News Digest — 11/5/25
Hostage Remains Identified As Itay Chen, Last Israeli-American Hostage Held In Gaza
The remains of Gaza hostage IDF St.-Sgt Itay Chen was identified at the National Institute for Forensic Medicine in Abu Kabir in the early hours of Wednesday morning (5th), the Prime Minister’s Office announced.
His body crossed into Israeli territory late Tuesday night (4th), the Health Ministry confirmed Tuesday evening.
Chen was an Israeli-American dual national and was the last American held in Gaza after slain hostage Omer Neutra’s remains were released on Sunday (2nd). Chen’s remains were reportedly held east of the Shejaia neighborhood, according to Hamas terrorists.
“Alongside the grief and the understanding that their hearts will never be whole, his return provides some measure of comfort to a family that has lived with agonizing uncertainty and doubt for over two years. We will not rest until the last hostage is brought home,” the Hostage and Missing Families Forum said, adding that they are “embracing the Chen family.”
Notably, the return of Chen’s remains leaves Hadar Goldin as the last remaining murdered hostage who was taken during active IDF service. Goldin, however, was murdered and taken hostage in 2014, rather than during Hamas’ October 7 massacre.
The terror organization said that the hostage’s remains were found during ongoing search and excavation operations within the Yellow Line, controlled by the IDF This came as Hamas demanded immunity for terrorists stationed in underground tunnels in Rafah to move to areas controlled by Hamas, a source familiar with the details said.
The terror organization asserted that cooperation with the Red Cross significantly accelerated the recovery process, leading to the discovery of additional remains. Hamas’ announcement came less than a day after they returned the remains of three Israeli soldiers on Monday morning (3rd): Col. Asaf Hamami, 20; Omer Neutra, 21; and St.-Sgt. Oz Daniel, 19.
With this, the total number of deceased hostages still in Gaza is seven: Meny Godard, Hadar Goldin, Ran Gvili, Joshua Luito Mollel, Dror Or, Lior Rudaeff, and Sudthisak Rinthalak.
Chief Of Staff: No Terrorist Will Leave Gaza Until Hadar Goldin Is Returned
IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir delivered a firm message to the political echelon on the terrorists still in the Rafah area, saying: “No militant may be allowed to leave alive – unless the body of Hadar Goldin of blessed memory is returned.”
Zamir’s unusually explicit statement came amid reports that Israel was considering allowing the terrorists to move into Hamas-controlled territory in exchange for their disarmament. Prime MInister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a decision not to permit the militants departure after heavy pressure from government officials.
In recent days Zamir reiterated his position to decision makers, saying he will not allow militants from Rafah to be released unless the return of Lieutenant Hadar Goldin who fell in Operation Protective Edge in 2014 and whose body remains held by Hamas – is guaranteed.
In response to the Chief of Staff’s remarks, Minister Bezalel Smotrich wrote on X: “Hamas must be destroyed and all our fallen must be buried in the Land of Israel.”
Shin Bet Data: 80% Of Terrorists Released In Shalit Deal Returned To Terror
During a closed-door session of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Tuesday (4th), a representative of the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) revealed that 80% of the terrorists convicted of murder and released in the Gilad Shalit deal have returned to terrorism.
According to the official, half of the prisoners released as part of the 2011 exchange resumed terrorist activity, and since the deal’s implementation, 80% of terrorists serving life sentences have eventually been freed.
Out of 860 terrorists imprisoned for murder – those described as having “blood on their hands,” only 110 remain in Israeli prisons today.
The Shin Bet representative warned committee members of the dangerous implications of repeated releases.
”Every terrorist who receives a life sentence knows he has an 80% chance of being freed in a deal,” he said.
The official also disclosed a policy shift within the agency: “As the Shin Bet, we have changed our position. The agency’s current stance is that it supports the death penalty for terrorists.”
Israel, India Sign Major Defense Deal In Shadow Of Weapons Boycotts
The Israel-India Joint Working Group (JWG) convened on Tuesday (4th) for its annual meeting, led by Defense Ministry Director-General MG. (Res.) Amir Baram and Indian Defense Secretary Shiri Rajesh Kumar Singh.
During the meeting, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enhance defense, industrial, and technological cooperation.
While the announcement gave few details, previously it had been reported that India would acquire rockets for its ground forces and Medium-Range Surface-to-Air-Missile air defense missiles developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for around $3.75 billion, and that IAI would convert six commercial planes into Indian Air Force refueling aircraft for $900 million.
The defense deal is going forward at a time when many other democracies have cut back on their defense relations with Israel due to the war in Gaza.
Signing a deal with India, the world’s largest democracy, could assist Israel in rebuilding its reputation globally.
As part of the visit,the Indian delegation met with Defense Minister Israel Katz.
Additionally, a special panel was held with the CEOs of major defense industries, during which, according to the ministry, innovative and groundbreaking Israeli technologies were presented, along with ideas and projects aimed at deepening industrial-defense partnerships between Israel’s defense industries and India.
