War in Israel: Update on Current Situation

November 6, 2025 - October 7 War, Day 769, 4 hostage bodies remain in captivity. A deceased hostage is expected to be returned today.

Having raised an astonishing $908 million in two years, Jewish Federations are winding down our post-October 7th Israel Emergency Campaign and shifting focus to "Rebuild Israel," a holistic, long-term recovery effort. Details of this new plan will be unveiled at the 2025 General Assembly, which commences on Sunday in Washington, DC. See our blog post.

Gaza Ceasefire and Regional Security

• The Gaza ceasefire continues to face external and internal pressures. Documents circulated within the US-led Gaza ceasefire monitoring hub reportedly indicated US unease about the truce's durability, a report dismissed by a State Department spokesperson, who reaffirmed the administration's commitment to President Trump's peace effort.
• The issue of the approximately 200 Hamas operatives who are trapped in tunnels in Rafah remains unresolved. Reports indicate the US is pressing Israel to grant safe passage to the terrorists—provided they disarm—in exchange for the return of deceased hostage bodies, showing the persistent linkage between these issues.
• The US has taken the lead role at the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) overseeing the truce, effectively sidelining Israel in some key decision-making, including on issues related to humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza.
• Reports indicate the U.S. is planning a new $500 million military base near the Gaza border to house several thousand international troops, whose mission would be to maintain the ceasefire inside the Strip. This significant policy shift is seen as Washington's determination to assume a leading role in Gaza.
• The US is seeking a UN Security Council resolution to authorize a two-year mandate for both the ISF (expected to be around 20,000 troops) and the "Board of Peace" transitional governance body. The resolution would also enshrine the entire 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan into international law.
• Progress on the next phase of the ceasefire, which includes Hamas disarmament and the deployment of an International Stabilization Force (ISF), appears slow.
• Egypt is having a diplomatic moment, having hosted the negotiations that secured the ceasefire. Egyptian Intelligence Chief Hassan Rashad made a rare trip to Israel this past month to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu when the truce appeared to be in jeopardy. Egypt is now playing a crucial role in the post-ceasefire environment, pushing for transitional arrangements that allow the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority to take control as a step toward potential eventual Palestinian statehood.
• Israel struck Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, which the Israeli military confirmed began after warning civilians to evacuate certain buildings in three Lebanese villages. Hezbollah rejected the prospect of direct political talks and vowed to defend itself. The IDF continues to warn that it will not tolerate the rebuilding of Hezbollah's arsenal.
• Watch this video from CNN to learn what Fareed Zakaria sees as the five most important things to understand about the regional political and diplomatic response to the peace deal:  Fareed's take: What the Gaza ceasefire reveals about the new Middle East.

Remains of Unidentified Hostage Set to be Released Today

• The body of a deceased hostage, found today north of Khan Younis, is scheduled to be handed over to Israel tonight at 8 pm., according to a joint statement from Hamas and Islamic Jihad. The terror groups did not specify the hostage's identity. Four deceased hostages remain in Gaza.
• The remains of Hadar Goldin, 23, were transferred out of the Gaza Strip on Sunday. Goldin was killed and taken captive by Hamas after the ceasefire ending Operation Protective Edge in the summer of 2014 went into effect. Goldin was laid to rest on Tuesday in a ceremony attended by tens of thousands, including the Chief of Staff of the IDF. See our blog post.
• Former captive Nimrod Cohen stated this week that he is certain Hamas knows the whereabouts of the deceased hostages’ remains and is deliberately withholding them in violation of the truce deal for political leverage.

Settler Violence in the West Bank

• Dozens of Israeli settlers launched a major arson attack in the West Bank on Tuesday between Nablus and Tulkarem, setting fire to a factory, several trucks, and surrounding farmland. 
• Reports indicate at least four Palestinians were injured and evacuated for medical treatment, with one mayor claiming a total of 10 Palestinians were hurt.
• Israeli President Isaac Herzog issued a strong condemnation of a "shocking and serious" wave of settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, calling for decisive action by all state authorities to "eradicate the phenomenon." 
• Numerous other Israeli leaders have condemned the attacks and are demanding that order be restored.
• The criticism follows a surge in attacks, including one where masked settlers attacked the villages of Beit Lid and Deir Sharaf, prompting the army chief also to state that the military would not tolerate the criminal minority.
• The IDF and police confirmed that four Israeli suspects were arrested and taken into custody for questioning on suspicion of extremist violence.

Proposal for Commission of Inquiry Into 10/7

• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected opposition demands to form a state commission of inquiry into the failures surrounding Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attacks, arguing that such a probe would lack broad public support. Instead, he proposed creating a government-led commission that he said would represent “all parts of the nation” and gain greater public trust.
• Critics accused him of trying to control the investigation and avoid accountability, noting that polls show most Israelis support a formal state inquiry.
• Opposition leaders, including Yair Lapid and Avigdor Liberman, said Netanyahu’s stance reflects his refusal to take responsibility for the October 7 catastrophe.

Ron Dermer Resigns

• Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer resigned from his ministerial position on Tuesday, having served since late 2022. 
• Dermer, considered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s closest advisor and key diplomat with the US, cited a promise to his family to serve for no more than two years. However, he extended his term twice to focus on the Gaza war, hostage negotiations, and the threat of Iran's nuclear capabilities.
• In his resignation letter, the US-born official acknowledged the government's failures leading up to the October 7, 2023 attacks, but lauded its subsequent wartime response, praising Netanyahu’s leadership. Dermer stated that while October 7th was Israel's "darkest day" since its founding, the government's response to the "seven-front war" that followed was "worthy.”

Further Reading

• Twenty Questions (and Expert Answers) About the Next Phase of an Israel-Hamas Deal" by The Atlantic Council
• "What Comes Next for Israel-Hamas Ceasefire?" by The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)sd
• "The 'Sde Teiman' Affairs: The Rule of Law Must Always Be the Guiding Compass" by  The Israel Democracy Institute (IDI)Z

War in Israel: Update on Current Situation

November 6, 2025 - October 7 War, Day 762, 6 hostage bodies remain in captivity

Additional hostage bodies returned to Israel. Ceasefire is shaky, but holds.

