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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-17 at 21:07
HEADLINES
- Syria-Israel talks eye UN monitoring security pact
- Saudi Pakistan defense pact tightens Gulf security
- Nurse killed in Gaza draws global outrage
The time is now 5:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
At 5:00 PM, this is the hourly update from the newsroom.
Syria and Israel moved into a new phase of diplomacy as the eyes of the region turn toward security talks. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said negotiations with Israel could yield results in the coming days, underscoring that any security pact must respect Syria’s airspace and territorial integrity and that UN monitoring would be part of any agreement. He noted that, if a deal proves workable, it could open doors to further agreements, though peace and normalization are not on the agenda at the moment. Damascus also indicated there is no pressure from Washington to push toward a rapid settlement. Reports suggest a signing could occur at the United Nations General Assembly, with US officials pushing for a trilateral summit involving Netanyahu and al-Sharaa as part of a broader push to stabilize the region without triggering a wider peace process. In parallel, regional powers have accelerated discussions about security arrangements as Gulf states reassess ties in light of broader shifts in the Middle East.
In another major strategic move, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a sweeping mutual defense pact, pledging a joint response to aggression. The accord signals a deepening of security cooperation among Gulf states amid what many describe as a shifting security architecture in the region, particularly in the wake of Israel’s actions against regional actors and evolving tensions over Qatar. The defense pledge means an act of aggression against either country could be regarded as aggression against both, reinforcing a bloc of states seeking to deter external threats and coordinate defenses in a volatile neighborhood.
Within Israel’s political and security debate, a prominent figure from the government, Itamar Smotrich, signaled that Gaza real estate activity could help finance military operations and post-conflict rehabilitation in northern towns. He described what he called a “real estate bonanza” in Gaza and said negotiations with the Americans have been serious, stressing the potential for funding through civilian channels to support war efforts and reconstruction. His comments reflect a broader push inside some quarters of the Israeli policy debate to identify revenue streams and leverage opportunities to sustain a long-term security effort, though the idea is controversial given the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the political sensitivities of post-conflict planning.
On the humanitarian front, Doctors Without Borders voiced outrage over the death of a nurse killed in an Israeli airstrike, condemning ongoing military violence that endangers medical personnel and patients in Gaza. The organization stressed its anger that clinicians and aid workers are becoming casualties in the conflict, highlighting the perilous conditions on the ground and the urgent need for protections for medical workers and uninterrupted humanitarian access.
In Washington, the US and its partners continue to pursue talks with Hamas. A source in London cited efforts to restart negotiations within the next two weeks, and a parallel track involving discussions in London with Israeli and Qatari officials underscored how diplomatic channels are being pressed to stabilize hostage negotiations and to manage tensions tied to Qatar and broader regional dynamics. In addition, reports indicate Israel’s diplomacy is closely watching Qatar as a focal point for mediation and alignment with regional actors.
Gaza and the humanitarian crisis remain central to the narrative in Gaza City. Dozens of residents have fled as ground operations push deeper in
Published on 11 hours ago