Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-24 at 18:10
Update: 2025-10-24
Description
HEADLINES
IDF hits Hezbollah logistics chief in Lebanon
US pushes Gaza plan excluding Hamas governance
US warns annexation risks peace framework
The time is now 2:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
This is the 2:00 PM update on developments shaping the Middle East and the Israeli key security and diplomatic environment, with context for an international audience.
Lebanese and northern Israeli fronts remain in the crosshairs of a fragile ceasefire. The Israeli military says it carried out a drone strike targeting Abbas Hassan Karaki, the Hezbollah logistics chief for the organization’s southern front, in the town of Toul in southern Lebanon. Lebanese health authorities and media reported fatalities and injuries, while the IDF described Karaki as a senior figure who oversaw weapon transfers, storage, and rebuilding efforts after the latest round of fighting. The strike followed a day of other Israeli actions in southern Lebanon, including strikes on a Hezbollah site described by Israel as an arms cache and a training camp. The broader frame is that the ceasefire agreement that ended a year of intense exchanges obligates both sides to withdraw from southern Lebanon; Israel says it will continue to act to remove threats, while Hezbollah and Lebanese authorities face international pressure to disarm and to respect the ceasefire terms.
In Gaza, the international diplomatic and military coordination effort is centered on implementing a two-phase plan associated with the Trump-era framework. US officials insist there is no alternative or “plan B” to the agreed approach, which envisions demilitarization of Hamas and a transition for Gaza governed by an arrangement that does not involve Hamas in future governance. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, visiting Israel and speaking at the Civil-Military Coordination Center in Kiryat Gat, stressed that Hamas cannot govern Gaza and reiterated that the UN agency UNRWA will not participate in delivering aid under this arrangement. Rubio said humanitarian aid will flow through established channels such as the World Food Programme and other NGOs, and that the international Stabilization Force, once assembled, would operate with conditions that Israel itself supports. He signaled that the makeup and authorization of the stabilization force will be a matter of broad consensus among partner states and that Israel’s security concerns must guide the process, including any involvement by Turkey, which Israel has cautioned about.
At the same briefing, Rubio noted that progress toward a broader regional normalization could emerge as a byproduct of stabilizing Gaza, including potential expansion of the Abraham Accords. He also emphasized that any governance framework for Gaza must be agreed to by Israel and its partners, and that the Palestinian Authority’s role remains a matter for future discussion, given Israel’s concerns about incitement and security. In parallel with these security and governance discussions, Rubio asserted that the remains of 13 hostages believed killed or captured in prior exchanges would be released as part of the broader process, though the sequence and timing remain contested publicly by participants in Gaza and in Washington.
The United States is reinforcing its civilian-military coordination posture in Israel. The State Department announced that Steven Fagin, a veteran US diplomat, will serve as the civilian lead of the Gaza coordination center in Kiryat Gat, aligned with Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of US Central Command’s sphere of responsibility. Rubio said the center will scale up staff to oversee ceasefire implementation and aid delivery, with a focus on preventing theft or diversion of life-sustaining assistance and on laying groundwork for the Stabilization Force’s entry into Gaza in the next phase. He added that the center must work with partners to ensure that any international force is acceptable to Israel and capable of contributing to long-term stabilization.
On the political and strategic layer, Washington and Jerusalem continue to wrestle with the implications of West Bank sovereignty discussions that have emerged in Israeli politics. Rubio repeated Netanyahu’s and coalition officials’ message that sovereignty votes were political maneuvers not destined to materialize, but the rhetoric has nonetheless unsettled some international partners. The United States has been explicit in arguing that any steps toward annexation or unilateral moves in the West Bank would threaten the broader peace framework being pursued, potentially alarming regional partners and complicating the coalition’s ability to mobilize broader regional support for the Gaza plan. In parallel, Rubio reiterated that Hamas cannot play a role in any future Gaza governance and that the international community has aligned around that principle.
Humanitarian and legal dimensions continue to animate debates about the post-conflict environment. The US position has sharpened on UNRWA, with Rubio saying the agency should not be involved in Gaza aid distribution under the current arrangement, even as humanitarian work continues through other agencies. Israel has criticized UNRWA as overly entangled with Hamas, a stance that has shaped US and European responses to relief operations. Europe has taken its own steps in arms policy toward Israel, with Spain opening an investigation into Sidenor for possible complicity in illicit arms-related activities connected to Israel Military Industries, a subsidiary of Elbit Systems, and Spain moving to halt contracts with Israeli arms makers. The case underscores how arms trade and accountability questions are affecting diplomatic alignments as the Gaza war’s consequences ripple through international markets and policy debates.
