Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-25 at 00:06
Update: 2025-10-25
Description
HEADLINES
Israel's Largest Border Hostage Rescue Drill
US Drones Over Gaza With Israeli Consent
Chicago Playground Pogrom Sparks Jewish Safety Alarm
The time is now 8:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
As of eight o’clock this evening, here is the latest snapshot of developments shaping the Middle East and Jewish communities around the world.
The World Zionist Congress is nearing its opening, with American Zionists urging greater representation for the Diaspora to strengthen global leadership and ensure that Jewish life across continents reflects a wide range of experiences and perspectives.
Near the Lebanese border, the Israeli Defense Forces, Israeli Police, and Magen David Adom completed a major hostage-rescue exercise conducted along the border. Led by the Defense Forces’ ninety-first division and the National Ground Training Center, the operation was described as the largest drill since the Israel-Hamas War began, underscoring continuing preparation and readiness in the region.
In a separate civic effort, the Israel Cancer Association launched its 2025 “Knock on the Door” fundraiser. The campaign mobilizes thousands of students, youth movement members, and volunteers who go door to door to raise donations, framing the effort as a symbol of community support and mutual commitment within Israeli society.
On university campuses, dialogue continues over antisemitism and Israel advocacy. Yeshiva University President Rabbi Ari Berman spoke with The Times of Israel about campus antisemitism and the broader debate over Israel advocacy in higher education, a conversation that resonates across the Diaspora and within communities closely watching how universities respond to security concerns and free expression.
In the United States, advocates condemned an incident described as a “pogrom on the playground” after Jewish children were targeted in Shawnee Park, Chicago, on October seventh, a date marking the second anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel. The occurrence has intensified concerns about safety for Jewish youth in American communities and the vigilance required to counter antisemitic harassment.
Meanwhile, a debate within American Jewish communities intensified as the number of rabbis signing an anti-Mamdani letter surpassed one thousand. The letter, organized by the Jewish Majority group, urges against positions perceived as anti-Israel or anti-Zionist rhetoric in political campaigns. Some rabbis who were approached chose not to sign, emphasizing that their roles as clergy do not entail directing congregants how to vote, while others defended the measure as a nonpartisan effort to defend the safety and legitimacy of Israel. The discourse has highlighted the tension between encouraging political engagement and maintaining religious spaces free from partisanship.
The Times of Israel has reported on the broader conversation surrounding endorsements from pulpit figures, noting concerns about church-state separation and the risk of polarization within Jewish life. Several senior rabbis indicated they would rather speak from the pulpit on issues affecting the security of the Jewish people and the well-being of the State of Israel than participate in public endorsements of candidates.
Concurrently, an international voice added a note to the discourse. Nas Daily offered a viewpoint that the defeat of Hamas would be the best outcome for both Israelis and Palestinians, a voice calling for an emphasis on peace alongside security.
On the security front, United States surveillance drones have been flying over the Gaza Strip with Israel’s consent to monitor compliance with the ceasefire. The flights are described as part of a broader effort to observe ground developments and support the new United States–Israel Civil-Military Coordination Center operating in southern Israel.
In a related development on the ground, Israeli forces conducted operations in southern Lebanon. A Hezbollah operative linked to restoring militia capabilities was killed in an Israeli drone strike in the town of Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, near Nabatieh. Israeli officials stated the operative’s actions violated the understandings governing Israel’s border with Lebanon.
Public opinion within Israel shows continued caution about the political landscape ahead of elections. A Channel Twelve poll found that a majority of Israelis believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should not run in the next election. Fifty-two percent said he should not run, while forty-one percent said he should, with seven percent undecided. If Netanyahu does not lead the Likud, the survey identified former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen as the leading alternative among Likud options, with ten percent support, followed by several other figures with single-digit backing.
Looking at the broader political landscape, the poll also asked about the leadership of the bloc opposing Netanyahu. Former prime minister Naftali Bennett emerged as the preferred leader for about forty-four percent of respondents, with Yair Lapid, Yair Golan, Gadi Eisenkot, Avigdor Liberman, Benny Gantz and others receiving smaller shares.
These developments unfold as Israel continues to balance urgent security concerns with political and diplomatic pressures, while American and international communities weigh the implications of diplomacy, aid, and plural voices within Jewish life. We will continue to monitor the evolving situations on the border, in the Diaspora, and in the political arenas that shape the security and future of Israel and its partners.
