News Digest — 10/21/25
Murdered Hostage Tal Haimi’s Remains Return To Israel
Sergeant Major Tal Haimi was identified as the hostage whose remains were returned to Israel on Monday evening (19th), the IDF confirmed.
His remains arrived at the National center of Forensic Medicine at Abu Kabir at around 10:50 pm.
Haimi was a veteran of the IDF Paratroopers Brigade and served as the commander of Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak’s emergency response squad. He was murdered by Hamas terrorists during the October 7 massacre.
Haimi’s body was taken to the Gaza Strip following his murder. The IDF confirmed the death in December 2023, and his widow Ela gave birth to their fourth child in May 2024.
“Alongside the sadness and the understanding that the hearth will never be whole, the return of Tal is a kind of balm for a family that has lived in uncertainty and fomenting doubt for over two years,” the Hostage and Missing Families Forum and Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak eulogized.
The Hamas al-Qassam Brigades said Sunday (19th) that it had located the remains of one of the deceased hostages held in Gaza captivity, and that it would return the individual ”if conditions are suitable” that day.
Instead Hamas handed Tal Haimi’s body over Monday evening (20th), emphasizing that “any Zionist escalation will hinder the search and recovery of the bodies, which will delay the occupation’s recovery of the bodies of its dead,” according to the Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades.
Netanyahu Hints At New Threats To Israel In The Middle East
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted at emerging regional threats during his address to the Knesset on Monday (20th) as the winter session opened. After listing what he called the achievements of the past two years of war, Netanyahu said that in the Middle East “old threats are taking on new forms, and there are also new threats.”
“Our enemies are trying to rearm and challenge us,” he said. “In the Middle East, old threats are taking on new forms, and there are also new threats. We stand guard to thwart them. Not everything is known and not everything will be known. One hand holds the weapon, while the other is extended in peace to those who seek peace with us, and today there are quite a few, even many. The circle of peace in our region and beyond can be expanded. Peace is made with the strong, and everyone knows that the State of Israel is stronger than ever before.”
According to political sources, the “new threats” Netanyahu referred to are Turkey and Qatar’s growing efforts to expand their regional influence, moves that Israel is monitoring closely. Both countries, which support the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas, are seeking to play a central role in shaping the future of the Gaza Strip and in developments in Syria.
These dynamics have reportedly created tensions between Netanyahu’s team and the administration of President Donald Trump, particularly over the extent to which Turkey and Qatar should be involved in post war arrangements. Trump is said to have a personal fondness for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and to hold Qatar in high regard, while Israeli officials view both nations as destabilizing forces.
The issue was believed to be among those discussed in Netanyahu’s meetings on Monday (20th) with Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and his Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff.
Qatar Expanding Its Grip On Gaza, Will Preserve Hamas’ Power, Expert Warns – Anna Barsky
The Qatari Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani Hospital in Gaza announced recently that it is beginning the process of preparing the headquarters of the Qatari hospital in Gaza City, funded by the Qatar Fund for Development.
The move joins a series of Doha-funded projects in the health and education sectors in the Strip. It is interpreted in Gaza as yet another layer in consolidating the institutional infrastructure that the Qataris have been building over the years.
The Qatari pattern of operations relies on specific mandates, primarily in medicine and education, that enable long-term establishment. Alongside budget allocations for hospitals and clinics, Qatari support for educational institutions has been mentioned in the past, including the Islamic University in Gaza.
At the same time, a Qatari effort has been recorded to inject “civilian” money into the Strip – funds perceived as less supervised – through public campaigns. Among other things, a campaign was launched in Qatar by the national taxi service, which commits to transferring five percent of all travel costs to Gaza.
Additionally, Qatar’s national soccer team players, who qualified for the World Cup, publicly celebrated with donations designated for establishing a school, sports field, and hospital, projects portrayed as humanitarian but also strengthening the Qatari civilian presence in the Strip.
Dr. Ariel Admoni, a Qatar expert from the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, warned that behind the humanitarian initiatives lies a political intention to continue influence in Gaza after the ceasefire.
“Qatar is interested in leveraging its position of power in the first stage of Trump’s plan, within which Hamas is the active factor, and naturally Doha has better positioning to deepen its influence in Gaza after the ceasefire,” Admoni stated. “This move is received with grumbling by the Emirates and the Saudis, who know very well that deep Qatari involvement will result in Hamas remaining and relying on the supposedly civilian apparatus that Qatar provided.”
According to Admoni, creating a “civilian” envelope of projects: hospitals, educational institutions, and infrastructure, gives Hamas an advantage in ‘the day after’ and establishes dependence on mechanisms supported by Doha.
The Qatari move is also causing dissatisfaction in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Regional sources indicate that in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, they identify in the Qatari establishment in Gaza a circumvention of the oversight mechanisms that were created through regional coordination, and that it could make it harder to restrain Hamas within the framework of future arrangements.
According to involved regional sources, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh have conveyed messages to the Trump administration that deeper Qatari involvement will lead to Hamas’ consolidation and the failure of Trump’s plan. Against this backdrop, a quiet diplomatic struggle is expected over the division of roles in rehabilitating the Strip and over the funding channels that will determine the balance of influence within it.
Ceremony To Honor 96 Fallen Olim Soldiers To Be Held On National Aliyah Day
A ceremony to honor the 96 fallen olim (new immigrant) soldiers from the Iron Swords War will be held Sunday October 26th, coinciding with National Aliyah Day. The event will take place at 6:30 pm in the Enav Cultural center in Tel Aviv, with a live broadcast on social media and on the pages of the partner organizations.
