HEADLINES
Remains of two captives returned, 11 unreturned
NYC antisemitism spreads like a cancer
Shefa blends Jewish rituals with psychedelics

The time is now 9:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

Here is your hourly update on the Middle East and related Jewish communities around the world.

Two Israeli families marked a grim milestone as the remains of two long-missing captives were returned to Israel, part of the ongoing effort to implement a ceasefire accord with Hamas. Amiram Cooper, 84, an economist and poet who helped found Kibbutz Nir Oz, and Sahar Baruch, 25, an engineering student from Kibbutz Be’eri, were identified after being handed over by Hamas and examined at Abu Kabir in Tel Aviv. Cooper was abducted from Nir Oz on October 7, 2023 and is believed to have died in captivity; Baruch was taken during the same assault and was killed during a failed IDF hostage-rescue operation in December 2023. The families and the kibbutzes involved expressed sorrow, while officials stressed the redoubles of effort to obtain the return of all 28 hostages and remains still held in Gaza. The ceasefire framework required Hamas to return all living hostages and remains within 72 hours; it released all 20 living captives but has returned only 17 of the 28 bodies to date, leaving 11 deceased hostages believed to be in Gaza. Israeli authorities warned that Hamas has repeatedly stalled on the larger obligation to releasethe full set of captives and remains as part of mediator-led arrangements, and they pledged continued work to bring back those missing and hold Hamas to its commitments.

On the international stage, Germany’s government publicly reaffirmed long-standing support for Israel during a press conference, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz stating that Germany “will always stand by Israel.” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan used the same gathering to level accusations against Israel, alleging acts that he described as genocide. In London, British authorities announced sanctions against an Iranian banker, Aliakbar Ansari, including asset freezes, director disqualification, and travel bans, as part of widening financial pressure on individuals linked to Iran’s security apparatus. Iran’s foreign minister charged the United States with bullying the world, warning that current actions risk further international confrontation in the wake of President Trump’s order to resume testing nuclear weapons after a 33-year pause. The United States has framed the restart of weapon testing as a return to a deterrence posture, while allies and adversaries alike weighed the potential for broader destabilization in an already volatile region.

In Washington, a former US cyberintelligence executive pleaded guilty to charges connected to stealing trade secrets and selling cyber tools to a Russian broker, a case underscoring ongoing concerns about technology and security in geostrategic competition. At Ole Miss, a debate over Israel drew controversy as a student pressed a question about antisemitism and campus politics; Senator JD Vance responded with an America-first framing, underscoring his position on Israel while signaling that his support is not presented as unequivocal love of every policy.

Back in Israel, a serious fire in Harish left four people with minor injuries, including a young child, with paramedics transporting victims to hospital for treatment. The incident added to a difficult reporting period for local rescue services amid a broader atmosphere of tension and security concerns along the country’s perimeters.

In other developments touching Jewish life and culture, a program known as Shefa Jewish Psychedelic Support has grown from education into experience. Founded by Rabbi Zac Kamenetz, Shefa couples Jewish prayer and ritual with psychedelic-assisted therapies to address trauma and a fractured sense of identity in a post-October 7 world. The organization emphasizes that it does not promote illegal activity and that its aim is healing through spiritual integration, drawing on Hasidic and Kabbalistic traditions. Retreats have taken place in Berkeley, with plans for a legal psilocybin retreat in Oregon, featuring Jewish and Indigenous facilitators. Participants describe the approach as helping them coexist with their Jewish identity and trauma in a way that feels authentic and integrated, rather than compartmentalized.

In a broader cultural note, a senior biographer reflected on Philip Roth’s enduring relevance to Jewish discourse. Steven Zipperstein’s new biography, Philip Roth: Stung by Life, argues that Roth’s work remains essential for understanding the modern Jewish condition in America, showcasing how his fiction pressed questions about freedom, assimilation, Zionism, and the tension between diaspora and homeland. The examination of Roth’s life underscores a larger conversation about what it means to be Jewish in a broader American narrative, and how literature can illuminate the complexities of identity, belonging, and responsibility in a world that continues to challenge both thought and memory.

On the domestic political front, New York City’s mayor warned that antisemitism is spreading “like a cancer” across the city and the country, calling for a measured but firm response. He criticized a government exhibit featuring inflammatory images and slogans and urged leaders to prevent antisemitism from becoming mainstream. The mayor tied the threat to a broader political climate and stressed that support for Israel does not equate to hatred of others, while noting that incidents against Jews remain disproportionately high in the city. The conversation also touched on the city’s diverse Jewish community and the historical role of solidarity across civil rights movements, with the mayor encouraging a shared commitment to reduce hate and promote dialogue.

Taken together, these developments reflect a region still navigating a precarious ceasefire framework, ongoing difficulties in securing the return of captives and remains, and a broader international climate marked by competing narratives about security, sovereignty, and humanitarian concerns. The United States continues to balance alliance commitments with allies in Europe and the region while facing domestic political pressure on how to address Middle East policy. In the Jewish world, communities confront trauma and seek pathways to resilience, whether through traditional religious life, cultural dialogue, or new approaches to healing and meaning. As new diplomatic steps emerge and public debate evolves, the imperative remains clear: to pursue peace where possible, safeguard civilian lives, and preserve a clear, factual record of events for audiences around the world.

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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