Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-28 at 16:07
Update: 2025-10-28
Description
HEADLINES
Hamas to Return More Hostage Remains Tonight
US Pushes Hezbollah Disarmament Across Lebanon
Sudan Crisis Risks Wider Regional Fallout
The time is now 12:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
This is the 12:00 PM update on the evolving security picture in the Middle East and adjacent regional dynamics. The focus remains on Gaza, southern Lebanon, and related security challenges, with emphasis on Israeli security concerns, Palestinian and Lebanese perspectives, and the roles of regional and international partners.
In Gaza, the humanitarian ceasefire framework remains in place as tactical violence and diplomacy continue to move in parallel. Hamas has announced it will hand over another tranche of hostage remains at 8:00 PM, bringing to 16 the number of hostage bodies returned under the US-brokered ceasefire deal. The movement’s leadership has signaled that while it seeks to advance negotiations and prisoner exchanges, it will press for its own terms within the overarching ceasefire framework. On the other side, Israeli authorities report that their forces have targeted what they describe as legitimate military targets in Rafah in response to violations of the ceasefire by Hamas, including rocket and incendiary activity and other hostile actions aimed at Israeli forces. Officials in Jerusalem say any future actions will be calibrated to deter assaults on Israeli troops and civilians, while public discussions continue about the appropriate scale and scope of a prospective broader response. In Jerusalem, Prime Minister Netanyahu is scheduled to speak with President Trump in the near term to review the situation and discuss possible next steps, though official channels indicate no final decision has been made regarding the breadth of any new military action in response to the latest breaches. In parallel, the Israeli military has continued to gather intelligence and coordinate with allied partners as it prepares for potential contingencies while stressing the importance of protecting Israeli civilians and soldiers. Within Israel, the Defense Ministry and military health systems are intensifying mental health support for personnel, alongside ongoing measures to maintain readiness amid extended deployments.
In southern Lebanon, the United States is actively backing a strategy to disarm Hezbollah and restore state control over arms across the country. US envoy Morgan Ortagus is in Beirut this week to discuss momentum on Hezbollah disarmament with Lebanese leaders, with Washington stressing the urgency of advancing the ceasefire framework and a transition toward a state monopoly on arms. Lebanese authorities, backed by international partners, are pursuing a five-phase plan that prioritizes the south before moving to other areas, while seeking a political consensus to avoid destabilizing the country’s Shiite communities. The Lebanese army says it has run through a large portion of its southward inspection and demolition missions, including the destruction of a number of arms caches, and is moving to seal tunnels and monitor border areas. It has warned that its missions could be delayed by security considerations and by Israeli actions along the border, including disputed hilltop control and aerial operations. US aid to Lebanon has included demolition charges and other assistance designed to degrade Hezbollah’s capabilities, alongside significant development and training support for the Lebanese Armed Forces. Washington has underscored that the disarmament process should apply nationwide, not just in the south, and has warned that delays could affect regional stability and security assistance. Hezbollah has publicly supported the principle of state disarmament in general but has signaled it would not surrender weapons outside a defined area and has suggested that any move against its arsenal would require broader political agreements. The evolving dynamic in Lebanon highlights the risk that domestic political divides and external pressures could complicate disarmament efforts and trigger new flare-ups along the border.
Beyond Gaza and Lebanon, regional observers note that instability in Sudan and broader regional security concerns have the potential to influence dynamics across the Levant and the Horn of Africa. The latest reporting on Sudan describes the Rapid Support Forces’ ongoing campaign and alleged atrocities in El-Fasher, with UN rights officials and humanitarian groups warning of possible war crimes and ethnic cleansing in a city that has witnessed prolonged siege and displacement. The army’s withdrawal from El-Fasher and the ensuing power realignments have raised concerns about a wider partition of the country and the risk of continued violence, despite regional backers’ calls for a ceasefire and transition toward civilian governance. The situation in Sudan sits alongside broader regional debates about ceasefires, humanitarian access, and the roles of external powers in shaping post-conflict settlements, including the efforts of Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and other partners who are weighing their own interests as the Quad and other regional forums seek a path to stabilization.