The ceremony is being organized by the 1 Million Lobby association in collaboration with the chairman of the Jewish Agency. MG (ret.) Doron Almog. And the families of other fallen soldiers.
President Isaac Herzog will be in attendance.
The main event will include the presentation of a book commemorating the stories of the 96 fallen olim. “Each soldier is given a full page that will include their life stories, military service, messages from their families and a personal quote, alongside a QR code leading to their online memorial page,” said the event organizers.
“The fallen olim came to Israel from a variety of countries around the world; some were new immigrants who arrived in recent years, and some who immigrated decades ago, but all carried the legacy of aliyah in their identities,” they added.
At the same time, a series of 74 personalized commemorative stickers for each fallen soldier was created to allow their families “to spread the memory of their loved ones to the masses.”
According to data from the 1 Million Lobby, there are currently 3,905 immigrants serving as regular soldiers in the IDF, with 2,576 serving under the status of “lone soldier” ( who do not have a nuclear family in Israel).
“According to reports and studies, between 10% and 15% of the fallen are immigrants or lone soldiers, that is, over 90 some immigrant and lone soldiers have been killed in the war so far,” explained the organizers.
“The heroism of the immigrant soldiers expresses the powerful bond between the Jewish people and the State of Israel, a bond of faith, courage, and sacrifice. Their memory is a source of inspiration and strength for many young Jews around the world,” said Almog.
Bolivia Is Ready To Renew Relations With Israel: ‘A New Page’
After two decades of rule by the far-left MAS party led by Evo Morales and Luis Arce, Bolivia has elected a new president, Rodrigo Paz, marking a sharp shift in the country’s foreign policy. Following years of staunch anti-Israel positions and the severing of ties with Jerusalem, Paz announced Monday evening (20th), that Bolivia will also restore diplomatic ties with the United States.
One of Paz’s first foreign calls since his election was with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who proposed fully restoring diplomatic relations. The president-elect responded immediately, stating that he intends to move forward with renewing bilateral ties.
Sa’ar congratulated Paz on his election and emphasized the historic connection between Israel, the Jewish people and Bolivia. “After two decades of strained relations, it’s time to bring our friendly ties back on track,” he said, adding that Israel is eager to “turn a new page and fully renew diplomatic relations between the countries.”
Paz expressed his commitment to reopening Bolivia to the world and to rebuilding its ties with Israel. Sa’ar noted Israel’s strong interest in strengthening relations with Bolivia across various fields and confirmed that Israel will send an official representative to Paz’s inauguration, following his invitation.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry welcomed Paz’s remarks, describing them as an important step toward restoring ties with one of Latin America’s key nations. Israeli diplomatic sources estimated that Paz’s inauguration would initiate a gradual process of renewing relations, including the return of ambassadors and reopening of embassies.
Bolivia previously severed ties with Israel twice: first in 2009 following Operation Cast Lead, and again in 2023 after the start of the Iron Swords War. A brief diplomatic renewal occurred in 2019. In 2014, during Operation Productive Edge, Bolivia also revoked visa-free entry for Israeli tourists in protests against IDF operations in Gaza, despite a 1972 agreement allowing Israelis free access to the country.
Bolivia was once a top destination for Israeli backpackers traveling in Latin America. While Israelis still visit, the restoration of diplomatic relations could reestablish Bolivia as a favored stop on the backpacker trail, and signal a broader renewal in ties between the two countries. Just six months ago, Israel’s Foreign Ministry had cautioned Israeli travelers to reconsider trips to Bolivia due to the tense diplomatic climate.
Hezbollah: One Year After Nasrallah’s Elimination – Lt. Col. (ret.) Orna Mizrahi
A year after the elimination of Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah still clings to its extremist ideology. The ceremonies marking the anniversary of Nasrallah’s elimination were attended by large crowds at several locations and served as an opportunity for a show of force.
Hezbollah’s current secretary-general, Naim Qassem, declared that the organization remains ready to confront anyone attempting to force it to disarm. Media coverage glorified Nasrallah and the path of resistance he led for 32 years as secretary-general.
Hezbollah lost many of its commanders and fighters during the war (In an August 5 speech, Qassem claimed the organization had 5,000 dead and 13,000 wounded). The IDF claims to have eliminated 80% of Hezbollah’s firepower, and its financial capabilities were severely diminished.
Most serious of all, Hezbollah continues to be a daily target of IDF strikes – eliminating operatives and destroying its military infrastructure including ammunition depots and production facilities. The absence of Hezbollah’s senior, veteran leaders who were killed in the war has also hampered its decision-making process. Naim Qassem lacks Nasrallah’s abilities and authority.
In practice, the Lebanese Army operates only to a very limited extent in southern Lebanon, and continues to avoid clashes with Hezbollah, and focuses mainly on collecting weapons from Palestinian refugee camps (only from Fatah elements). The issue of disarmament is existential for Hezbollah, which adamantly insists on retaining its weapons – a certain pillar of its power against both domestic and external adversaries.
A year after the ceasefire took effect, Hezbollah appears to be regaining its footing. It is undergoing reorganization, recruiting new operatives, finding creative methods to smuggle weapons, and generating new sources of income through its networks in South America, Europe, and Africa. The group continues to enjoy broad popular support in Lebanon, maintains cooperation with the Shiite Amal movement, led by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, and retains the backing of Iran.
The writer, a senior researcher at INSS , served for 26 years in the IDF and 12 years at the National Security Council in the Prime Minister’s Office. (Institute for National Security Studies – Tel Aviv University)
