letter applauding President Trump’s stated opposition to West Bank annexation and urging continued commitment to a two-state framework and to the existing Abraham Accords. While the letter drew wide signatures, it is not binding and reflects the ongoing, cross-partisan interest in how US policy steers toward negotiations and stability in the region. In parallel, discussions continued about the scope and nature of international involvement in Gaza, including the possibility of a broader stabilization role by international forces, the legal framework for any deployments, and how such arrangements would coexist with Israel’s security concerns.
Centrally related to battlefield realities, Israeli military assessments updated this week indicate Hamas remains a significant presence in Gaza. The IDF estimates Hamas still fields roughly 20,000 fighters in its military wing, down from pre-war levels but retained capacity for episodic operations. The agency reports that while an estimated one-quarter of Hamas’s tunnel network has been destroyed, the organization retains thousands of rockets and small arms, with some rockets capable of reaching central Israel. The IDF has also noted that while it has neutralized many of Hamas’s key leadership and infrastructure nodes, the group has reorganized and recruited new fighters, albeit with a pool described as qualitatively smaller and less trained than before. This assessment underscores the fragility of any ceasefire and the difficulty of ensuring long-term quiet without broader political progress.
Beyond the battlefield, regional dynamics continued to fill headlines. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is slated to visit the White House in November to discuss security guarantees and broader regional normalization efforts, a visit that officials say will be used to advance dialogue on a comprehensive peace framework. Riyadh has long tied normalization to a credible, irreversible path toward Palestinian statehood, a condition Prime Minister Netanyahu has publicly opposed in its current form. At the same time, US officials and their partners are pursuing a coordinated approach to stabilize Gaza, deliver humanitarian relief, and define governance arrangements for a post-conflict environment that keeps open the possibility of broader regional integrations.
On the humanitarian and practical front, El Al resumed its Tel Aviv–Eilat route after more than a decade, offering two daily flights and special fares for local residents. The revival of air service between Israel’s two southern cities signals a measure of normalization and domestic connectivity amid the broader security situation, with attention turning to how such domestic developments intersect with international and regional security concerns.
Looking ahead, observers will want to watch several developments in the hours to come. The status and staffing of the CMCC will be watched to see how it affects the flow of aid and the monitoring of the ceasefire. The dialogue between Washington and Riyadh will be closely followed for signals about the pace of normalization and any conditions attached to security guarantees. Within Israel and among its partners, anticipation centers on whether Hamas complies with ceasefire terms and how the IDF proceeds in response to any violations. In Gaza, present conditions suggest that while a formal political framework is forming, the path to a durable peace remains contingent on progress in parallel tracks—security assurances, humanitarian relief, and a recognized political horizon that addresses Palestinian aspirations.
This hour’s takeaway: the ceasefire landscape remains fragile, tied to both on-the-ground realities in Gaza and the broader strategic posture of the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and other regional and international partners. Watch for updates on CMCC operations, the Saudi visit schedule, and further identifications or burials related to hostages, as these elements will shape the tempo of diplomacy, security measures, and daily life in the region in the hours ahead.
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/opinion/article-871129
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-870867
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-870866
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-871228
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-871144
https://www.al-monitor.com/__%3C%21--%20THEME%20DEBUG%20--%3E_%3C%21--%20THEME%20HOOK%3A%20%27views_view_field%27%20--%3E_%3C%21--%20BEGIN%20OUTPUT%20from%20%27core/themes/stable9/templates/views/views-view-field.html.twig%27%20--%3E_/originals/2025/10/china-accuses-australia-covering-airspace-intrusion-south-china-sea_%3C%21--%20END%20OUTPUT%20from%20%27core/themes/stable9/templates/views/views-view-field.html.twig%27%20--%3E__
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-october-2
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