Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-23 at 10:05
Update: 2025-10-23
Description
HEADLINES
- UNRWA Banned From Gaza as Ceasefire Wobbles
- IDF Drills Hezbollah Invasion on Northern Border
- Rubio Warns Annexation Undermines Gaza Truce
The time is now 6:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
6:00 AM update. Israel says UNRWA will no longer set foot in Gaza, even as the ICJ urged support for UN relief efforts, with officials citing past UN failures and security concerns. The stance sharpens a long-running dispute over humanitarian aid channels and governance in Gaza as the ceasefire framework remains in place but fragile.
Across the northern border, the IDF is conducting a major drill simulating an October 7 style attack from Hezbollah based in Lebanon. Forces are practicing responses to attempted takeovers of northern communities, as well as the defense of IDF facilities and outposts along the border, underscoring the continued risk of outbreaks on multiple fronts for Israel.
In Washington, US policy makers are focused on preserving the Gaza truce as Israeli moves in the West Bank draw scrutiny. Top US diplomat Marco Rubio warned that steps toward annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank could undercut the fragile US-brokered ceasefire in Gaza, as Israeli lawmakers advanced two bills paving the way for annexation in the days after a ceasefire deal was secured.
In regional diplomacy, Saudi Arabia named a conservative grand mufti in his nineties, Sheikh Saleh bin Fawzan bin Abdullah Al-Fawzan, keeping traditional leadership in place even as rapid social changes unfold in the kingdom. The appointment follows the death of the previous grand mufti and signals continuity in a key pillar of Saudi religious authority.
Domestically, a political shakeup is rippleing through Israel’s coalition. Shas has announced its withdrawal from coalition posts in protest over the stalled moves to pass draft reform for yeshiva students, signaling a potential tightening of internal coalition dynamics at a time of heightened security pressures. In related domestic security matters, authorities report an arrest in Tel Aviv after a street theft and assault, with a 29-year-old suspect detained and the victim’s bag recovered.
Judicial and press freedoms developments continue to unfold. The High Court of Justice granted the state another 30 days to update its position on independent press entry into Gaza in response to a long-running petition by the Foreign Press Association. The court noted that the ceasefire and changing circumstances in Gaza warranted a fresh review, while critics say the restrictions hinder reporting during wartime.
On the intelligence front, former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen has described a wide-reaching global pager operation and a network of manipulated equipment used in past operations, claiming that the system extended into many countries though Gaza was not heavily covered. The interview—as reported—highlights debates inside Israel about intelligence gaps before October 7 and raises questions about the reach and governance of covert programs.
Iranian rhetoric continues to influence the regional narrative. A high-profile Iranian official argued that Israel pursues a “Greater Israel” and warned of a global threat from Zionist policy, weaving antisemitic tropes into state messaging. The remarks are part of Tehran’s broader strategy to frame the conflict in existential terms while testing regional and Western responses.
On the ground in Gaza and the West Bank, observers note ongoing humanitarian and security pressures, including simulations of broader conflict risk on the northern and southern fronts and the potential for renewed violence in the olive harvest season. Officials warn that a surge in violence or miscalculation could escalate tensions quickly.
In technology and defense procurement, defense contractors report ongoing international interest in Israeli-made capabilities, including autonomous and precision strike tools, reflecting Israel’s ongoing emphasis on deterrence and rapid-response capabilities amid a shifting regional security landscape.
In the domestic economy, the Food and Security Ministry announced an automatic price adjustment for eggs, effective November 1, increasing the consumer price by about 1 percent, with a per-pack rise of around 15 agorot, tied to production and distribution costs and the last update dating to 2023.
As reporters monitor the ceasefire corridor, political shifts, and regional diplomacy, the overarching frame remains: Israel seeks security and stability on multiple fronts, while international partners weigh how best to sustain humanitarian access, deter aggression, and keep open channels for negotiation amid a volatile and rapidly shifting Middle East landscape.
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-871361
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-871380
https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-871378
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/saudi-names-conservative-grand-mufti-despite-sweeping-social-change_%3C%21--%20END%20OUTPUT%20from%20%27core/themes/stable9/templates/views/views-view-field.html.twig%27%20--%3E__
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1244274
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1244266
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/rubio-heads-israel-us-seeks-firm-gaza-truce_%3C%21--%20END%20OUTPUT%20from%20%27core/themes/stable9/templates/views/views-view-field.html.twig%27%20--%3E__
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1244261
https://www.timesofisrael.com/high-court-gives-state-30-days-to-clarify-policy-on-press-entry-to-gaza-amid-ceasefire/
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1244259
https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/10/23/ex-mossad-chief-says-pager-operations-extend-to-every-country-you-can-imagine/
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1244251
https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/10/23/iranian-regime-shows-signs-of-weakening/
https://t.me/newssil/176223
https://t.me/abualiexpress/107389
https://t.me/abualiexpress/107388
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1244245
https://www.jpost.com/defense-and-tech/article-871359
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-871358
https://worldisraelnews.com/fetterman-my-party-betrayed-israel/
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1244242
https://t.me/newssil/
- UNRWA Banned From Gaza as Ceasefire Wobbles
- IDF Drills Hezbollah Invasion on Northern Border
- Rubio Warns Annexation Undermines Gaza Truce
The time is now 6:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
6:00 AM update. Israel says UNRWA will no longer set foot in Gaza, even as the ICJ urged support for UN relief efforts, with officials citing past UN failures and security concerns. The stance sharpens a long-running dispute over humanitarian aid channels and governance in Gaza as the ceasefire framework remains in place but fragile.