Gaza Ceasefire

• The Gaza ceasefire remains in place, despite some sporadic breaches and flare-ups, with all sides seemingly taking measures to ensure it holds steady.
• Israel and Hamas each now control roughly half of the area of Gaza each. The territory is divided by the “Yellow Line.”
• Approximately 200 Hamas terrorists remain trapped in tunnels in Rafah, within the Israeli-controlled sector. The 200 are isolated behind the Yellow Line, as negotiators look for a solution. While some have proposed safe passage for the Hamas members, potentially via Red Cross vehicles and contingent on disarmament, Prime Minister Netanyahu has publicly rejected the idea, citing security concerns. Some Israeli officials argue that the terrorists should be captured or eliminated.
• There have not been reports on significant progress in negotiations for the next stage of the ceasefire, which is supposed to include Hamas disarmament, a fuller Israeli withdrawal, and plans for new governance in Gaza.
• Nonetheless, President Donald Trump confirmed that he thinks the deployment of an international group (the International Security Force - ISF) in Gaza will begin in January 2025. The force will be composed of Arab and international partners and is designed to oversee security, disarm Hamas, and support reconstruction efforts.
• The UN Security Council is currently reviewing a draft US resolution that would authorize the force for a two-year mandate, starting in early 2025, with the potential to extend through 2027. The force would operate alongside a transitional governance body called the Board of Peace, which Trump also proposed. The proposed head of the Board is former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
• The IDF is reportedly preparing to escalate strikes against Hezbollah following repeated ceasefire violations by the Lebanon-based terror group. Hezbollah has rebuilt its arsenal since the November 2024 ceasefire, and the US is increasingly doubtful that the Lebanese government will move to fully disarm the group. Although Hezbollah’s weapon “supply chain” was briefly disrupted after the Assad regime in Syria fell in December, it is apparently being reconstituted.
• According to Haaretz, Hezbollah has partially restored its weapons pipeline and is again receiving Iranian arms via Iraq and Syria. Those officials warn that Hezbollah’s rearmament is outpacing the Lebanese Army’s limited efforts to restrain it. IDF sources say the army is avoiding direct confrontation and doing little to halt Hezbollah’s rebuilding. Israel is now weighing next steps and is expected to intensify military pressure to slow Hezbollah’s recovery.
• The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen have not resumed firing at Israel since the ceasefire took effect.
• A recent poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research shows that a majority of Palestinians still consider Hamas’ October 7 attack “correct.” Support was highest in Judea and Samaria at 59 percent, and 44 percent in Gaza, totaling 53 percent overall.
  • Despite two years of suffering in Gaza, only 14 percent of Palestinians blame Hamas for the hardships, while 54 percent place the blame on Israel.
  • The survey also found that 53 percent of Palestinians oppose a two-state solution, with much of this opposition linked to skepticism over its feasibility; 41 percent still see it as possible.
  • When asked how to achieve Palestinian independence, a plurality—40 percent overall, including 35 percent in Gaza—supported “armed struggle,” indicating that even after years of conflict and destruction, many still view violence as the path forward.
• The government last week directed that a humanitarian and medical aid delegation be dispatched from the State of Israel to Jamaica, following the hurricane that struck the area and caused numerous casualties.

Bodies of Hostages Released

• Seven additional bodies have been returned to Israel in the past week.
• Israel has now positively identified the body returned last night by Hamas as that of 21-year-old Joshua Lolitu Mollel, a Tanzanian agronomy student who came to Israel for agricultural training. He was killed on Kibbutz Nahal Oz on October 7; his body was taken to Gaza. Joshua had arrived in Israel just 19 days before the massacre, when he was kidnapped and then murdered on camera. He leaves behind his parents and four siblings.
• The body returned to Israel the previous night has been identified as that of Staff Sergeant Itay Chen, a 19-year-old soldier who held US, Israeli, and German citizenship. Chen was killed when his tank was struck at the Nahal Oz army base, and his body was taken into Gaza. He was the last American hostage being held by Hamas.
• On Sunday, the body of Captain Omer Neutra, an Israeli-American soldier killed during the October 7 attack, was returned to Israel after 758 days in captivity. Neutra, who grew up in Plainview, Long Island, was serving as a tank commander in the IDF when he was killed and taken hostage.
• Neutra’s parents, Orna and Ronen, who had become prominent advocates for hostage families, expressed both relief and sadness, saying, “For 758 days, we lived between hope and heartbreak. Today, that long nightmare ends with the knowledge that Omer is finally home.” President Trump confirmed the transfer and spoke with the family; he said he was “very happy to have it done,” although he acknowledged their pain.
• Neutra’s remains were transferred by Hamas via the Red Cross, alongside those of two other hostages, Colonel Assaf Hamami and Sergeant Oz Daniel, both killed on October 7 and abducted into Gaza. All three were positively identified by Israeli forensic authorities.
• On the morning of October 7, Hamami was with his five-year-old son Alon at the Gaza Division base. Entrusting his son to other soldiers and asking them to keep him safe, Asaf went out to fight the invading Hamas terrorists and fell defending Kibbutz Nirim. He left behind his wife and three children. Oz Daniel, 19, was also killed on October 7 while defending Israel in a tank near Kibbutz Nirim. His body was abducted by Hamas and held in Gaza for over two years.
• Last weekend, two other bodies were returned to Israel and positively identified as belonging to Amiram Cooper and Sahar Baruch. Cooper was the last hostage from Kibbutz Nir Oz.
• Six bodies are still being held in Gaza, five Israelis and one foreign national. One of the Israelis is Hadar Goldin, whose body has been held since 2014.
• Despite earlier, more pessimistic predictions, Israeli media reports that officials increasingly believe that Hamas knows the location of all of the remaining bodies, but may be deliberately withholding their return for the purpose of leverage, such as to demand safe passage for the Hamas operatives trapped in tunnels under IDF control (see above). Under the ceasefire agreement, all hostages, living or deceased, were supposed to be returned by October 13.
• Watch this moving interview with recently released Israeli hostage Yosef-Haim Ohana.

Major Israeli Scandal #1 – Sde Teiman

The “Sde Teiman Affair” has rocked Israel in recent days.