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-871462
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-871549
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-871550
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-871461
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-871548
https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-number-of-rabbis-to-sign-anti-mamdani-letter-tops-1000-others-decry-red-lines/
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-871546
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-871547
https://t.me/newssil/176388
https://t.me/newssil/176387
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-october-25-2025/
Israel's Largest Border Hostage Rescue Drill
US Drones Over Gaza With Israeli Consent
Chicago Playground Pogrom Sparks Jewish Safety Alarm
The time is now 8:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
As of eight o’clock this evening, here is the latest snapshot of developments shaping the Middle East and Jewish communities around the world.
The World Zionist Congress is nearing its opening, with American Zionists urging greater representation for the Diaspora to strengthen global leadership and ensure that Jewish life across continents reflects a wide range of experiences and perspectives.
Near the Lebanese border, the Israeli Defense Forces, Israeli Police, and Magen David Adom completed a major hostage-rescue exercise conducted along the border. Led by the Defense Forces’ ninety-first division and the National Ground Training Center, the operation was described as the largest drill since the Israel-Hamas War began, underscoring continuing preparation and readiness in the region.
In a separate civic effort, the Israel Cancer Association launched its 2025 “Knock on the Door” fundraiser. The campaign mobilizes thousands of students, youth movement members, and volunteers who go door to door to raise donations, framing the effort as a symbol of community support and mutual commitment within Israeli society.
On university campuses, dialogue continues over antisemitism and Israel advocacy. Yeshiva University President Rabbi Ari Berman spoke with The Times of Israel about campus antisemitism and the broader debate over Israel advocacy in higher education, a conversation that resonates across the Diaspora and within communities closely watching how universities respond to security concerns and free expression.
In the United States, advocates condemned an incident described as a “pogrom on the playground” after Jewish children were targeted in Shawnee Park, Chicago, on October seventh, a date marking the second anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel. The occurrence has intensified concerns about safety for Jewish youth in American communities and the vigilance required to counter antisemitic harassment.
Meanwhile, a debate within American Jewish communities intensified as the number of rabbis signing an anti-Mamdani letter surpassed one thousand. The letter, organized by the Jewish Majority group, urges against positions perceived as anti-Israel or anti-Zionist rhetoric in political campaigns. Some rabbis who were approached chose not to sign, emphasizing that their roles as clergy do not entail directing congregants how to vote, while others defended the measure as a nonpartisan effort to defend the safety and legitimacy of Israel. The discourse has highlighted the tension between encouraging political engagement and maintaining religious spaces free from partisanship.
The Times of Israel has reported on the broader conversation surrounding endorsements from pulpit figures, noting concerns about church-state separation and the risk of polarization within Jewish life. Several senior rabbis indicated they would rather speak from the pulpit on issues affecting the security of the Jewish people and the well-being of the State of Israel than participate in public endorsements of candidates.
Concurrently, an international voice added a note to the discourse. Nas Daily offered a viewpoint that the defeat of Hamas would be the best outcome for both Israelis and Palestinians, a voice calling for an emphasis on peace alongside security.
On the security front, United States surveillance drones have been flying over the Gaza Strip with Israel’s consent to monitor compliance with the ceasefire. The flights are described as part of a broader effort to observe ground developments and support the new United States–Israel Civil-Military Coordination Center operating in southern Israel.
In a related development on the ground, Israeli forces conducted operations in southern Lebanon. A Hezbollah operative linked to restoring militia capabilities was killed in an Israeli drone strike in the town of Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, near Nabatieh. Israeli officials stated the operative’s actions violated the understandings governing Israel’s border with Lebanon.
Public opinion within Israel shows continued caution about the political landscape ahead of elections. A Channel Twelve poll found that a majority of Israelis believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should not run in the next election. Fifty-two percent said he should not run, while forty-one percent said he should, with seven percent undecided. If Netanyahu does not lead the Likud, the survey identified former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen as the leading alternative among Likud options, with ten percent support, followed by several other figures with single-digit backing.
Looking at the broader political landscape, the poll also asked about the leadership of the bloc opposing Netanyahu. Former prime minister Naftali Bennett emerged as the preferred leader for about forty-four percent of respondents, with Yair Lapid, Yair Golan, Gadi Eisenkot, Avigdor Liberman, Benny Gantz and others receiving smaller shares.
These developments unfold as Israel continues to balance urgent security concerns with political and diplomatic pressures, while American and international communities weigh the implications of diplomacy, aid, and plural voices within Jewish life. We will continue to monitor the evolving situations on the border, in the Diaspora, and in the political arenas that shape the security and future of Israel and its partners.
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-871462
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-871549
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-871550
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-871461
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-871548
https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-number-of-rabbis-to-sign-anti-mamdani-letter-tops-1000-others-decry-red-lines/
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-871546
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-871547
https://t.me/newssil/176388
https://t.me/newssil/176387
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-october-25-2025/
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