HEADLINES
Lulim outpost repels Hamas assault
Israel presses Hamas disarmament in talks
Nine hostage bodies located in Gaza

The time is now 12:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

At 12:01 a.m. local time, border forces reported a prolonged engagement along the northern edge of the Gaza Strip, where seven Nahal commandos at the Lulim outpost held off a much larger group of Hamas fighters in an hours-long fight. Nearby, troops at Camp Amitai and Karmia faced similar surges of fire as they defended the border and sought to prevent any breach of the frontier line.

In the broader strategic picture, officials say Israel remains committed to the ceasefire framework brokered with international mediators, while pressing for progress on a second phase that would include Hamas disarming and stepping back from any role in governing Gaza. Hamas leadership has linked the fate of its weapons to what it calls the end of Israeli occupation, a formulation that continues to complicate negotiations and create competing interpretations of the path forward.

On the humanitarian and hostage-front, Israel says it knows the location of nine of the remaining thirteen bodies of hostages held in Gaza, with four bodies still unlocated. In recent days, teams from the Red Cross and Egypt joined Israeli efforts to locate remains, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approving access to IDF-controlled areas for such searches. The ceasefire has already produced the return of fifteen bodies and the release of all twenty surviving hostages, out of a total of 251 abducted on October 7, 2023. Hamas officials say some bodies cannot be recovered without assistance and have raised questions about the process, while Israel insists on timely handovers as a condition of further commitments.

As part of shaping a post-conflict security framework, discussions have intensified about an international stabilization force to oversee Gaza security after any Israeli withdrawal. Reports indicate such a force could include troops from Indonesia, Azerbaijan, and Pakistan, with Indonesia publicly offering to contribute and Azerbaijan reportedly agreeing; Pakistan’s participation has not been publicly clarified. The presence of an international force would be contingent on progress on disarmament and political arrangements in Gaza.

Among global political dynamics, United States officials have traveled to the region to support negotiations and reassure regional partners, with Washington emphasizing the need to maintain a steady, principled course toward a sustainable ceasefire and durable security arrangements.

On the domestic front in Israel, the war has left a wide imprint. A recent survey highlighted that more than seventy thousand Israeli students were called to reserve duty during two years of conflict, underscoring the broad social and educational impact of the war on Israeli society.

In the international arena, commentators have weighed in on regional stability. A Turkish opinion piece argues that Turkey under President Erdogan would not be a stabilizing influence in the region, a perspective that reflects the spectrum of regional attitudes toward any forthcoming realignments in Gaza. At the same time, observers continue to consider Hamas’s strategic options in a post-ceasefire environment, with questions about governance, security, and the role of external mediators remaining central to analyses of what comes next.

Closer to the ground, Gazan voices and families continue to grapple with the consequences of the conflict. One Gazan activist family publicly distanced itself from Hamas after the appearance of an anti-Hamas op-ed, illustrating the domestic pressures and divisions that persist even as ceasefire talks proceed.

Looking ahead, analysts say the path to a durable peace will hinge on progress on disarmament, the establishment of governance arrangements that satisfy security concerns for Israel, and credible guarantees that civilian protection and humanitarian access will be sustained. The coming weeks are expected to test the willingness of all parties to translate commitments into verifiable actions, as regional and international mediators seek to stabilize conditions and prevent a relapse into wider fighting.

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.ynetnews.com/article/bkjmwdhrll
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-october-27-2025/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-said-to-know-location-of-9-out-of-13-deceased-hostages-still-held-in-gaza/
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-871648
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-871653
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-871737
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/by2jxihall
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-871738
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-871664