Travel and regional connectivity are inching back toward normality in notable ways. American Airlines announced it will resume daily direct service from John F. Kennedy Airport to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport in March 2026, following a two-year hiatus tied to the Gaza conflict. The decision, coupled with the resumed operations of other carriers between the United States and Israel, signals a degree of restored confidence in international travel and commerce in the region, even as security concerns remain elevated.
On the ground in Israel’s cities, cultural and demographic life continues alongside security concerns. In Jerusalem, ongoing open-house tours of prominent buildings and local neighborhoods illustrate a city navigating a complex political and social landscape, with neighborhoods like Har Homa forming part of the broader conversation about settlement patterns, demographic change, and city development. These human-interest notes provide a counterpoint to the high-stakes diplomacy and military operations dominating headlines, reminding audiences that life persists with a sense of continuity even amid tensions.
In summary, the afternoon picture shows a pause in the most intense fighting but a region-wide insistence on prudence and steadfast security. Israel cites ongoing threats and the need to deter aggression, while Hezbollah and other actors emphasize the importance of disarmament and a sustainable political arrangement. The United States is actively coordinating a multi-layer approach to Gaza that fuses security measures with humanitarian relief and regional normalization objectives, while signaling that Hamas must disarm and be excluded from governance. Against this backdrop, travel, diplomacy, and economic activity are gradually resuming in ways that could widen regional engagement if the underlying conditions for stability hold. This is the latest, with observers watching closely how these threads will weave together in the hours and days 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/must/article-871522
https://www.jpost.com/real-estate/article-871523
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-871538
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-871537
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-871530
https://www.timesofisrael.com/spain-mulls-charges-against-steelmaker-that-allegedly-supplied-israeli-arms-firm/
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1244693
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-871471
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-871536
https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/hyoxjlrcee
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/skv6eef0xx
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/american-airlines-to-resu
IDF hits Hezbollah logistics chief in Lebanon
US pushes Gaza plan excluding Hamas governance
US warns annexation risks peace framework
The time is now 2:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
This is the 2:00 PM update on developments shaping the Middle East and the Israeli key security and diplomatic environment, with context for an international audience.
Lebanese and northern Israeli fronts remain in the crosshairs of a fragile ceasefire. The Israeli military says it carried out a drone strike targeting Abbas Hassan Karaki, the Hezbollah logistics chief for the organization’s southern front, in the town of Toul in southern Lebanon. Lebanese health authorities and media reported fatalities and injuries, while the IDF described Karaki as a senior figure who oversaw weapon transfers, storage, and rebuilding efforts after the latest round of fighting. The strike followed a day of other Israeli actions in southern Lebanon, including strikes on a Hezbollah site described by Israel as an arms cache and a training camp. The broader frame is that the ceasefire agreement that ended a year of intense exchanges obligates both sides to withdraw from southern Lebanon; Israel says it will continue to act to remove threats, while Hezbollah and Lebanese authorities face international pressure to disarm and to respect the ceasefire terms.
In Gaza, the international diplomatic and military coordination effort is centered on implementing a two-phase plan associated with the Trump-era framework. US officials insist there is no alternative or “plan B” to the agreed approach, which envisions demilitarization of Hamas and a transition for Gaza governed by an arrangement that does not involve Hamas in future governance. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, visiting Israel and speaking at the Civil-Military Coordination Center in Kiryat Gat, stressed that Hamas cannot govern Gaza and reiterated that the UN agency UNRWA will not participate in delivering aid under this arrangement. Rubio said humanitarian aid will flow through established channels such as the World Food Programme and other NGOs, and that the international Stabilization Force, once assembled, would operate with conditions that Israel itself supports. He signaled that the makeup and authorization of the stabilization force will be a matter of broad consensus among partner states and that Israel’s security concerns must guide the process, including any involvement by Turkey, which Israel has cautioned about.
