U.S. Vice President J. D. Vance stated on October 22nd, 2025, that the United States believes it is necessary to complete the removal of Hamas from Gaza to restore security, and confirmed that the U.S. is working with the Israeli government on this objective. Vance made these remarks during a meeting with bereaved and kidnapped families, and regarding the return of hostages, he stated that while he could not guarantee everyone would return, efforts are underway with partners to achieve their swift return. The statements were made in Jerusalem, following a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. During their meeting, Prime Minister Netanyahu informed Vice President Vance that Turkey will not be permitted to enter Gaza, designating this as Israel's "red line." The discussion also involved identifying several countries that could participate in an alternative administration for the Strip. A political source clarified that recent images of Turkish flags in Gaza depicted Gazans displaying flags from an association operating within the Strip, not Turkish nationals. In separate developments, Israel is reportedly assisting Taiwan in the secret development of its T-Dome air defense system, which is modeled after the Iron Dome. According to a French intelligence website, Taiwan's Deputy Defense Minister Fu Hung-hui made a clandestine visit to Israel in September 2025 to advance the project. This collaboration is said to involve the transfer of radar and missile technologies comparable to Israel's Green Pine and Arrow-2 systems. This information emerges amidst ongoing regional security challenges. Palestinian Islamic Jihad's new spokesperson, Abu Hamza, acknowledged the deaths of senior members of his organization during the ongoing conflict in a recent statement, though it did not indicate any intention to cease hostilities. Hamas has also been accused of utilizing civilian facilities in Gaza as terrorist strongholds, leading to their destruction. Hamas police units "Radaa" and "Sahm" previously released footage showing weapons and equipment seized from Abu Shabab militia fighters during a raid north of Rafah, including an ATV, motorcycle, and an M-16 rifle. Hamas-affiliated media have suggested that detained Abu Shabab militants might face execution after interrogations. These events follow reports from the past 72 hours detailing a significant increase in arms smuggling from Egypt into Israel, with aerial methods becoming more prevalent. A farmer in Barnea discovered ammunition on his greenhouse roof, underscoring the trend of airborne deliveries being considered more profitable than ground operations. Officers in the Paran Brigade described the situation as "crazy," and Israel's security system detected 550 fence crossings in the past 72 hours. Israel's security system is developing a comprehensive plan to address this escalating issue, which is slated for presentation to the political echelon for approval.
