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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-25 at 10:06
HEADLINES
Gaza City ground push escalates; Hamas targets
Netanyahu dodges Europe as ICC warrant looms
Iran restarts missile sites amid nuclear tensions
The time is now 6:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
A 6:00 AM news update: Israeli forces are advancing the Gaza City corridor as the war’s ground phase continues to push deeper into the city; Israeli officials say the operation aims to dismantle Hamas’s remaining urban infrastructure and kill senior operatives. Local health authorities report at least 19 people killed across Gaza on Thursday, including 11 members of two families in the central Gaza Strip town of Zawayda. Hospitals and aid groups warn of worsening humanitarian conditions as fighting persists in densely populated areas.
On the political front, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traveled to New York to address the United Nations General Assembly. His flight path drew attention for detouring to avoid several European airspaces amid concerns tied to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant and broader legal questions about visiting certain countries during the conflict. In Jerusalem and beyond, officials emphasize that the United States remains a key partner in pursuing a ceasefire framework and hostage negotiations while standing with Israel’s security needs.
Israel’s security environment continues to be punctuated by domestic security alerts and arrests tied to threats against the prime minister. A 40-year-old man from Kiryat Gat was arrested after entering a police station and threatening to kill Netanyahu, with prosecutors expected to file a fast-track indictment and seek detention pending trial. In another case related to the Gaza war, a 22-year-old Arab Israeli from Taybeh, Amin Hassan Abdelqader Azzam, was indicted in Lod on charges of preparing to kidnap an IDF soldier to pressure Israel to end the Gaza war. Prosecutors say the plot included training activity, attempts to obtain weapons, and contact with Hamas facilitators, and the suspect was detained in August after months of planning.
The war’s battlefield narrative also includes renewed air and ground activity aimed at destroying terrorist infrastructure in Gaza City and surrounding areas. The Israeli military described ongoing operations to dismantle Hamas’s networks, including underground and surface facilities, and to neutralize operatives. In parallel, a report from the Times of Israel notes a separate incident from Gaza: reports of a missile launch attempt toward a combat helicopter, underscoring ongoing risks near the front lines.
Iranian activity and its regional proxies continue to shape the broader security picture. Iran’s president told the United Nations that Tehran will never seek to build a nuclear weapon. He warned that if Tehran and the E3 fail to reach a diplomatic extension by September 27, UN sanctions could be reimposed. Separately, satellite imagery and reporting indicate Iran is restarting missile-production sites, signaling renewed industrial momentum for its long-range arsenal. Taken together, these developments contribute to an uneasy ceasefire dynamic in which Iran and its networks are pressing for influence and leverage while Israel and its allies press for a durable, enforceable pause and a path to hostage release.
European and regional diplomacy adds further complexity to the picture. Spain and Italy have deployed naval assets to escort Gaza-bound flotillas amid continuing clashes at sea near the blockade. Italy’s defense leadership indicated a second warship would accompany the flotilla’s vessels, highlighting Europe’s ongoing efforts to balance humanitarian concerns with security considerations in the Gaza theater. In another regional note, there are indications that some European capitals are weighing sanctions and measures in response to Palestinian statehood recognitions
Published on 1 month, 1 week ago