HEADLINES
- Israel pounds Hezbollah depots near civilians
- Lior Rudaeff remains returned amid fragile ceasefire
- Palestinian olive harvest crushed by security zones

The time is now 9:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

Across the region the delicate balance between violence and diplomacy persists as Israel’s northern front with Hezbollah and its Gaza war posture remain intertwined with broader regional dynamics. In the north, the Israeli military says it carried out large-scale strikes in southern Lebanon targeting Hezbollah’s infrastructure and allied forces, accusing the group of rearming and rebuilding capabilities after a period of heightened activity. The European Union joined calls for restraint, urging Israel to observe the ceasefire provisions and avoid actions that could escalate tensions, while Lebanon’s government and regional actors warned against actions that could destabilize the fragile security arrangement along the border. The Israeli military described the strikes as aimed at disrupting weapon depots and other military assets, noting that some depots were located close to civilian sites and arguing that Hezbollah uses civilian areas to shield its operations.

In parallel, the war’s broader diplomatic footprint remains active. The EU emphasized adherence to Resolution 1701 and the November 2024 ceasefire framework, urging all Lebanese actors, especially Hezbollah, to refrain from moves that could inflame the situation and to focus on preserving the gains of the ceasefire. Israel has said it will continue to respond to immediate threats as permitted under the agreement, even as it evacuates residents of certain villages when necessary to protect civilians and infrastructure. Iran condemned the cross-border strikes as “savage” and appealed for international intervention, underscoring how regional powers continue to weigh in on the conflict’s trajectory.

Alongside these dynamics, the war's human dimension remains a central focus. In Gaza, the Israeli military identified the latest hostage remains returned from Gaza, naming the body as Lior Rudaeff, a 61-year-old volunteer ambulance driver killed in the October 7, 2023 Hamas assault. The exchange process under the US-brokered truce continues to echo across both sides: Israeli officials say several bodies have been returned since the ceasefire, with five more remains still to come. Palestinian authorities, including the Gaza health ministry, have tallied casualties on their side—nearly 69,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza, most of them civilians, alongside reports of more than 1,200 Israelis and a smaller number of Israeli soldiers killed since the war began. The pace and clarity of the body-recovery process remain points of contention between the parties and their international backers, including the United States, which has framed the ceasefire and hostage exchange as a way to consolidate momentum toward broader humanitarian relief and a political resolution.

In the West Bank, life and farming have been shadowed by a new wave of security measures that Palestinians describe as restrictive and uneven. Farmers say they are increasingly blocked from accessing their olive groves during harvest season by closed military zone orders, sometimes issued with little notice or explanation and, critics allege, coordinated with settlers. NGOs and legal advocates say the measures amount to a creeping restriction on Palestinian land access, complicating a seasonal lifeline for thousands of families. The army has said that closed zones are issued to protect harvests and public safety, while stressing that Palestinian civilians normally may harvest in areas under Palestinian civil control, with coordination when necessary. In several villages near settlements, Palestinian farmers report detentions and expulsions, and in some cases deportations of activists and international volunteers assisting in the harvest. The olive season, a recurring flashpoint, has seen clashes in recent weeks between settlers and Palestinians, with violence and intimidation reported in multiple communities. While some local harvests proceed in coordination with security authorities, in others, settlers and soldiers are reported to be restricting access in ways that farmers say undermine livelihoods and rights to their own land.

Beyond the border regions, regional developments continue to unfold. Reports from Israeli and regional media indicate that Turkey has issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and several senior Israeli officials, including the defense minister, the security minister, the head of the army, and the navy commander. The exact scope, jurisdiction, and legal basis for those warrants were not confirmed in the summaries available, and authorities in Turkey did not publicly confirm the reports at the time of this briefing. Still, the episode underscores how regional rivalries and diplomatic strains color the broader security picture and the way different capitals are watching Israel’s actions and the Gaza war.

Amid these cross-border dynamics, humanitarian teams have been active near Gaza’s front lines. Red Cross and Hamas teams entered Rafah’s Al-Janina neighborhood in a search operation reportedly focused on locating the body of a kidnapped Israeli hostage as negotiations over Gaza’s humanitarian pause and ceasefire talks continue. Israel has weighed new proposals on Gaza amid stalled talks, while international actors press for visible steps to alleviate civilian suffering and prevent a broader regional spillover.

Looking ahead, observers say the immediate questions center on whether the Lebanon front can stay within the lines of the November 2024 ceasefire while Hezbollah rebuilds capabilities, whether the hostage and body-return timeline under the US-brokered framework can proceed with greater transparency, and how the West Bank harvest season and its security restrictions will affect daily life and stability in the days ahead. In Washington, the administration continues to describe support for Israel’s security needs in the face of multiple threats, while reaffirming commitments to humanitarian access and international diplomacy aimed at reducing civilian harm and laying groundwork for future talks.

In sum, the region remains in a state of heightened vigilance. On one side, Israeli forces seek to prevent Hamas and Hezbollah from regaining what they call offensive leverage; on the other, regional and international observers urge restraint and a careful path toward de-escalation. The coming days are likely to test the durability of the current ceasefire framework and the ability of regional actors to balance security concerns with the imperatives of civilian protection and political stability.

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.

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