At the same briefing, Rubio noted that progress toward a broader regional normalization could emerge as a byproduct of stabilizing Gaza, including potential expansion of the Abraham Accords. He also emphasized that any governance framework for Gaza must be agreed to by Israel and its partners, and that the Palestinian Authority’s role remains a matter for future discussion, given Israel’s concerns about incitement and security. In parallel with these security and governance discussions, Rubio asserted that the remains of 13 hostages believed killed or captured in prior exchanges would be released as part of the broader process, though the sequence and timing remain contested publicly by participants in Gaza and in Washington.
The United States is reinforcing its civilian-military coordination posture in Israel. The State Department announced that Steven Fagin, a veteran US diplomat, will serve as the civilian lead of the Gaza coordination center in Kiryat Gat, aligned with Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of US Central Command’s sphere of responsibility. Rubio said the center will scale up staff to oversee ceasefire implementation and aid delivery, with a focus on preventing theft or diversion of life-sustaining assistance and on laying groundwork for the Stabilization Force’s entry into Gaza in the next phase. He added that the center must work with partners to ensure that any international force is acceptable to Israel and capable of contributing to long-term stabilization.
On the political and strategic layer, Washington and Jerusalem continue to wrestle with the implications of West Bank sovereignty discussions that have emerged in Israeli politics. Rubio repeated Netanyahu’s and coalition officials’ message that sovereignty votes were political maneuvers not destined to materialize, but the rhetoric has nonetheless unsettled some international partners. The United States has been explicit in arguing that any steps toward annexation or unilateral moves in the West Bank would threaten the broader peace framework being pursued, potentially alarming regional partners and complicating the coalition’s ability to mobilize broader regional support for the Gaza plan. In parallel, Rubio reiterated that Hamas cannot play a role in any future Gaza governance and that the international community has aligned around that principle.
Humanitarian and legal dimensions continue to animate debates about the post-conflict environment. The US position has sharpened on UNRWA, with Rubio saying the agency should not be involved in Gaza aid distribution under the current arrangement, even as humanitarian work continues through other agencies. Israel has criticized UNRWA as overly entangled with Hamas, a stance that has shaped US and European responses to relief operations. Europe has taken its own steps in arms policy toward Israel, with Spain opening an investigation into Sidenor for possible complicity in illicit arms-related activities connected to Israel Military Industries, a subsidiary of Elbit Systems, and Spain moving to halt contracts with Israeli arms makers. The case underscores how arms trade and accountability questions are affecting diplomatic alignments as the Gaza war’s consequences ripple through international markets and policy debates.
Travel and regional connectivity are inching back toward normality in notable ways. American Airlines announced it will resume daily direct service from John F. Kennedy Airport to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport in March 2026, following a two-year hiatus tied to the Gaza conflict. The decision, coupled with the resumed operations of other carriers between the United States and Israel, signals a degree of restored confidence in international travel and commerce in the region, even as security concerns remain elevated.
On the ground in Israel’s cities, cultural and demographic life continues alongside security concerns. In Jerusalem, ongoing open-house tours of prominent buildings and local neighborhoods illustrate a city navigating a complex political and social landscape, with neighborhoods like Har Homa forming part of the broader conversation about settlement patterns, demographic change, and city development. These human-interest notes provide a counterpoint to the high-stakes diplomacy and military operations dominating headlines, reminding audiences that life persists with a sense of continuity even amid tensions.
In summary, the afternoon picture shows a pause in the most intense fighting but a region-wide insistence on prudence and steadfast security. Israel cites ongoing threats and the need to deter aggression, while Hezbollah and other actors emphasize the importance of disarmament and a sustainable political arrangement. The United States is actively coordinating a multi-layer approach to Gaza that fuses security measures with humanitarian relief and regional normalization objectives, while signaling that Hamas must disarm and be excluded from governance. Against this backdrop, travel, diplomacy, and economic activity are gradually resuming in ways that could widen regional engagement if the underlying conditions for stability hold. This is the latest, with observers watching closely how these threads will weave together in the hours and days 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/must/article-871522
https://www.jpost.com/real-estate/article-871523
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-871538
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-871537
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-871530
https://www.timesofisrael.com/spain-mulls-charges-against-steelmaker-that-allegedly-supplied-israeli-arms-firm/
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1244693
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-871471
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-871536
https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/hyoxjlrcee
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/skv6eef0xx
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/american-airlines-to-resu
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