Across the northern border, the IDF is conducting a major drill simulating an October 7 style attack from Hezbollah based in Lebanon. Forces are practicing responses to attempted takeovers of northern communities, as well as the defense of IDF facilities and outposts along the border, underscoring the continued risk of outbreaks on multiple fronts for Israel.
In Washington, US policy makers are focused on preserving the Gaza truce as Israeli moves in the West Bank draw scrutiny. Top US diplomat Marco Rubio warned that steps toward annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank could undercut the fragile US-brokered ceasefire in Gaza, as Israeli lawmakers advanced two bills paving the way for annexation in the days after a ceasefire deal was secured.
In regional diplomacy, Saudi Arabia named a conservative grand mufti in his nineties, Sheikh Saleh bin Fawzan bin Abdullah Al-Fawzan, keeping traditional leadership in place even as rapid social changes unfold in the kingdom. The appointment follows the death of the previous grand mufti and signals continuity in a key pillar of Saudi religious authority.
Domestically, a political shakeup is rippleing through Israel’s coalition. Shas has announced its withdrawal from coalition posts in protest over the stalled moves to pass draft reform for yeshiva students, signaling a potential tightening of internal coalition dynamics at a time of heightened security pressures. In related domestic security matters, authorities report an arrest in Tel Aviv after a street theft and assault, with a 29-year-old suspect detained and the victim’s bag recovered.
Judicial and press freedoms developments continue to unfold. The High Court of Justice granted the state another 30 days to update its position on independent press entry into Gaza in response to a long-running petition by the Foreign Press Association. The court noted that the ceasefire and changing circumstances in Gaza warranted a fresh review, while critics say the restrictions hinder reporting during wartime.
On the intelligence front, former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen has described a wide-reaching global pager operation and a network of manipulated equipment used in past operations, claiming that the system extended into many countries though Gaza was not heavily covered. The interview—as reported—highlights debates inside Israel about intelligence gaps before October 7 and raises questions about the reach and governance of covert programs.
Iranian rhetoric continues to influence the regional narrative. A high-profile Iranian official argued that Israel pursues a “Greater Israel” and warned of a global threat from Zionist policy, weaving antisemitic tropes into state messaging. The remarks are part of Tehran’s broader strategy to frame the conflict in existential terms while testing regional and Western responses.
On the ground in Gaza and the West Bank, observers note ongoing humanitarian and security pressures, including simulations of broader conflict risk on the northern and southern fronts and the potential for renewed violence in the olive harvest season. Officials warn that a surge in violence or miscalculation could escalate tensions quickly.
In technology and defense procurement, defense contractors report ongoing international interest in Israeli-made capabilities, including autonomous and precision strike tools, reflecting Israel’s ongoing emphasis on deterrence and rapid-response capabilities amid a shifting regional security landscape.
In the domestic economy, the Food and Security Ministry announced an automatic price adjustment for eggs, effective November 1, increasing the consumer price by about 1 percent, with a per-pack rise of around 15 agorot, tied to production and distribution costs and the last update dating to 2023.
As reporters monitor the ceasefire corridor, political shifts, and regional diplomacy, the overarching frame remains: Israel seeks security and stability on multiple fronts, while international partners weigh how best to sustain humanitarian access, deter aggression, and keep open channels for negotiation amid a volatile and rapidly shifting Middle East landscape.
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-871361
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-871380
https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-871378
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/saudi-names-conservative-grand-mufti-despite-sweeping-social-change_%3C%21--%20END%20OUTPUT%20from%20%27core/themes/stable9/templates/views/views-view-field.html.twig%27%20--%3E__
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1244274
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1244266
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/rubio-heads-israel-us-seeks-firm-gaza-truce_%3C%21--%20END%20OUTPUT%20from%20%27core/themes/stable9/templates/views/views-view-field.html.twig%27%20--%3E__
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1244261
https://www.timesofisrael.com/high-court-gives-state-30-days-to-clarify-policy-on-press-entry-to-gaza-amid-ceasefire/
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1244259
https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/10/23/ex-mossad-chief-says-pager-operations-extend-to-every-country-you-can-imagine/
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1244251
https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/10/23/iranian-regime-shows-signs-of-weakening/
https://t.me/newssil/176223
https://t.me/abualiexpress/107389
https://t.me/abualiexpress/107388
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1244245
https://www.jpost.com/defense-and-tech/article-871359
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-871358
https://worldisraelnews.com/fetterman-my-party-betrayed-israel/
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1244242
https://t.me/newssil/
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