• Sde Teiman is a military base in southern Israel that was repurposed as a detention facility for Palestinian terrorists from Gaza in the early days of the war.
• In July 2024, a Palestinian detainee was hospitalized with severe injuries, including broken ribs and a rectal tear, allegedly perpetrated by IDF reservists during a search operation.
• In August 2024, Israel Channel 12 aired leaked security footage showing the detainee being taken behind riot shields and allegedly sexually assaulted. The footage caused international outrage and domestic political turmoil.
• Five IDF reservist soldiers were indicted in February 2025 for aggravated abuse and serious bodily harm. Legal proceedings against them continue.
• The leak of the video, which also harmed the prosecution’s case, was initially investigated by the IDF’s legal division, but no source for the leak was identified at the time. The footage was classified and part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
• Last week, it was revealed that the leak had been authorized by then-Military Advocate General Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, who admitted to doing so in an effort to counter right-wing accusations that her office was unfairly targeting soldiers.
• Tomer-Yerushalmi, who was the second-ever woman to hold the rank of major-general in the IDF, resigned at the end of last week, becoming the first major general in IDF history to step down due to a criminal investigation.
• On this past Sunday, she disappeared for several hours, prompting a large-scale search after her family found a note at home that was interpreted as a possible suicide message. Her car was discovered near Hatzuk Beach in Tel Aviv.
• She was later found alive and wet on a beach in Herzliya, without her phone. Authorities suspect the disappearance may have been staged to destroy evidence.
• That night, Tomer-Yerushalmi was arrested and taken into custody, where she remains. She is now under investigation for obstruction of justice, fraud, breach of trust, and abuse of office.
• Former chief military prosecutor Col. Matan Solomosh was also arrested; he has been suspected of helping cover up the leak. He has now been released to house arrest.
• The affair has sparked a fierce political backlash, with right-wing politicians accusing Tomer-Yerushalmi of betraying IDF soldiers and using the leak to damage the military’s image. One Likud MK claimed her disappearance was a “ruse to regain the narrative.”
• The case has intensified political polarization in Israel, with some calling for the indictments against the soldiers to be dropped and others demanding accountability for both the abuse and the leak.
• Prime Minister Netanyahu has said the leak caused “perhaps the most severe propaganda attack that the State of Israel has experienced since its establishment.”

Major Israeli Scandal #2: The Histadrut

• The Histadrut is Israel’s national trade union federation and the country’s largest and most powerful labor organization.
• At the beginning of this week, Israeli police arrested Histadrut Chairman Arnon Bar-David, his wife, and dozens of senior officials from the federation as part of a sweeping corruption investigation.
• The probe, dubbed “Hand Shaking Hand,” followed a two-year undercover operation by the Israel Police’s anti-fraud unit, and centers on allegations of bribery, fraud, breach of trust, money laundering, and tax offenses.
• Authorities suspect a “give-and-take” system in which senior Histadrut officials and businesspeople exchanged job appointments and board positions for financial benefits, including lucrative insurance contracts.
• Raids were conducted at over 50 locations, including the Histadrut headquarters, municipal offices, and public corporations such as El Al, Israel Railways, and the Jewish National Fund.
• Over 350 individuals are expected to be questioned, and the case is being described as one of the most serious public-sector corruption scandals in Israel in recent years.

Further Reading

• Why Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates Must Lead Gaza Reconstruction
• Explainer: The New Outline for the IDF Draft Exemption Law
• Away from Military Bases, Close to Terror: The New Iran
• The Strategic Fruits of Israel’s Military Victory

War in Israel: Update on Current Situation

October 30, 2025 - October 7 War, Day 755, 13 hostage bodies remain in captivity

Bodies of Hostages Released

• Despite stipulations in the ceasefire agreement that called on Hamas to release all 28 bodies of the hostages it was holding within 72 hours, that deadline passed with only a small portion of the deceased hostages being returned.
• Hamas has said it will transfer two additional bodies of hostages to the Red Cross today, but Israel remains skeptical that the move will take place, following numerous broken Hamas promises in the past week. A few days ago, Hamas announced it had “located” the bodies of two additional hostages, Amiram Cooper, 85, and Sahar Baruch, 25—both murdered in captivity.
• The body parts returned by Hamas on Tuesday turned out not to be from one of the 13 remaining bodies the terror group is holding. Instead, they were identified as belonging to Ofir Tzarfati, 27, who was murdered at the Nova festival and abducted to Gaza. Most of his body was recovered by the IDF more than a year ago and was buried in Israel.
• IDF drones caught on film scenes of Hamas removing Ofir’s remains from an apartment, and then using a tractor to bury them. Hamas then falsely claimed to the Red Cross that they had “found a body.” The Red Cross condemned Hamas’ actions after viewing the footage.
• While thirteen hostage bodies have still not been returned from Gaza, Israeli sources estimate that Hamas knows where most of them can be found. Tragically, the IDF also believes that the location of four or five bodies is unknown.

International Diplomacy

• Negotiations continue on Phase 2 of the ceasefire agreement. Still under discussion are the issues of disarming Hamas, the IDF’s withdrawal, the future governance of Gaza, etc. Some commentators feel that the negotiations may not progress far, leaving a de facto situation for the medium-to-long term, where Hamas remains in charge of 50% of Gaza, with Israel holding the rest.
• The procession of top American officials to Israel has continued. Following visits by President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Rubio, and Morgan Ortagus (the State Department’s representative to the United Nations), the Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine and  Energy Secretary Chris Wright are also expected to arrive.
• A new base was established by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) in Kiryat Gat to monitor Gaza developments. The facility, known as the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC), tracks aid flows, ceasefire compliance, shortages of essentials, and the search for hostage bodies. US officials describe its mission as “minute-by-minute oversight,” but some Israeli officials say it effectively limits IDF responses to Hamas violations. The American flag is the only one flying over the base, which houses around 200 American troops alongside IDF personnel. In addition, soldiers from Germany, France, the UK, Spain, Australia, Greece, Jordan, and the UAE are also present, marking the first time Arab forces have been stationed on Israeli soil. Civilian aid groups and the International Committee of the Red Cross are also operating from the base.
• The Mossad has exposed a senior Iranian official, Sardar Amar, commander of Corps 11,000 under the Quds Force, as the mastermind behind failed terror plots in Australia, Greece, and Germany over the last year or two. These operations were part of Iran’s expanded efforts to target Israeli and Jewish interests worldwide following October 7. Amar’s network utilized foreign recruits, criminal proxies, and covert communication methods to evade detection. Still, its repeated failures led to arrests and diplomatic backlash, including the expulsion of Iran’s ambassador from Australia and a formal reprimand in Germany. The Mossad emphasized its ongoing commitment both to thwarting Iranian threats and to protecting Israeli and Jewish lives around the world. 

