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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-27 at 18:05
HEADLINES
Iran proxies push on as ceasefire cracks
Gaza war reaches decisive phase hostages linger
West Bank demolitions spark security tensions
The time is now 2:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Two o'clock update from the newsroom. The ceasefire between Israel and Iran remains fragile as both sides test the restraint built around limited terms. In practice, Tehran continues to rely on its network of allies from Syria to Lebanon while signaling no real pause in attacks or support for its proxies. In parallel, the balance of power among Iran’s partners has shifted in recent weeks as operations by Israeli and allied forces have damaged capabilities, leaving Syria’s reconstituted government trying to hold steady and Hezbollah in Lebanon weakened but not defeated.
Across Gaza, Hamas’ fighting capacity appears diminished since the October conflict, but the hostage crisis still blocks any simple path to settlement. The campaign against Hamas continues, with Israeli officials insisting that if Hamas does not release all hostages and disarm, the Gaza enclave will face total destruction. The defense leadership has publicly described a shift toward a phase of decisive action, with more than 750,000 residents displaced from Gaza City to the south, and infrastructure in the strip targeted to erode the group’s ability to operate.
In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished homes linked to attackers in a practice the government says aims to deter future violence, while critics accuse it of collective punishment. Security officials say the measure is designed to disrupt terror networks and protect Israeli civilians, though it deepens tensions on the ground. In Jerusalem, the killing of a security officer in the deadly October 7 attack continues to reverberate through security policy and political debate.
The broader regional and international picture features new attention on Iran’s status at the United Nations and beyond. A vote to delay sanctions on Tehran failed, and all United Nations measures aimed at pressuring Iran are due to snap back into force on Saturday evening, raising pressure on Iranian leadership as the Islamic Republic engages in diplomacy on multiple fronts. In another international development, Ukraine has accepted Patriot missile defense systems from Israel, with President Zelensky confirming the delivery of two additional Patriot batteries in the fall, a move underscoring shared concern about missile defense and regional security.
The diplomacy surrounding the Gaza war also includes comments from partners and rivals alike about potential strategies. A Trump administration framework is cited in reporting as promoting peace through strength and signaling support for Israel’s security objectives, including plans to engage with Israel on efforts to end the Gaza conflict. In parallel, several regional actors weigh how a potential broader settlement would affect their own security calculations. The United States has also tightened visa policy in response to diplomatic tensions, revoking a visa for a South American president after his public calls for a force seen as unfriendly to the United States, illustrating how domestic political shifts ripple into international strategy.
On the battlefield, Israeli forces have carried out a sustained campaign across Gaza, striking Hamas targets and destroying infrastructure linked to the group’s operations. Military leaders insist that this phase is essential to degrade Hamas’ ability to threaten Israeli civilians and to secure the return of the more than a dozen hostages held in Gaza. Within the Israeli defense apparatus, officers have described a precise intelligence campaign that allowed for targeted strikes and the neutralization of militants linked to major attacks, including those carried out in Jerusalem and Ramot Junction.
Published on 1 month, 1 week ago