On the domestic front within Israel, a government and parliamentary review has highlighted a rise in suicide attempts among military personnel linked to the war against Hamas. A Knesset report indicates that 279 IDF soldiers attempted to take their own lives between January 2024 and July 2025, with combat soldiers disproportionately represented among those affected. The report notes a sustained mental health burden associated with extended deployments, trauma exposure, and the pressures of mobilization. The IDF has announced steps to expand mental health resources, increase the number of mental health officers, and strengthen commander training to detect distress signals, as part of a broader effort to support service members and avert further tragedies.
Region-wide diplomacy continues to unfold alongside unfolding military and security operations. Egypt remains a central actor in Gaza stabilization efforts, coordinating with international partners to sustain aid delivery and support a ceasefire framework that can be translated into durable, civilian-led stabilization. In Washington, the United States continues to stress the importance of a comprehensive, verifiable ceasefire and a credible plan for disarmament in neighboring states, while urging partners to avoid actions that could escalate tensions or undermine negotiation tracks. The international community closely watches how these threads—hostage recovery, ceasefire adherence, disarmament progress in Lebanon, stabilization in Gaza, and humanitarian access—interlock with ongoing political developments in Israel and the broader region.
Looking ahead, the next steps involve continued verification of hostage body returns and adherence to the ceasefire, the potential expansion or adjustment of targeted military actions in response to violations, and renewed diplomatic engagement aimed at disarming non-state armed groups while preserving civilian protections. Authorities in Israel, Lebanon, and the broader region are evaluating security postures, political constraints, and international expectations as they seek to prevent further deterioration and to lay groundwork for a sustainable path toward peace and stability. The situation remains fluid, with ongoing reporting expected as new developments arise from Gaza, southern Lebanon, and beyond.
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/international/article-871943
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-871945
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-871944
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-871941
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-871937
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-871935
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-871938
https://t.me/abualiexpress/107761
https://t.me/abualiexpress/107760
https://t.me/newssil/176795
https://t.me/newssil/176794
https://t.me/abualiexpress/107759
https://www.jpost.com/christianworld/article-871930
https://t.me/newssil/176792
https://t.me/abualiexpress/107758
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1246031
https:
Hamas to Return More Hostage Remains Tonight
US Pushes Hezbollah Disarmament Across Lebanon
Sudan Crisis Risks Wider Regional Fallout
The time is now 12:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
This is the 12:00 PM update on the evolving security picture in the Middle East and adjacent regional dynamics. The focus remains on Gaza, southern Lebanon, and related security challenges, with emphasis on Israeli security concerns, Palestinian and Lebanese perspectives, and the roles of regional and international partners.
In Gaza, the humanitarian ceasefire framework remains in place as tactical violence and diplomacy continue to move in parallel. Hamas has announced it will hand over another tranche of hostage remains at 8:00 PM, bringing to 16 the number of hostage bodies returned under the US-brokered ceasefire deal. The movement’s leadership has signaled that while it seeks to advance negotiations and prisoner exchanges, it will press for its own terms within the overarching ceasefire framework. On the other side, Israeli authorities report that their forces have targeted what they describe as legitimate military targets in Rafah in response to violations of the ceasefire by Hamas, including rocket and incendiary activity and other hostile actions aimed at Israeli forces. Officials in Jerusalem say any future actions will be calibrated to deter assaults on Israeli troops and civilians, while public discussions continue about the appropriate scale and scope of a prospective broader response. In Jerusalem, Prime Minister Netanyahu is scheduled to speak with President Trump in the near term to review the situation and discuss possible next steps, though official channels indicate no final decision has been made regarding the breadth of any new military action in response to the latest breaches. In parallel, the Israeli military has continued to gather intelligence and coordinate with allied partners as it prepares for potential contingencies while stressing the importance of protecting Israeli civilians and soldiers. Within Israel, the Defense Ministry and military health systems are intensifying mental health support for personnel, alongside ongoing measures to maintain readiness amid extended deployments.
