HEADLINES
Ex-Hostage Praises IDF After Hamas Commander Killed
Adams Withdraws, NYC Jewish Community Signals Shift
US Antisemitism Surges, Historians Warn

The time is now 8:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

This is the hourly update with developments from Israel, the region, and the world, presented in a steady, straightforward style as the day’s events unfold.

The region’s stability remains precarious as diplomacy and deterrence continue to shape a fragile balance. Israel says the current ceasefire with Iran and its allied proxies is a pause more than a settlement, with officials warning that any miscalculation could reignite broader hostilities. In the backdrop, Iran’s network of allied groups across Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen keeps its options open, even as military actions over the past weeks have aimed to degrade capabilities and deter advances. In Gaza, the Israeli government says Hamas has been substantially degraded in its ability to wage war, though the hostage crisis endures and remains a central lever in any broader settlement. World powers press for a path to a durable ceasefire and the release of captives, while Washington communicates a policy of supporting Israel’s security needs in concert with regional partners, a stance aligned with the administration’s emphasis on strong defense and steady diplomacy.

In Gaza, Israeli officials describe a shifting crisis landscape: Hamas operates with constrained capacity, but the fate of hostages continues to weigh on families and on international negotiations. One of the day’s notable developments involved the release and public reaction of Eliya Cohen, a former hostage who praised the Israeli Defense Forces for the operation that eliminated the Hamas commander who abducted him on the first day of the war in October 2023. His remarks, shared with his partner and family, underscored the continuing human dimension of the conflict alongside battlefield realities. The broader hostage situation remains a focal point for efforts by mediators and allied governments seeking a ceasefire that would allow for humanitarian relief and a path to release of all captives.

On the political front in the United States, the prospect of a stronger alignment with Israel’s security goals figures prominently in public discourse and campaigning. A high-profile development in New York politics sent ripples through diaspora communities and beyond: Mayor Eric Adams withdrew from his bid for reelection. Adams argued that fundraising obstacles and relentless media scrutiny had made a serious campaign untenable, though he did not endorse a successor. The move narrows the field to three candidates—Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo, and Curtis Sliwa—leaving a crowded race that remains of intense interest to the city’s Jewish communities, who have watched Adams’ efforts to address antisemitism and security in New York. Cuomo, who has long positioned himself as Israel’s ally with deep experience in government, quickly praised Adams’ decision, while Mamdani asserted that outsiders and their money would not determine the election. Jewish community groups, including the Orthodox Union and the New York Solidarity Network, welcomed Adams’ decision as a signal of leadership during a difficult period, and expressed hope that his successor would continue to prioritize security and anti-hate efforts.

In the broader public conversation about antisemitism, observers in the United States have warned of elevated risk levels. Pamela Nadell, a historian of Jewish history at American University, described a “high tide” of antisemitism driven by incidents on both ends of the political spectrum and amplified by social media. The country’s Jewish communities, including those in major urban centers like New York, have faced a complex mix of concerns about safety, free expression, and political...