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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-22 at 15:05
HEADLINES
Australia reverses Palestinian state recognition
Hamas seeks 60-day ceasefire for hostages
Iran Russia plan new nuclear reactors
The time is now 11:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
This is the 11:00 a.m. news update on the Middle East crisis and the wider theater surrounding it.
Australia said it will reverse its decision to recognize a Palestinian state as a new government comes to power, with the acting prime minister noting the move reflects ongoing concerns of Australia’s Jewish community and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The development follows a wave of recognitions by several countries that had moved to back a Palestinian state, a shift that has drawn warnings from Israel’s government about potential repercussions for security in the West Bank and in Gaza.
In the diplomatic arena, a chorus of international voices is shaping the path ahead. Britain’s foreign secretary has stressed that recognizing Palestinian statehood should not come at the expense of security for Israelis or Palestinians alike, and Germany has indicated there should be no new unilateral moves that would further destabilize the region. At the same time, Singapore announced targeted sanctions on leaders of Israeli settler groups and signaled readiness to recognize a Palestinian state under the right conditions. The spectrum of responses underscores a global push to press for a two-state solution even as fighting continues.
On the battlefield and in diplomacy regarding hostages, Hamas has released a propaganda video showing hostage Alon Ohel, who has been held in Gaza for more than two years. Separately, Hamas has signaled it is seeking direct engagement with the United States, sending a letter via Qatar to President Trump proposing a 60-day ceasefire in exchange for the release of half the hostages. Hamas has not yet formalized that offer in a direct government-to-government channel, but the move is part of a pattern of messaging aimed at pressuring Israel as military operations intensify and negotiations stall. In related developments, Hamas has also indicated it would be willing to release captives as part of broader talks, a possibility that caller’s allies view through the lens of an American political dynamic focused on conflict resolution.
Turning to Iran and its broader regional posture, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said diplomacy over Iran’s nuclear program is at a difficult juncture, but dialogue continues. The Security Council has moved to reimpose sanctions that had been suspended, a snapback mechanism triggered by European governments accusing Iran of non-compliance. Separately, reports indicate Tehran and Moscow are preparing to sign documents related to building new nuclear reactors in Iran, a development Western governments have long cited as evidence of Tehran’s broader nuclear ambitions.
Against this backdrop, a public explainer notes what wider recognition of Palestine might mean for both Palestinians and Israel, emphasizing that several states frame recognition as a lever to restore momentum toward peace, while Israel cautions that unilateral moves could complicate security realities on the ground. Prime Minister Netanyahu has reiterated a long-standing pledge to continue the broader campaign against Iran’s regional influence, describing efforts as a fight to destroy Iran’s axis and praising the Israel Defense Forces for their resolve as fighting persists, including in the West Bank and across Gaza’s front lines.
In the European and broader international sphere, Western governments and allies continue to urge restraint on any measures that could escalate tensions. Britain and Germany have warned Israel against annexing parts of the West Bank in retaliation for Palestinian statehood recognitions, while other Western nations consider how to balan
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