In southern Lebanon, the United States is actively backing a strategy to disarm Hezbollah and restore state control over arms across the country. US envoy Morgan Ortagus is in Beirut this week to discuss momentum on Hezbollah disarmament with Lebanese leaders, with Washington stressing the urgency of advancing the ceasefire framework and a transition toward a state monopoly on arms. Lebanese authorities, backed by international partners, are pursuing a five-phase plan that prioritizes the south before moving to other areas, while seeking a political consensus to avoid destabilizing the country’s Shiite communities. The Lebanese army says it has run through a large portion of its southward inspection and demolition missions, including the destruction of a number of arms caches, and is moving to seal tunnels and monitor border areas. It has warned that its missions could be delayed by security considerations and by Israeli actions along the border, including disputed hilltop control and aerial operations. US aid to Lebanon has included demolition charges and other assistance designed to degrade Hezbollah’s capabilities, alongside significant development and training support for the Lebanese Armed Forces. Washington has underscored that the disarmament process should apply nationwide, not just in the south, and has warned that delays could affect regional stability and security assistance. Hezbollah has publicly supported the principle of state disarmament in general but has signaled it would not surrender weapons outside a defined area and has suggested that any move against its arsenal would require broader political agreements. The evolving dynamic in Lebanon highlights the risk that domestic political divides and external pressures could complicate disarmament efforts and trigger new flare-ups along the border.
Beyond Gaza and Lebanon, regional observers note that instability in Sudan and broader regional security concerns have the potential to influence dynamics across the Levant and the Horn of Africa. The latest reporting on Sudan describes the Rapid Support Forces’ ongoing campaign and alleged atrocities in El-Fasher, with UN rights officials and humanitarian groups warning of possible war crimes and ethnic cleansing in a city that has witnessed prolonged siege and displacement. The army’s withdrawal from El-Fasher and the ensuing power realignments have raised concerns about a wider partition of the country and the risk of continued violence, despite regional backers’ calls for a ceasefire and transition toward civilian governance. The situation in Sudan sits alongside broader regional debates about ceasefires, humanitarian access, and the roles of external powers in shaping post-conflict settlements, including the efforts of Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and other partners who are weighing their own interests as the Quad and other regional forums seek a path to stabilization.
On the domestic front within Israel, a government and parliamentary review has highlighted a rise in suicide attempts among military personnel linked to the war against Hamas. A Knesset report indicates that 279 IDF soldiers attempted to take their own lives between January 2024 and July 2025, with combat soldiers disproportionately represented among those affected. The report notes a sustained mental health burden associated with extended deployments, trauma exposure, and the pressures of mobilization. The IDF has announced steps to expand mental health resources, increase the number of mental health officers, and strengthen commander training to detect distress signals, as part of a broader effort to support service members and avert further tragedies.
Region-wide diplomacy continues to unfold alongside unfolding military and security operations. Egypt remains a central actor in Gaza stabilization efforts, coordinating with international partners to sustain aid delivery and support a ceasefire framework that can be translated into durable, civilian-led stabilization. In Washington, the United States continues to stress the importance of a comprehensive, verifiable ceasefire and a credible plan for disarmament in neighboring states, while urging partners to avoid actions that could escalate tensions or undermine negotiation tracks. The international community closely watches how these threads—hostage recovery, ceasefire adherence, disarmament progress in Lebanon, stabilization in Gaza, and humanitarian access—interlock with ongoing political developments in Israel and the broader region.
Looking ahead, the next steps involve continued verification of hostage body returns and adherence to the ceasefire, the potential expansion or adjustment of targeted military actions in response to violations, and renewed diplomatic engagement aimed at disarming non-state armed groups while preserving civilian protections. Authorities in Israel, Lebanon, and the broader region are evaluating security postures, political constraints, and international expectations as they seek to prevent further deterioration and to lay groundwork for a sustainable path toward peace and stability. The situation remains fluid, with ongoing reporting expected as new developments arise from Gaza, southern Lebanon, and beyond.
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/international/article-871943
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-871945
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-871944
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-871941
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-871937
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-871935
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-871938
https://t.me/abualiexpress/107761
https://t.me/abualiexpress/107760
https://t.me/newssil/176795
https://t.me/newssil/176794
https://t.me/abualiexpress/107759
https://www.jpost.com/christianworld/article-871930
https://t.me/newssil/176792
https://t.me/abualiexpress/107758
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1246031
https:
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