Latest / Israel Today: Ongoing War Report / Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - October 3, 2026, 07 PM Eastern

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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - October 3, 2026, 07 PM Eastern · Israel Today: Ongoing War Report

• 0:08
  Speaker 1: You're listening to Israel Today ongoing war report. I'm Noah Levi.
• 0:12
  Speaker 1: We begin with reflections on the duration of the conflict
• 0:14
  Speaker 1: in Gaza. Major General Reserve Nitzan Alon, who previously headed
• 0:19
  Speaker 1: the IDF's hostage and missing persons directorate, stated that Israel
• 0:23
  Speaker 1: could have concluded the war and secured the return of
• 0:26
  Speaker 1: hostages significantly earlier, possibly up to a year sooner than
• 0:30
  Speaker 1: the intense fighting ultimately ended. Speaking at a panel hosted
• 0:34
  Speaker 1: by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Alon suggested
• 0:38
  Speaker 1: that different decisions might have saved thousands of lives on
• 0:40
  Speaker 1: both sides, and that some hostages killed in captivity might
• 0:44
  Speaker 1: have returned alive. He asserted that the strategic objectives concerning
• 0:48
  Speaker 1: Hamas's military strength could have been achieved much earlier, noting
• 0:52
  Speaker 1: that even after two years of fighting, Hamas remains in
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  Speaker 1: power in Gaza. Alon emphasised that he was not analysing
• 0:59
  Speaker 1: Prime Minister Netanyahu's personal motivations, but expressed certainty that the
• 1:03
  Speaker 1: war could and should have been shortened. Turning to international policy,
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  Speaker 1: US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reiterated President Trump's firm
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  Speaker 1: resolve to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Speaking to reporters,
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  Speaker 1: Hegseth warned Tehran that it faces a choice– either relinquish
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  Speaker 1: its nuclear ambitions or confront further American action. While declining
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  Speaker 1: to confirm specific military deployments, Hegseth stated his responsibility– is
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  Speaker 1: to ensure the President has a wide range of military options,
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  Speaker 1: emphasising that Iran will never, ever, ever have a nuclear weapon.
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  Speaker 1: He described the situation as a decision point for Iran,
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  Speaker 1: suggesting that the path of cooperation would be less difficult
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  Speaker 1: than the alternative. In Israeli domestic affairs, Prime Minister Benjamin
• 1:48
  Speaker 1: Netanyahu's secret trip to Abu Dhabi over the weekend has
• 1:52
  Speaker 1: drawn attention. The Prime Minister met with UAE President Sheikh
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  Speaker 1: Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan. The trip remained secret until reported
• 2:00
  Speaker 1: by Israel's Channel 12, prompting the Shin Bet to file
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  Speaker 1: a complaint for alleged violation of censorship rules. According to
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  Speaker 1: an Associated Press report, citing a person with first-hand knowledge
• 2:11
  Speaker 1: of the meeting, Netanyahu asked Sheikh Mohammed to deny a
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  Speaker 1: report that the Emirati leader had warned him about a
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  Speaker 1: looming Hamas attack shortly before October 7, 2023. Netanyahu's office
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  Speaker 1: denies such a request was made. stating the meeting focused
• 2:26
  Speaker 1: solely on strengthening bilateral relations. This development comes as the
• 2:31
  Speaker 1: Prime Minister faces scrutiny over responsibility for the failures preceding
• 2:35
  Speaker 1: the October 7th attacks. As we mark this period, tomorrow
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  Speaker 1: is Simchat Torah, a day of great joy and continuity
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  Speaker 1: in the Jewish calendar, celebrating the completion and immediate recommencement
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  Speaker 1: of the annual Torah reading. This year, Simchat Torah arrives
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  Speaker 1: just as we approach the three-year anniversary of the Hamas
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  Speaker 1: massacre on southern Israel. Celebrations across Israel, such as Hakafot,
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  Speaker 1: the festive processions with Torah scrolls, carry both the warmth
• 3:02
  Speaker 1: of tradition and a solemn remembrance of those murdered, and
• 3:05
  Speaker 1: the communities forever changed on that tragic day. For continuing
• 3:09
  Speaker 1: coverage of antisemitism around the world, listen to Antisemitism Watch
• 3:13
  Speaker 1: from Clockwork Media. Find it at clockworkmedia.org slash watch. I'm
• 3:18
  Speaker 1: Noah Levi, thank you for listening to Israel Today ongoing
• 3:20
  Speaker 1: war report. Stay safe and informed. Follow Israel Today. ongoing
• 3:25
  Speaker 1: war report in your podcast app so you don't miss
• 3:27
  Speaker 1: the next update. Keep in mind that this AI-generated report
• 3:31
  Speaker 1: may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a