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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-23 at 08:09
HEADLINES
- Gaza death toll tops sixty five thousand
- Netanyahu vows Iran Axis defeat within reach
- Saudi Pakistan pact signals regional realignment
The time is now 4:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Today’s hourly update draws a still-tense picture from the Middle East and beyond as events unfold on multiple fronts.
In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered what he described as a blunt assessment of the conflict’s strategic landscape, saying the defeat of Iran’s axis is within reach and underscoring a continued readiness to act. The remarks came at a time when Jerusalem is pressing ahead with a broad security posture against what it says are Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its network of proxies. In Washington, US officials have been working with Israel to shape a postwar framework for Gaza that they describe as “peace through strength,” seeking regional backing to enable an Israeli withdrawal and stabilize a post-conflict order. The plan envisions a role for Arab and Muslim partners in assisting with governance, security arrangements, and postwar reconstruction, while keeping Hamas disarmed and hostage issues resolved.
On the nuclear file, Iran and the European powers are in last-ditch talks to prevent the revival of United Nations sanctions as Tehran previously faced the prospect of a snapback. Britain, France and Germany have pressed to extend the pause in sanctions while Tehran restores access for inspectors and addresses concerns about its stock of enriched uranium. Iranian diplomats say progress is possible, but several officials caution that the window is narrow and the outcome uncertain. Tehran has warned that it will continue its path if its terms are not met, even as it resists pressure and argues its program is for peaceful purposes. The discussions come as high-level exchanges are planned on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
In Gaza, the humanitarian and military picture remains grave and fluid. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says more than 65,000 people have been killed or are presumed dead in the fighting to date, a toll not independently verifiable and not disaggregated by civilians and combatants. Israel says it has pressed its campaign against Hamas, asserting it has killed more than 22,000 combatants and conducted additional operations inside Israel against militants. The number of hostages held in Gaza stands at 48, including 47 of the roughly 251 abducted on October seventh last year. Among those held are the bodies of at least 26 confirmed dead, with around 20 hostages believed alive and two others of grave concern to families and officials. Israeli authorities say they are pursuing a comprehensive ceasefire-hostage settlement that would see Hamas disarmed and all hostages freed, while the United States signals support for a broader, multiyear reconstruction and security framework in Gaza.
The fighting has driven a massive displacement in and around Gaza City. Military commanders in the southern command estimate that about 640,000 residents have moved south in recent days, as air and ground operations intensify. Still in Gaza City, roughly 400,000 people remain in the vicinity, according to the latest assessments, with humanitarian access and delivery of aid continuing to face significant challenges amid ongoing combat and bombardment.
In the broader arena, Israel says Hezbollah’s capabilities in Lebanon have been degraded by sustained pressure, while Lebanon’s leadership has voiced a desire to see the group weakened or expelled from the country. The dynamic remains delicate, with regional cross-border concerns continuing to shape policy and military posture on both sides of the border.
In Yemen, attention remains on the continued Houthi activity in the Red Sea corridor. A British-flagged cargo vessel was repor
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