Israeli Politics

• Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chair Boaz Bismuth has proposed a new revised draft law for ultra-Orthodox conscription.
• The new bill would eliminate the quota for Haredi combat soldiers, to be replaced by non-combat service.
• Civilian-security service, such as volunteering with ZAKA, would now also count toward ultra-Orthodox service quotas.
• The definition of “ultra-Orthodox” has also been softened to include anyone who studied in a yeshiva for two years (instead of three, as under the previous proposal).
• Driver’s license suspension, which is one of the more controversial aspects of earlier bills,  will apply only to new draft dodgers; existing license holders will retain permits.
• Nonetheless, politicians and leaders from both sides of the debate, Haredim as well as parliamentarians from the Opposition, have rejected the proposal.
• A mass protest by the ultra-Orthodox population is set to take place later today in Jerusalem against any efforts to draft haredim to the IDF. Organizers have dubbed it the “One Million Man March.” Roads in the capital, as well as the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv Highway (one of the country’s major arteries), are expected to close for many hours.

Israeli Companies in New York

• Ahead of the mayoral elections in New York, a new report has been released by the United States-Israel Business Alliance.
• According to the study, Israeli companies have created nearly 30,000 direct jobs in New York City, with an average salary exceeding $160,000.
• These 590 companies have contributed $12.4 billion to the city’s economy and nearly $20 billion in gross economic output.
• They’ve also indirectly supported over 50,000 additional jobs and generated more than $8 billion in total earnings.
• Aaron Kaplowitz, the president of the alliance, said, “Israeli innovation is indispensable to New York—and to the world.”

Further Reading

• Survey on the Agreement to End the War and Release the Hostages
• Will the Gaza Ceasefire Hold?
• How to regain the upper hand over Hamas, as it withholds hostages’ bodies, attacks IDF, plots revival
• Hezbollah’s Rehabilitation Composite in Lebanon — Situation Report

War in Israel: Update on Current Situation

October 23, 2025 - October 7 War, Day 748, 13 hostage bodies remain in captivity

The ceasefire in Gaza holds as bodies of additional hostages are returned. A “spectacular parade” of high-level US visitors to Israel continues as VP Vance wraps up visit. Secretary of State Rubio to arrive tonight.

Gaza Ceasefire

• The ceasefire in Gaza is holding. As agreed, the IDF currently maintains control of around half the area of the Strip, with Hamas controlling the other half (despite its severely depleted resources and capabilities).
• The Hamas-controlled area runs along the coastal strip and is divided from the Israel-controlled zone by the “Yellow Line.”
• On Sunday, in a major breach of the ceasefire, two IDF soldiers were killed and one severely injured in Rafah, an area under Israeli control.  It occurred when their position was attacked by pro-Hamas forces with rocket-propelled grenades. Israel responded with widespread airstrikes across Gaza, claiming Hamas fighters had violated the agreement. Hamas denied involvement, stating it had no contact with the fighters in Rafah.
• The two fallen soldiers were Major Yaniv Kula, 26, and Staff Sergeant Itay Yavetz, 21, both from Modi’in.
• In a private meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner delivered a clear message from President Trump: Israel has the right to defend itself against terrorist attacks, but must avoid actions that could jeopardize the fragile ceasefire with Hamas. Meanwhile, President Trump publicly warned Hamas that if it violates the agreement, Israel would be free to respond immediately and forcefully, stating that he would have Israel “eradicate them within two minutes.”
• Despite the recent flare-up, Trump maintained that the ceasefire remains intact and expressed belief that Hamas leadership is committed to the deal.
• After more than a day of fighting, both sides agreed to resume the ceasefire. The breach notwithstanding, many in Israel noted that a similar incident occurred following the ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah in the north. Then, the terror group attacked Israeli forces days after the agreement went into effect. Israel retaliated heavily, signaling that zero tolerance towards any attacks or breaches of the deal. The ceasefire resumed quickly and remained in place afterwards.
• While the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen were not formally part of the deal between Israel and Hamas, the terror group announced that they would stop firing at Israel while the ceasefire is in place. As a result, there have been no sirens since the deal took effect.
• Against significant public objections, the Israeli government has officially approved renaming the current conflict to the “War of Revival” (Milchemet Hatkuma), moving away from the commonly used “October 7 War.” However, many Israelis noted that history shows that while governments can propose names, it’s usually the public that determines which one is used. After the Six-Day War in 1967 and the First Lebanon War in the 1980s, public consensus ultimately shaped the terminology.

Bodies of Hostages Released

• Despite stipulations in the ceasefire agreement that called on Hamas to release the bodies of all 28 deceased hostages it was holding within 72 hours, that deadline passed with just a small number of remains being returned.
• Hamas has repeatedly said that it does not know where the rest of the bodies are. However, under pressure from the mediators – the United States, Egypt, and Qatar – and other parties, the terror group has “found” additional hostages, and has returned one or two at a time.
• On Tuesday, the bodies of Tamir Adar, 38, and Arie Zalmanowicz, 85, were returned to Israel. Both were residents of Kibbutz Nir Oz. Tamar was killed while fighting Hamas terrorists on October 7, and his body was taken into Gaza. Arie, one of Nir Oz’s founders, was kidnapped alive and, according to the IDF, murdered in captivity in November 2023.
• The day before, the body of Tal Haimi from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak was returned to Israel for burial. Haimi was a member of the kibbutz emergency squad whose wife and three young children remained in their safe room on October 7 while he left to defend the Kibbutz. Haimi was killed battling terrorists and Hamas took his body to Gaza. His wife later gave birth to their fourth child.
• On Saturday night, Hamas returned the bodies of two other hostages. One was identified as Ronen Engel, 54. On October 7, Ronen volunteered as a medic in Kibbutz Nir Oz before he was murdered by Hamas terrorists who also kidnapped his wife, Karina and their daughters Mika and Yuval. Karina, Mika, and Yuval were released in November 2023. On Sunday, Mika posted on Instagram: “After 744 days, my father finally returned to Israel. It’s not what we hoped, it’s not what we wished for him, but the day is finally here.”
• The second body was of Sonthaya Oakkharasri, 30, a Thai farmer who was murdered on October 7 while working near Kibbutz Be’eri. He left behind a seven-year-old daughter.
• As of today, the bodies of 15 have been returned under the new agreement and 13 remain with Hamas.
• Egyptian and other international groups are assisting in trying to locate additional hostages’ remains. However, Israel claims that Hamas knows where numerous other bodies are located and are leveraging their return as a negotiating tactic.

