HEADLINES
Rubio visits Gaza ceasefire hub in Israel
Swedish activist wounded in Turmus Ayya
Israel eyes Saudi energy corridor

The time is now 1:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

This is the hour’s news update. In Tel Aviv, the annual Night Run will illuminate the city on October 29, with a 15-kilometer course that extends to Hostages Square to symbolize a collective appeal to bring everyone home. In social policy, a United States study informs an Israeli organization on how to care for orphans, showing that children placed in foster families tend to achieve better academic outcomes, driven by developmental and preventative care.

In media, the Kan 11 documentary series TV Time follows families who lost relatives in the October 7 massacre, with the first episode airing just after that date and tracing the paths forward for those affected. In France, Le Parisien reports that a growing number of young French Jews are concealing their identities and removing their kippahs as antisemitism permeates academia. In Jordan, the government says no Jordanian troops will be sent to Gaza, noting instead that a representative is part of an international team including the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey to ensure the ceasefire is implemented.

In Israel, the United States has established a command center in Kiryat Gat where multinational troops oversee the Gaza ceasefire; United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited the facility, underscoring a broader American operational role that some in Jerusalem view as reducing Israel’s own control over the mission. In the West Bank, violence disrupted the olive harvest, with footage showing a masked assailant attacking an older Palestinian woman in Turmus Ayya near Ramallah; witnesses say hundreds fled, and a Swedish activist was injured.

In United States political commentary, former president Donald Trump said he would like China to assist Washington in its dealings with Russia. In Netanya, a 55-year-old man was seriously injured by an electric mixer, and medics transported him to a hospital for treatment. In immigration and religion, The Times of Israel reports on Isabella Vinci, a would-be immigrant who was rejected under the Law of Return after a Zoom-era conversion; advocates say the decision highlights tensions between diaspora communities and Israeli authorities over non-Orthodox paths to Jewish status, even as a 2005 Supreme Court ruling recognizes overseas conversions.

On energy, Israel’s energy minister indicated talk of an energy corridor with Saudi Arabia that would bypass traditional land and sea routes, linking the two countries in a new configuration. On the political timetable, some outlets report that if the budget is not approved, elections could be held in June 2026, with scenarios suggesting possible extensions later in the year.

That is the hour’s briefing on the main developments shaping the region and the international response, with attention to security concerns, diplomacy, and the human dimension of these events.

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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