Podcast Episode Details

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-09 at 08:07

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HEADLINES
Gaza City Evacuations as Ground Offensive Looms
Drone Strikes Gaza Flotilla Lead Vessel
US Proposes Ceasefire Terms to Hamas

The time is now 4:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

This is the 4:00 a.m. news update. In the Gaza conflict, the Israeli military has issued an evacuation order for Gaza City and its surrounding neighborhoods, telling residents to leave immediately and warning that staying poses an extreme danger. The army said it will act with great force in the city as it presses toward a larger objective against Hamas, and it urged evacuation via the Al-Rashid corridor to a humanitarian zone in Al-Mawasi. Officials say about 100,000 people have already left Gaza City, but estimates suggest as many as 100,000 to 300,000 may still be in the area. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signaled that a ground operation in Gaza City is imminent, arguing that taking the city would help defeat Hamas and secure the release of hostages. The Israel Defense Forces say they are prepared to apply overwhelming force in the city as part of a broader campaign across the Strip. In parallel, Defense Minister Israel Katz described the previous day’s operations as a “hurricane” against Hamas targets, noting the destruction of multiple multi-story buildings tied to Hamas infrastructure and intelligence gathering.

On the hostage front, Israel says 47 people remain held by Hamas, with about 25 believed dead, a tally that frames the current push to end the war and locate and free captives. Hamas has signaled a willingness to engage in ceasefire discussions, but Israel continues to demand the release of all hostages, disarmament, and free movement of aid into Gaza. US efforts to broker a ceasefire have included reports that Washington has presented a proposal to Hamas through intermediaries, while President Trump has publicly urged Hamas to accept terms he has previously described, calling it his last warning. Hamas has indicated openness to negotiations, even as it maintains that any ceasefire must address broader arrangements for Gaza.

Internationally, Britain’s foreign secretary confirmed that accusations of genocide in Gaza are not a settled determination and that such judgments should be made by competent courts, signaling a shift in London’s position from earlier statements. British officials stressed that genocide determinations fall outside government pronouncements and emphasized reliance on legal processes, even as London continues to monitor arms sales and alliance dynamics in the region. Separately, a prominent UN observer and several US-based Christian groups are engaged in a defamation suit against the UN special rapporteur on the Palestinians, Francesca Albanese, alleging that she issued statements accusing certain groups of complicity in war crimes and apartheid. The suit argues those statements were false and harmful to reputation and fundraising efforts.

In the Syrian theatre, Israel conducted overnight strikes inside Syria and issued warnings to Ankara, claiming that recent attacks targeted military equipment connected to Turkish support to the regime in Damascus. Observers note that Israeli officials frequently frame these operations as preemptive measures to deny Hamas and allied forces the means to threaten Israel from neighboring fronts.

In the Gaza flotilla arena, the Global Sumud Flotilla reported that one of its lead vessels was struck by a drone while in Tunisian waters near Sidi Bou Said, though Tunisian authorities said no drones were detected and suggested the incident may have originated from an internal mishap. The flotilla, which aims to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, pledged to continue its mission despite the attack, while activists and observers remain divided over the impact of such voyages on the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The flotilla received media atte

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Published on 12 hours ago