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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-22 at 22:08
HEADLINES
US peace plan to end Gaza war
France recognizes Palestinian state fueling two-state push
Indonesia links Israel recognition to Palestinian state
The time is now 6:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Good evening. At six o’clock, we begin with a sweeping moment in the Gaza crisis as Washington prepares a new push to end the war. President Donald Trump is scheduled to present a US-brokered plan to Arab leaders including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan in a bid to advance peace through a unified approach. The aim, officials say, is to secure a pathway to halt the fighting and to restart serious diplomacy among regional partners who have long sought a resolution that respects Israel’s security needs while addressing Palestinian aspirations.
Across the Gaza front, a new round of diplomacy is taking shape around a possible ceasefire deal. Senior Hamas officials cited in the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat said an effort is underway to draft a new ceasefire framework, with the next two weeks expected to clarify what each side might offer toward a temporary halt to the Israeli operation and the opening of a pathway to more substantive negotiations. Sources say several Arab states are coordinating talks aimed at ending the war completely and securing the withdrawal of Israeli forces from residential areas, with maps showing pullbacks in different parts of the Strip. On the table is a proposal reported by Al-Hadath and Al-Arabiya that would include the release of ten hostages and the return of two bodies, including American citizens, backed by American guarantees of a 60-day ceasefire and humanitarian aid deliveries. Neither Israel nor Hamas has publicly endorsed the new plan, and discussions continue through mediators.
In parallel, a broader international impulse to back Palestinian statehood has gained momentum. At the United Nations, France announced recognition of a Palestinian state, joining a group of Western partners that have moved in that direction in recent days. This follows steps by Malta, Luxembourg, and Belgium, and marks a shift in diplomatic posture as the two-state framework again ascends to the center of international discourse. France insists its move is aimed at sustaining the possibility of a negotiated two-state solution, even as the ground reality in Gaza remains dire and the fate of hostages unresolved. Other European nations have joined in similar declarations in recent days, signaling a coordinated, if controversial, approach to Palestine’s status on the world stage.
In New York, the French president underscored a shared aim: to free the 48 hostages believed held by Hamas and to end the war in Gaza, while stressing that the path to peace must be real, time-bound, and anchored in a sustainable two-state outcome. The international mood is one of urgency mixed with skepticism about whether recognition alone can translate into ground changes that Israel views as essential for its security and for humanitarian relief to Gaza’s civilian population.
Meanwhile, the wave of recognition has provoked strong reactions in several European capitals. After France, Monaco’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state added to the momentum but also sparked domestic debate about how such steps influence the prospects for peace on the ground. In France, the government’s stance prompted discussions about public displays of support for Palestine, with some local authorities choosing to fly the Palestinian flag in defiance of official calls for neutrality. The broader public conversation in Europe reflects a society wrestling with security concerns, support for humanitarian relief, and conflicting views on how to advance a two-state solution while confronting ongoing violence.
On the ground in the wider region, voices fro
Published on 1 month, 1 week ago