Some of the other senior Israeli officials involved included the directors of the Political-Military Bureau, the Directorate of Defense Research & Development (DDR&D), the Directorate of Security of the Defense Establishment, and the International Defense Cooperation Directorate (SIBAT), alongside representatives from the IDF Planning Directorate and other defense officials.
The Indian delegation also included senior representatives from the Defense Ministry and Armed Forces.
Regarding the meeting, Baram said, “This strategic dialogue with India takes place at a critical juncture for both countries. Our strategic partnership is based on deep mutual trust and shared security interests. We view India as a first-rate strategic partner and are determined to continue deepening cooperation in the fields of defense, technology. And industry.”
Iran Celebrates Anniversary of 1979 US Embassy Takeover With ‘Death To Israel’ Chants
Iranians on Tuesday (4th) celebrated the anniversary of the 1979 takeover of the US Embassy in Tehran – the first such commemoration since the US bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities during a 12-day war with Israel.
On November 4, 1979, Iranian students overran guards to take over the embassy, seizing dozens of hostages in a crisis that would last for more than a year.
In what is a yearly commemoration, thousands of people returned to the spot in downtown Tehran on Tuesday (4th) chanting “Death to the US” and “Death To Israel.” Some hanged effigies of US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and set fire to US and Israeli flags.
State media and similar gatherings took place in other Iranian cities and towns.
Mock-ups of Iranian missiles were on display on the sideline of the rallies, some inscribed with the words “Death to America.” Replicas of centrifuge machines used in uranium enrichment were also on display.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed Monday (3rd) during a meeting with students that there would be no move toward normalizing ties with Washington soon– a message echoed on banners at Tuesday’s (4th) rallies.
Israel’s airstrikes during the war in June, killed many military commanders and nuclear scientists, according to the state. The US bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities during the conflict. Iran’s reprisal missile barrage killed 32 people in Israel, including several who succumbed to their wounds weeks later.
The strikes followed five rounds of talks between Iran and the US over Tehran’s nuclear program.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf was the key speaker at the rally in Tehran. He accused the US and Israel of killing Iranian scientists because the West “opposes an independent, integrated, and powerful Iran.” He also criticized the former US embassy , calling it a “den of spies.”
The two nations have had no diplomatic relations since militant students seized the US Embassy in 1979 and held 52 Americans for 444 days.
Iran has withdrawn from the International Atomic Energy Agency-monitoring following its conflict with Israel. The country still holds a stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60% purity, which is a short technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. This amount is large enough to make several atomic bombs if Tehran chooses to pursue weaponization.
Iran has long insisted its nuclear program is peaceful. However, the West and the IAEA say Tehran had the organized weapons program up until 2003 and is enriching uranium to a purity with no civilian application.
In September, the United Nations re-imposed sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program, further squeezing the Islamic Republic. The sanctions will again freeze Iranian assets abroad, halt arms deals with Tehran, and penalize any development of Iran’s ballistic missile program, among other measures.
Names Of Five Out Of Six Million Jews Killed In Holocaust Now Identified – Steven Scheer
Five million of the more than six million Jews killed in the Holocaust have now been identified, Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem, said Monday (3rd). “Behind each name is a life that mattered – a child who never grew up, a parent who never came home, a voice that was silenced forever,” said Yad Vashem chairman Dani Dayan. “It is our moral duty to ensure that every victim is remembered.”
The names of Holocaust victims, as well as personal files that tell about the lives of many of them, are compiled in an online Yad Vashem database in six languages. This database has helped countless families reunite with lost relatives and families to commemorate loved ones, particularly as most victims were left without graves.
“The Nazis aimed not only to murder them, but to erase their existence. And by identifying five million names, we are restoring their human identities and ensuring that their memory endures,” said Alexander Avram, director of Yad Vashem’s Hall of Names, who heads the central database of victims’ names.
How Hamas Is Exploiting The Trump Plan To Maintain Control Of Gaza – Khaled Abu Toameh
Since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect in Gaza, Hamas has been taking advantage of the lull to entrench itself by rearming, regrouping, recruiting new fighters, and tightening its grip on areas under its control. For Hamas, President Trump’s peace plan is a temporary ceasefire, to ensure that the terror group expands its political and military control over Gaza.
This is precisely what Hamas has done for the past two decades. After each round of fighting with Israel ended in a ceasefire, the terror group would exploit the period of calm to restock and rebuild its military capabilities, eventually enabling it to launch its Oct.7 attack on Israeli communities.
We are witnessing a calculated delay that aims to buy time and exhaust the U.S. administration until Trump abandons the numerous ultimatums he has issued to the terror group. Hamas’ foot-dragging aims to allow it to reassert control over Gaza. Hamas’ actions and media interviews given by its officials show that the terror group has no intention of disarming or relinquishing security control.
It is time for the Trump administration and the international community to realize that what we are currently witnessing is an attempt to rebrand and reproduce Hamas to ensure its continued control of Gaza. Hamas should not only be removed from power, but from the entire political, economic, social and military arena.
The writer, a veteran Israeli journalist, is a senior fellow at the Gatestone Institute and the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs.