International Diplomacy

• Negotiations have begun on Phase 2 of the ceasefire agreement that will involve discussions on disarming Hamas, the IDF’s withdrawal, the future governance of Gaza, and other issues.
• According to Israeli media, Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar are quietly coordinating with Hamas to shape the future “technocratic government” in Gaza. Hamas is reportedly selecting half of the ministers, who will be sympathetic to its agenda but not openly affiliated. The other half is being chosen by the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, whose proposed list was shared with Hamas by Egypt to ensure its approval. If accurate, this arrangement contradicts the Trump peace plan’s stipulation that Hamas should have no influence over Gaza’s future governance.
• Following the visit by President Trump to Israel last week, Israeli media have described a “spectacular parade” of top American officials coming to Israel.
• Vice President JD Vance arrived in the Jewish state on Tuesday. Vance has held meetings with Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Herzog, Defense Minister Katz, and senior IDF officials. His visit focused on reinforcing the Gaza ceasefire and discussing the next phase of the peace plan.
• The Vice President was joined by Trump’s Mid-East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, CentCom Commander Brad Cooper, and senior advisor Jared Kushner.
• Vance emphasized that the U.S. is not in Israel to “babysit” the ceasefire, but “to support a partnership.” He expressed optimism about the deal’s durability and the potential for long-term quiet, while acknowledging the complexity of coordinating an international security force for Gaza.
• Vance also inaugurated the U.S.-led Civil-Military Coordination Center in Kiryat Gat, which will oversee ceasefire logistics and Gaza’s rehabilitation. The center will be staffed by approximately 200 US military personnel.
• The UK has sent a number of officers to participate in the multinational task force that will oversee and maintain the ceasefire in Gaza under the leadership of the US. Britain will join Egypt, Jordan, Canada, and Qatar in that task force.
• Those who have met with Vance say that he has expressed “foundational support” for Israel and is “sympathetic to the Jewish state and its needs.” The Vice President has also said that he won’t force Israel to accept Turkish soldiers operating in Gaza. He recognizes and respects Jerusalem’s concerns over certain aspects of Washington’s plan for the Strip.
• Kushner said during the visit that the rehabilitation of Gaza can already begin in areas under the control of the IDF, where Hamas is not in power.
• As Vance’s three-day visit wraps up this afternoon, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to arrive in Israel for a two-day visit. His agenda also includes meetings with Israeli leadership to support the ceasefire and advance the second phase of the Trump peace initiative.

Israeli Politics

• Netanyahu reportedly fired the head of the National Security Council, Tzahi Hanegbi, who acted as a close confidante on security matters to the prime minister. While Hanegbi did not state any reasons for his departure, Israeli media reported that he had had numerous recent disagreements with him. In his announcement, Hanegbi said that there should be a comprehensive investigation into the failures of October 7, including an examination of his own role.
• At the same time, it is understood that Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer will leave his position next month. Dermer is widely regarded as the person closest to Netanyahu on all diplomatic and security matters. Netanyahu reportedly offered Dermer a coveted reserved slot on the Likud party’s list of candidates for the Knesset in the next elections if he stays, but Dermer refused the offer.
• This week, the Knesset approved two sovereignty-related bills in preliminary readings.
  • The first, introduced by MK Avi Maoz of the Noam party, seeks to apply Israeli law and sovereignty to all settlements in Judea and Samaria. The initial reading passed 25–24, amid a boycott by most of the Likud party and criticism from international actors concerned about its impact on the Gaza ceasefire.
  • The second bill, proposed by opposition MK Avigdor Liberman, the leader of Yisrael Beiteinu, aims to annex the settlement of Ma’ale Adumim near Jerusalem. With almost 40,000 residents, Ma’ale Adumim is one of the largest Jewish settlements; there is near consensus in Israel that the city will remain under Israeli control. That proposal passed 32–9.
  • Both bills now move to the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee for further deliberation. Without government backing, they are unlikely to pass.
  • Many Israelis noted the irony of opposition members pushing a bill that seems to serve a rightist agenda, and the center-right coalition voting against. Commentators suggest that Liberman’s goal was to pass the law in the hope that it would anger President Trump, and, by extension, embarrass Netanyahu. At the same time, by voting against the law, Likud supporters – and others on the right - would be disappointed with the prime minister and his party.
  • President Trump said that Israel would ‘lose all of its support’ from the US if it annexed the West Bank, and Vice President Vance said that the Knesset vote was “very stupid” and an “insult.”
• The ultra-Orthodox Shas party announced it is stepping back from coalition roles after the government failed to pass a draft exemption law for Haredim. While this move doesn’t formally remove Shas from the coalition, it signals pressure on Netanyahu to act quickly. Despite the announcement, party leader Aryeh Deri continues to participate in key cabinet meetings, including a recent one on Gaza.
  • The coalition also faced internal rebellion when Likud MK Yuli Edelstein broke ranks to support Avi Maoz’s sovereignty bill (see above). In response, Likud removed Edelstein from the influential Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, just months after he was ousted as its chair.
  • Coalition discipline further unraveled as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir also voted for Maoz’s bill, defying coalition lines. Maoz, representing the one-seat Noam party, pushed the bill forward despite significant pressure to withdraw it.
  • The governing coalition also failed to block several opposition bills, adding to the sense of instability.
  • Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed frustration with the timing of the sovereignty votes, especially during Vice President Vance’s visit to Israel. He warned Smotrich that such moves were diplomatically provocative, but those who backed the bills appeared unfazed, signaling growing defiance within the coalition.
  • Elections in Israel must be held by October 2026, but all signals suggest they will take place before then.

