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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-28 at 09:06
HEADLINES
Iran vows response as sanctions bite economy
Gaza ceasefire hinges on 21-point plan
Israel weighs death penalty for terrorists
The time is now 5:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
This is the five o’clock update. The battlefield and the bargaining table remain linked as the region moves through a fragile pause in fighting and a continuing search for durable political arrangements.
The uneasy ceasefire surrounding Israel and Iran’s influence across the region continues to ride on a knife edge. Iran’s leadership condemned the renewed United Nations sanctions over its nuclear program as illegal and pledged a firm and appropriate response. Western diplomats say the sanctions that snap back into force tighten penalties on Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, while European partners urged restraint and kept channels open for diplomacy. Tehran’s leadership has warned of repercussions for those who honor the measures, and some Iranian lawmakers have floated the possibility of reconsidering participation in certain international treaty frameworks. In parallel, Iranian officials admit the new pressure will bite the economy and some observers note the rial’s strain in recent days, with prices and living costs rising as speculation about the future grows.
Looking beyond the nuclear dispute, American diplomacy in the region has produced a complicated mix of public and provisional assertions. The United States and allied governments have pressed for a path that keeps open conversation with Iran even as pressure mounts, while other powers have signaled a readiness to pursue diplomacy aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. In Russia’s and China’s positions, there is emphasis on dialogue as well as skepticism about Western approaches, and lawmaking bodies in Iran have studied responses that would broaden Tehran’s strategic options should external pressure intensify.
In Gaza, the shape of any future ceasefire remains unsettled. A widely cited but still debated plan from the Trump administration was reported to outline a 21-point framework for ending hostilities, including a rapid hostage-release sequence and a defined path for a long-term settlement. The plan reportedly envisions the immediate release of all surviving hostages within 48 hours, alongside the return of bodies of those killed, in exchange for large-scale prisoner releases and a commitment by Hamas to lay down arms, though not necessarily to disarm completely. Hamas officials have said they have not received any new proposals from mediators and noted the talks have been paused since a failed attempt on a mid-September date. In Israel, security authorities continue to monitor and respond to ongoing threats in Gaza and across border areas as part of a broader campaign to degrade Hamas’ capabilities.
Amid the diplomatic maneuvering, Arab states reportedly have proposed changes to the Trump-era framework that would affect the governance of Gaza after any ceasefire. Reports cite calls for a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and for an internationally supervised, Palestinian technocratic administration, with a condition that Hamas lay down arms rather than surrender them outright. The plan would be presented to Israeli leadership at the White House if discussions move forward, with the aim of limiting Hamas’ operational ability while creating a pathway for governance and security along Gaza’s borders.
Domestically in Israel, the political debate intensifies around security measures and the price of lasting peace. Lawmakers are weighing a measure that would make the death penalty mandatory for terrorists—a proposal that proponents say would reflect the gravity of attacks against Israeli civilians, while opponents warn such steps could complicate negotiations with hostages’ safety in mind. In paral
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