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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-22 at 18:07
HEADLINES
- Gaza City battles escalate, civilians suffer
- Hamas lays 60-day hostage release offer
- Iran lawmakers push for nuclear weapons
The time is now 2:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
This is a regional briefing at 2:00 PM. The uneasy posture between Israel and Iran continues to shape the region, with both sides signaling firmness while insisting diplomacy remains on the table. Washington has reiterated a close and cooperative approach with Israel on security and regional challenges, reflecting a line the administration has framed as pursuing peace through strength even as talks and pressure move on different tracks. Tehran, for its part, says diplomacy is the sole path to resolving the long-running nuclear dispute, while European partners pressing to reimpose UN sanctions argue that time is running short for compliance with the 2015 framework.
In Gaza, Israeli forces say they are pressing a campaign in Gaza City aimed at degrading Hamas’ military capabilities as the war enters a new phase of urban combat. The humanitarian toll continues to mount and aid as a lifeline remains precarious. The Gaza Strip’s population endures a shifting battlefield: Israeli officials say hundreds of thousands have already left Gaza City, and humanitarian workers warn that even with aid flows, the city faces a grave shortage of essentials. On Sunday, approximately 460 trucks carrying humanitarian assistance entered Gaza through crossings into the southern and central Gaza Strip, with UN and aid groups counting hundreds more waiting on the Gazan side for distribution. The UN has warned that roughly 600 trucks per day would be required to feed Gazans adequately, underscoring the gap between needs and the current pace of relief deliveries.
On the hostage front, Hamas has been reported to propose an option for releasing a substantial number of hostages in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire, a signal that the group is weighing tactical pauses even as it remains in control of areas inside Gaza. The offer, however, has not yet been formally transmitted to the US president or his administration, and officials cautioned that there has been no official confirmation of a formal proposal reaching Washington.
Domestically in Israel, families of those taken hostage pressed for action, staging a vigil outside the Prime Minister’s residence with a message that there will be no holiday celebrations without the captives returned and the nation’s unity at stake. Officials say the holiday period complicates logistics and access to humanitarian corridors, even as ministries coordinate food, prayer books, and other supplies for soldiers and civilians alike serving in or near combat zones.
In Gaza City, Israeli forces reported ongoing fights with Hamas units, including exchanges near residential districts. The army has said it targeted Hamas infrastructure and activity tied to the group’s naval and ground forces, while military planners emphasize the need to minimize civilian harm amid an intensified urban battle. Across the Gaza Strip, humanitarian agencies say hospitals and clinics have faced operational strain, with Hamas-run health authorities reporting facilities taken out of service amid the fighting and airstrikes. Israeli authorities reject the idea that civilians are being used as shields, instead arguing that Hamas embeds itself in civilian infrastructure to complicate military operations.
Beyond the immediate battlefield, several international developments color the broader picture. A significant number of Iranian lawmakers have called publicly for renewed nuclear capabilities, with 71 members pressing the Supreme National Security Council to pursue nuclear weapons. Tehran’s foreign minister has reiterated that diplomacy remains the only path forward, while citing Western pressure and sanctions as counterprod
Published on 1 month, 1 week ago