Hostage Releases

• In January, Israeli musician Yoni Bloch released an AI-generated music video titled Sof Tov (“Good Ending”), which captured the collective yearning of Israelis for the release of all hostages and an end to the war. The video resonated deeply, especially as it portrayed scenes of national celebration and hope that felt distant at the time. One particularly emotional moment came when freed hostage Aviva Siegel watched the video while her husband, Keith remained in Hamas captivity.
• Now, with all living hostages returned home, Bloch has re-created the video using real footage of reunions and celebrations across Israel. In an earlier interview, Bloch explained that the original video’s power lay in its blend of optimism and fantasy, serving not as a reflection of reality but as a reminder to keep dreaming. Israelis dared to dream—and that dream came true.

Further Reading

• No ceasefire for the Jews
• Stopping Houthi Attacks: How to Secure the Red Sea
• Boots on the Ground and Strikes in Lebanon – A Strategic Military Lesson in
• Response to a Persistent Threat
• What if we began to have hope?

War in Israel: Update on Current Situation

October 16, 2025 - October 7 War, Day 741, 19 hostage bodies remain in captivity

Israel marks the official state memorial day for the October 7 attacks as additional bodies are returned to the Jewish state for burial.

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog:

“In this sacred ceremony, in this sacred place, I wish to speak as President of the State of Israel to you, my dear ones, and to all the bereaved families, to bow my head in reverence and say thank you on behalf of the State of Israel. Thank you for the children you raised as warriors of courage who did not hesitate when called to rescue the State of Israel, to defeat the enemy, and to bring the hostages home. Warriors who carried photos of the hostages in their pockets and courage and strength in their hearts.

“There is no doubt that these days are historic and deeply emotional—filled both with relief and with profound pain and sorrow. As our beloved ones return to us from the murderers’ hands, some to their homes and healing, others to be laid to rest in dignity, an entire nation has struggled for two long years to reach this moment. And even if this may not yet be the end, we can feel through tears of pain and of relief mingled together that perhaps, hopefully, we are drawing near to it. Even now, we remember: the mission is not complete. We must do everything through every possible means to ensure that all the fallen hostages, every last one, are brought back to their families, to their homeland, and to eternal rest.”

October 7 Memorial Day

• Today marks Israel’s new National Remembrance Day for October 7, designated by the government to fall annually on the 24th of Tishrei.
• As part of the national commemoration, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir announced the creation of a “citations committee” to honor those who showed extraordinary heroism during and after the attacks.
• Defense Minister Israel Katz has asked Zamir to recommend candidates for the Medal of Valor—the IDF’s highest honor, last awarded in 1975. One potential candidate is 19-year-old Matan Abergil, who fought Hamas terrorists at Kibbutz Nir Am. When a grenade was thrown into his vehicle, Abergil threw himself on top of his fellow soldiers to shield them, sacrificing his life to protect others.

Bodies of Hostages Released

• Last night, Hamas released the bodies of two additional hostages. Muhammad el-Atrash, 39, and Inbar Haiman, 27 were returned to Israel for burial. Muhammad served as a Bedouin tracker in the IDF; he was killed while fighting Hamas terrorists around Nahal Oz on October 7 and his body was taken into Gaza. He left behind two wives and 13 children. Inbar, who was working at the Nova festival as a “helper” for partygoers who were intoxicated or in distress, was killed by terrorists when she fought back against their attempts to take her captive. She was the last female who remained captive in Gaza.
• This follows the four bodies (Guy Ilouz, Yossi Sharabi - brother of Eli Sharabi returned alive eight months ago – Daniel Peretz, and Nepalese Bippin Joshi) released on Monday and three (Uriel Baruch, Eytan Levy, and Tamir Nimrodi) released on Tuesday. (Hamas sent four bodies on Tuesday, but one was determined to be the remains of a Palestinian from Jericho.)
• Funerals have taken place for some of those returned. Surviving families are in great distress, despite the closure that the burials have provided.
• Under Jewish Law, even families who had already sat shiva for their loved ones, sit again for one additional day upon the reburial.
• Hamas claimed last night that it has now returned all the bodies it can access, saying that retrieving the rest would require “significant efforts and special equipment.” Israeli officials reject that claim, assessing that Hamas still holds at least ten more bodies. Under the ceasefire agreement, all living and deceased hostages were supposed to have been returned within the first 72 hours of the deal. Defense Minister Israel Katz has now instructed the IDF to prepare to resume fighting, in coordination with Washington, if Hamas fails to meet its obligations.
• Nineteen bodies are still being held, despite Hamas’s obligation, under the agreement, to return them all immediately.
• Aided by intelligence information provided by Israel, an international task force made up of Egyptians, Qataris and Turks has begun searching for the remaining bodies in Gaza. Under the agreement, areas in which the search is conducted will be closed off to returning Gazans and to any rehabilitation efforts so as to maximize the chances of locating the hostage bodies. This gives Israel effective veto power over the return of many Gazans to their homes and will impede the start of rehabilitation activities, providing Israel with leverage over Hamas to accelerate the search.
• Israel has released 15 bodies of Hamas terrorists for each of the Israeli bodies returned.

Hostage Captivity Details Emerging

• As the returned live hostages begin their long journey to physical and emotional recovery, some details are emerging about their time in captivity.
• Yosef Haim Ohana was frequently held at gunpoint by terrorists who took pleasure in frightening him. He was repeatedly forced to beg for his life.
• Rom Braslavsky said his captors pressured him to convert to Islam, promising more food and gifts if he fasted during Ramadan. He refused. His ankles were shackled for much of his captivity. At one point, the terrorists told him that Iran had destroyed Israel with nuclear weapons. Braslavsky spent most of his two years in solitary confinement. After last week’s deal, he and six others were taken into a deep tunnel and kept in a narrow pit; they were unable to sit down for four or five days.
• Some hostages were beaten for long periods with burlap sacks over their heads.
• Hostages who were forced to film “proof of life” videos used for psychological warfare were given small amounts of food as “compensation.”
• Some released hostages said they were exposed to Israeli media during captivity and followed the large public rallies and interviews with their families. They said that hearing those voices and knowing people were fighting for them gave them great strength.

