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

For more information, please contact: Jewish Federations of North America’s Dani Wassner dani.wassner@jewishfederations.org. Subscribe to this weekly update here.