HEADLINES
Nir Oz Residents Return After Remains Identified
Maine Candidate Faces Backlash Over Nazi Tattoo
Gaza War Veterans Face Rising PTSD

The time is now 1:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

Two Israeli citizens from Kibbutz Nir Oz were brought home to Israel after Hamas handed over remains as part of the ceasefire arrangement brokered in early October. Arie Zalmanowicz, an elderly founder of Nir Oz, and Tamir Adar, a reservist and longtime defender of the kibbutz, were identified by the Institute of Forensic Medicine and informed to their families. The families spoke of a protracted wait and the pain of loss.

A freed hostage, Farhan Qadi, described his experience after his abduction and said he witnessed the death of a fellow captive and the worsening condition of Zalmanowicz after a period of captivity. He also described the moment when the terrorists showed a video of Zalmanowicz in captivity. The Israeli military and health authorities confirmed the identifications and extended condolences.

Back home in Israel, a separate incident in Ashkelon saw a man in his fifties moderately injured when his vehicle collided with a barrier on David Ben Gurion Boulevard. Paramedics treated him on site and he was evacuated to Barzilai Medical Center for further care.

In Gaza, a twenty-year-old motorcyclist was gravely injured in a crash on Route Forty near the Tayelet intersection. He was transported to a hospital where he later died of his injuries.

In Ramallah, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed foreign journalists and reiterated the leadership’s desire for peace and a demilitarized Palestinian state living alongside Israel.

Back in Washington, United States Senator Jonathan David Vance pressed for faith in United States leadership on Gaza policy, arguing that security and peace depend on trust in Washington’s approach.

In the United States Senate race in Maine, a controversy emerged when candidate Graham Platner acknowledged possessing a chest tattoo known as the Totenkopf, a symbol associated with Nazi organizations. Platner said he got the tattoo in Croatia in 2007 while intoxicated and intends to have it removed. He has insisted that he does not hold Nazi beliefs, and noted that he later earned security clearances for work in diplomatic security roles. Jewish community leaders criticized the symbol, while some supporters defended the candidate’s broader record. Platner’s campaign faced pressure, including the resignation of his political director over this issue.

Meanwhile, veterans of the Gaza campaigns continue to grapple with the aftereffects of war. A captain who returned from Gaza described personal trauma and said that many soldiers are facing post-traumatic stress, contributing to a rise in veteran suicides.

From the field, the government said it remains committed to the ceasefire framework and to shielding civilians while keeping an eye on possible escalations and potential renewal of talks with Western partners.

Weather: A sunny, hot day is forecast with dry conditions across much of the country. Winds will pick up along the coast in the afternoon, and temperatures will reach the low to mid-thirties Celsius in major cities.

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
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