Gaza

• Negotiations have reportedly begun on Phase 2 of the ceasefire agreement that will involve discussions on disarming Hamas, the IDF’s withdrawal, the future governance of Gaza, and other issues.
• For now, Hamas retains control over some 50% of the Strip’s area and almost all of its citizens.
• Yesterday, numerous gruesome videos emerged of Hamas conducting mass public executions of those it says “collaborated” with Israel. All were filmed in recent days. In the videos, which have shocked Israeli and global audiences, large crowds, which include children, are seen gathered in public squares as armed Hamas men drag in numerous blindfolded civilians and then shoot them dead.

Regional Talks

• Immediately after the Presidential visit to Israel on Monday, world leaders gathered in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, for a summit co-chaired by U.S. President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
• More than 20 countries and several major international figures attended or were represented; the meeting included the signing of a joint document to implement the ceasefire, to reconstruct Gaza, and to create a framework for the future of the enclave.
• Hamas did not participate in the summit. Iranian representatives were also absent; however, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was in attendance.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was invited but did not attend the summit, given that it took place just before Simchat Torah.
• The summit produced commitments from regional and Western countries to support reconstruction and humanitarian relief; organizers said mechanisms would be created to oversee governance and security during the transition period.
• World leaders included French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Regional leaders included Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Jordanian King Abdullah II, Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al Abdullah Al Sabah, Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani, and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The summit also featured EU President António Costa and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
• The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen have today confirmed that their Military Chief of Staff, Muhammad Abd Al-Karim al-Ghamari, succumbed to injuries sustained during an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) operation. The IDF has not publicly commented on the claim.

Emotional Reunions

• Since their release, emotional reunion stories have circulated widely:
• Alon Ohel played the piano in his hospital lobby — the same symbol of hope placed in Hostage Square.
  • Avinatan Or and Noa Argamani, whose kidnapping photos became iconic, went to the beach together.
  • Eytan Horn, born in Argentina and kidnapped with his brother, lost 130 pounds; his first request was barbecued steak, which the hospital provided.
  • Matan Angrest, an IDF soldier kidnapped from his burning tank on October 7 and released two days ago, insisted on attending the funeral of his commander, Captain Daniel Peretz, whose body was returned yesterday.
  • On October 7, Matan fought for hours against Hamas terrorists at the Nahal Oz outpost alongside Tomer Leibovitz, 19; Itay Chen, 19; and Peretz, 22. Matan, who was the only survivor of that battle, was kidnapped alive into Gaza, while Daniel and Itay’s bodies were taken into the Strip.
  • Itay’s body is yet to be returned home.
  • In a demonstration of just how important it was for Matan to be at Daniel’s funeral, South African-born Rabbi Doron, Daniel’s father (and head of the World Mizrachi Movement), noted that Matan’s doctor told him not to attend, and in turn, the Perez family told Matan not to come.
  • But Matan insisted on leaving his hospital in Tel Aviv, and despite not having written a speech, and as he told those gathered, “I can barely stand,” he eulogized his commander for six minutes, leaving the funeral’s attendees speechless. “This is the least I can do for Daniel and for my entire team—true heroes,” Matan said. “I didn’t plan to speak. I didn’t even believe I’d make it here. But I had to come.”
  • “Daniel led our heroic battle that Shabbat,” Matan saying, “My commander will always be my commander, until the day I die. You will go with me until my last day and even in the world to come.”
  • At one point during his speech, Matan turned to the Perez family, saying: “I promise to be there for this family for life—I’m not leaving you, not for a second. Daniel is with me everywhere I go, just like Itay and Tomer. They are part of me. I’m proud we defended Israel under Daniel’s command. He is my hero and will always be my commander.”
  • As for Itay, whose body is still in Gaza, Matan declared: “I’m ready to go back into Gaza right now to bring him back.”
  • At the funeral, President Isaac Herzog said, “Daniel led his soldiers with responsibility, with faith in the justice of their cause, and with boundless love for his people and his homeland. He fought until the last drop of blood, embodying the very spirit of the Israeli warrior — steadfast, moral, and brave. Today, the son of the nation returns to his soil, to our soil.”
• After the final hostages were freed, it was disclosed that several had been serving as soldiers when abducted, though Hamas did not know this because they were in civilian clothes at the time. Maxim Harkin, for example, had completed the IDF officers’ training course just two months earlier; he destroyed his military ID tag during the Nova festival attack and posed as a civilian. The IDF and security forces quickly erased social media profiles of kidnapped soldiers to prevent Hamas from discovering their military status. Soldiers were treated more harshly; Hamas viewed them as the most “valuable” hostages.
• As we noted on Monday, numerous moving, and highly emotional scenes of reunions between hostages and their families, as well as the IDF, have been recorded, and many new ones have now been released. A sample of newer scenes can be seen here:
  • Nimrod Cohen: video and photos
  • Brothers Ariel and David Cunio: video and photos
  • Evyatar David: videos and photos

Further Reading

• What the End of the War Means for the “Pro-Palestine” Movement
• We were never able to remove Hamas from power by military force
• Gaza’s Clan Architecture: The Only Alternative to Hamas’s Resurgence
• Jared Kushner on His Approach to Middle East Diplomacy
• Despite the widespread anger over the failures of October 7, Netanyahu remains Israel's leading candidate

War in Israel: Update on Current Situation

October 9, 2025 - October 7 War, Day 734, 48 hostages remain in captivity

זה היום עשה ה' נגילה ונשמחה בו

"This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
(From the traditional Hallel prayer, said on festivals, including today, Sukkot)
 

• Agreement reached on a permanent end to the war in Gaza
• Ceasefire in place
• All hostages to be released in the coming days
• President Trump is likely to arrive on Saturday night
• The deal comes as Israelis mark two years since the tragedies of October 7, 2023.

Israel's President Isaac Herzog:

“This is a morning of historic and momentous news. I give my full support for the agreement reached in Egypt. I express my thanks to Prime Minister Netanyahu and the negotiating team, the mediators, and all those involved in this vital effort.

“I wish to extend my deepest thanks to President Donald Trump for his incredible leadership toward securing the release of the hostages, bringing an end to the war, and creating hope for a new reality in the Middle East. There is no doubt that he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for this. Should he visit us in the coming days, he will be received with immense respect, affection, and gratitude by the people of Israel.

“This agreement will bring moments of indescribable relief to the dear families who have not slept for 733 days.

