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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-22 at 00:09
HEADLINES
Iran fires new ICBM as standoff escalates
Syria's al-Sharaa attends UN first since 1967
France pushes UN-led Gaza force disarm Hamas
The time is now 8:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
The region remains in a state of fragile equilibrium as the hour progresses. Iran’s posture this week underscores the persistence of a high-stakes standoff with Israel, even as diplomatic maneuvers unfold elsewhere. Iran reportedly test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile, with accompanying public diplomacy such as a foreign minister’s appearance at the United Nations, signaling defiance amid ongoing regional tensions. In Washington, allied diplomacy continues to grapple with how to steer the conflict away from broader confrontation, even as Tehran presses its regional influence.
In a development that colors the wider conflict, Syria’s leadership landscape continues to shift in the shadow of decades of conflict. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrived in New York to attend United Nations General Assembly meetings, marking the first time a Syrian president has participated in UN proceedings since 1967. Sharaa’s appearance reflects the ongoing reassembly of Syria’s regional alignments and the way Damascus seeks to leverage international forums to gain legitimacy after years of war.
On the diplomatic front in Europe and the Middle East, France has advanced a bold proposal to create an international stabilization force for Gaza aimed at gradually disarming Hamas after the fighting ends. A draft obtained by The Times of Israel envisions a UN-mandated or regionally led mission with a mandate to deter violence, support the transfer of internal security responsibilities to a Palestinian Authority, and facilitate humanitarian access. The plan names Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar as preferred participants, and underscores the possibility of deployment before a formal end to the war, conditioned on a ceasefire. Paris is seeking to align Arab partners with a pathway toward a two-state solution, while pushing for a framework that could be endorsed by the United Nations Security Council. Israel’s concerns about sovereignty and the role of a Palestinian security force remain a central hurdle, with Paris signaling that Israel would be consulted in the process.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian question remains unsettled in political and public life. Hamas welcomed recent moves toward Palestinian state recognition by some governments, calling the step a deserved outcome of its struggle and arguing that it could push Western countries to re-evaluate their approach to Israel. In Gaza, the military front remains active on the ground as the IDF intensifies operations in the city core. The group has released statements signaling a willingness to assert its authority, including the reported execution of three men alleged to have spied for Israel in Gaza City, an act met with mixed international reaction. The fate of hostages and other civilians captured during the fighting continues to loom over every tactical development, with authorities warning that the humanitarian situation remains precarious.
In parallel, new voices within Gaza have emerged. A deputy head of the Abu Shabab anti-Hamas resistance faction circulated a message on social media offering Rosh Hashanah wishes to Jewish communities, illustrating the growing complexity of local alignments and the ongoing pressure from anti-Hamas currents within Gaza itself. The broader regional picture also includes the ongoing political and security consequences of Palestinian state recognition moves abroad, which Israeli officials say could provoke a range of responses inside and outside the West Bank and Gaza.
Looking beyond Gaza, the war’s regional footprint continues to draw in external players and to test traditional alignme
Published on 1 month, 1 week ago