Podcast Episode Details

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-24 at 11:06

---

---

HEADLINES
Gaza City Offensive Deepens Humanitarian Crisis
Iran-backed Hezbollah Funding Persists Despite Sanctions
Italy Redirects Navy to Gaza Aid Flotilla

The time is now 7:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

At 7:00 AM, the region remains on a knife edge as Gaza confronts a major Israeli offensive while diplomacy and regional finance tests shape the longer arc of the conflict. In Gaza City, Israeli forces have pressed a push toward the city’s heart, risking harm to civilians who have already endured heavy bombardment and displacement. Gaza’s civil defense agency says dozens of people have been killed in recent strikes across the territory as the assault intensifies, with the UN and aid groups warning of a looming humanitarian crisis in a city once home to nearly a million people. Israel says its objective is to root out Hamas’s network and restore security, while humanitarian concerns underscore the imperative of protecting civilians and ensuring aid access.

Across the border, the broader regional picture remains complicated by Iran’s reach and the status of allied groups. Hezbollah, after a brutal year of fighting and pressure, appears weakened but remains financially resilient, still paying fighters and funding social services in Lebanon. US officials say Tehran continues to provide substantial support, with authorities reporting monthly funds flowing to Hezbollah despite international efforts to disrupt pipelines and networks. Iran’s broader influence in the region has been compromised by broader political shifts, including the removal of Assad’s ally position in Syria’s recent realignments, which has disrupted some traditional routes for cash and materiel. In this frame, Hezbollah’s capacity to sustain operations in Lebanon and the border area continues to be a focal point for Washington and its Gulf partners seeking to prevent a wider escalation.

Oil and sanctions dynamics add another layer of complexity. Iran’s oil ministry has signaled that sales to China could continue even if UN sanctions are reimposed under a snapback mechanism, highlighting the fragility of enforcement when major energy flows are at stake. European powers and Iran’s negotiators met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly to push for a path toward averting new sanctions, illustrating how the economic dimensions of the conflict persist even as military campaigns unfold on the ground.

In the West Bank and Gaza, incident reports continue to surface as security and political tensions rise. An old rocket was located in Tulkarm, adding to a pattern of West Bank activity that has unsettled residents and drawn attention to the ongoing risk to central Israel. Separately, reports from Gaza indicate that Israeli forces attacked a branch of Palestinian banks in Gaza City, a development that underscores the mixed civilian toll and the continuing fragility of everyday life under war conditions.

International reactions and political symbolism also feature in today’s landscape. In Paris, France, a debate over Palestine state recognition spilled into local government actions, with dozens of town halls flying Palestinian flags in solidarity before some were required to remove them as legal procedures unfolded. Italy condemned an overnight attack on a Gaza aid flotilla and redirected a navy ship to offer assistance, signaling continued European involvement in humanitarian relief efforts despite the risks on the water. And in Washington, officials pressed for accountability following a high-profile escalator incident at the UN headquarters, signaling ongoing concern about security and the display of political symbolism on the world stage.

Domestically, Israeli life and politics continue to reflect a nation at war and at the same time adapting to shifting social currents. A Hebrew University study found a nota

---

Published on 1 month, 1 week ago