“This agreement offers a chance to mend, to heal, and to open a new horizon of hope for our region. This is a time to honor the heroes among us: our sons and daughters who fought bravely to bring the hostages home; the bereaved families; the wounded in body and spirit; and all who have paid an unbearable price for this historic and vital moment. “And they shall return from the land of the enemy… and children shall return to their own border.” With God’s help.

 “Am Yisrael Chai.”

See here for Jewish Federations of North America’s statement welcoming the agreement.

Historic Agreement Reached

• Israel and Hamas have agreed to a comprehensive end-of-war and hostage release deal, brokered by President Donald Trump, which is set to be signed in Egypt on Thursday afternoon.
• The agreement is based on Trump’s 20-point plan. Its main architects, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, will arrive in Israel from Egypt later today.
• Israel’s security cabinet will meet this afternoon, followed by the full government, to vote on the prisoner release and a number of other aspects of the agreement, which are expected to easily pass.
• Following the government vote at 6 pm in Israel (11 am ET) the agreement will go into effect, halting all fighting and triggering the beginning of the 72-hour period during which all hostages must be released.
• In announcing the deal, President Trump wrote, “This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace. All Parties will be treated fairly! This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America; and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen. BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!”

The Agreement

• All hostages—both living and deceased—are to be released within 72 hours of the signing. It is understood that the 20 living hostages will return home to Israel by Monday at the latest (and possibly as early as Saturday). Hamas has agreed to release the hostages without the humiliating ceremonies it held with many of the previously released Israelis.
• Hamas has cautioned that it may take additional time to locate and return the 28 bodies of those hostages who are no longer alive. There is speculation that the location of eight or nine of those bodies is not currently known to Hamas.
• The IDF has completed preparations at Camp Re’im near the Gaza border to receive the hostages, including hygiene infrastructure and absorption teams. Numerous hospitals will be involved in receiving them; this will be the largest number of hostages slated to be returned in a single day.
• The deal also includes the full disarmament of Hamas and the demilitarization of Gaza, including the destruction of tunnels, weapons factories, and military infrastructure under international supervision.
• In addition, the sides have agreed to the removal of Hamas from power, with guarantees it will not be part of any future governing framework. The truce also provides for the deployment of an international stabilization force, backed by the US and Arab states, to secure borders in coordination with Egypt and Jordan.
• Under the agreement, Israel will maintain temporary security control of a security envelope until Gaza is declared “free of terror.” Later today, IDF forces will begin withdrawing from numerous Gazan population centers, but for now will continue to hold about half of the territory..
• The deal will also include the release of approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences (mainly for murdering Israelis) and at least 1,700 who were detained since October 7, among them women and minors. Israeli officials have indicated that the deal does not include members of Hamas’s Nukhba Force who took part in the October 7, 2023, massacre, nor the most prominent commanders described as “symbols of terrorist organizations,” such as Marwan Barghouti.
• Palestinian bodies will be returned at a ratio of 15:1 for each deceased hostage being held by Hamas.
• There will also be an amnesty for Hamas fighters who lay down arms or can be given safe passage to third countries.
• As soon as the deal begins, there will be immediate and large humanitarian aid efforts for Gaza, including the restoration of water, electricity, hospital support, and a US- and UN-backed economic development plan.
• Under the agreement, a Palestinian “technocratic” government will be formed, sidelining both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. This will avoid a power vacuum in Gaza.
• Further details about the agreement here.

International Diplomacy

• The deal has been endorsed by the US, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, all of whom played key roles in the negotiations.
• President Donald Trump will arrive in Israel on Saturday night, for a special, celebratory visit, and will likely address the Knesset.
• Iran, previously seen as a spoiler, has reportedly “blessed the deal.”
• The UN has pledged to scale up humanitarian aid and support Gaza’s reconstruction 

Reactions

• Large crowds gathered in Hostages Square overnight, celebrating the announcement. The Hostages Families Forum thanked President Trump and invited him to join them in Hostages Square on Sunday. Most Israelis have greeted news of the deal with jubilation and relief, though many remain concerned over the large number of Palestinian terrorists being released, as well as the uncertainty over whether Hamas has been effectively defanged.
• Prime Minister Netanyahu said, “With the approval of the first phase of the plan, all our hostages will be brought home. This is a diplomatic success and a national and moral victory for the State of Israel. From the beginning, I made it clear: we will not rest until all our hostages return and all our goals are achieved. Through steadfast resolve, powerful military action, and the great efforts of our great friend and ally, President Trump, we have reached this critical turning point. I thank President Trump for his leadership, his partnership, and his unwavering commitment to the safety of Israel and the freedom of our hostages. God Bless Israel. God Bless America. God Bless our great alliance.”
• Some coalition members remain opposed to any deal that leaves Hamas intact. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said he did not think the deal was good for Israel, calling the celebrations “short-sighted,” and said that he would vote against the agreement in Cabinet. Nonetheless, Israeli media speculated that he will not quit the government.
• Israel’s Opposition Leader Yair Lapid has offered Netanyahu a “political safety net” to ensure the deal’s implementation, meaning he will ensure that the government doesn’t fall over the deal, even if members of Netanyahu’s coalition leave. Lapid also called on the Nobel Committee to award the Peace Prize to President Trump.
• There has been outspoken and overwhelming praise in Israel for US President Trump, with political and other leaders from across the political spectrum thanking him for leading the effort to reach a deal.
• The agreement is being hailed internationally, with world leaders including the UN Secretary-General, Canadian Prime Minister, UK Prime Minister, and others praising the agreement and urging swift implementation.
• Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas also welcomed the deal, expressing “hope that these efforts will serve as a prelude to achieving a sustainable political solution that will end the Israeli occupation and lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 borders.”
• The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange has seen dramatic gains since the deal was announced. The benchmark TA-125 index has gained 2.1 percent, marking the 38th time this year it has reached a new record high. The index has soared almost 35% from the start of the year over hopes that the war may be coming to an end. The shekel is also continuing to strengthen, appreciating some 0.8% against the US dollar and trading at NIS 3.254 to the US dollar, its strongest level since August 2022.

Further Reading

• Israel’s Hostages Come Home, But at What Price?
• The Long October
• The Day I Learned What Death Smells Like
• For Years, Iran Planned a Simultaneous Invasion of Israel – Only One Was Carried Out