Podcast Episode Details

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-29 at 21:07

---

---

HEADLINES
- Gaza Plan Demands Hamas Disarmament Hostage Return
- Knesset Approves 30.8B Defense Boost
- Netanyahu Apologizes to Qatar Over Doha Strike

The time is now 5:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

At five o’clock this afternoon, a sweeping framework aimed at ending the Gaza conflict moved to the center of the international effort. The United States, joining with Israeli leadership, unveiled a twenty-point plan that envisions a deradicalized Gaza, immediate humanitarian support, and a staged, internationally overseen transition in governance for the territory. The plan calls for a pause in fighting once both sides publicly accept the framework, the rapid return of all hostages within seventy-two hours, and the release of hundreds of detainees after those hostages are accounted for. It also calls for the disarmament of Hamas and the removal of Hamas leadership from Gaza, followed by the establishment of a transitional civilian administration to run the Strip, under an international Board of Peace chaired by the President of the United States, with involvement from other leading states and international figures.

Under the plan, aid to Gaza would begin immediately and be distributed through the United Nations, the Red Crescent, and other independent organizations, with the Rafah crossing opened under a uniform mechanism. The Israeli military would withdraw progressively from Gaza in step with Hamas’s disarmament, while maintaining a security perimeter for the foreseeable future. Those who once supported or collaborated with Hamas would be offered safe passage to other countries, and a process designed to rebuild Gaza would be overseen by an apolitical Palestinian committee operating under international oversight. The framework also envisions a broader economic development program and a pathway toward a future political horizon, tied to credible reforms in Gaza and to international guarantees that would prevent a resurgence of violence.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared in Washington beside the President and stated his support for the plan, arguing that it would achieve Israel’s war aims: the return of all hostages, the dismantling of Hamas’s military capabilities, the end of Hamas’s political control, and a Gaza that cannot pose a future threat to Israel. He characterized the framework as a serious step forward, though he acknowledged the terms would be demanding and hinge on Hamas’s willingness to relinquish weapons and accept a new governing arrangement for Gaza that excludes Hamas from power.

Hamas’s response has been cautious and noncommittal to date. The movement has not yet publicly endorsed the proposal, signaling that a comprehensive assessment is still pending and that any settlement will have to satisfy Hamas’s own strategic and political concerns. Backers of the plan say Qatar has been pressing Hamas to say yes, and discussions among the United States, Israel, and Gulf partners are ongoing to align expectations and operational arrangements. Observers note that the success of the plan depends heavily on Hamas’s willingness to disarm, to accept a new civilian administration for Gaza, and to participate in the staged exchanges that begin with hostage returns and prisoner releases.

Domestically, Israel’s government moved to shore up wartime logistics. The Knesset narrowly approved an additional thirty point eight billion new Israeli shekels for defense spending, a figure aimed at covering costs associated with ongoing fighting and security operations. The vote—fifty-five in favor, fifty against—took place as lawmakers weighed the broader fiscal implications of a prolonged conflict, with some opposition members absent. Finance and defense officials stressed that the extra funding was essential to sustain manpower, equipment, and security operations during wartime, pushing the

---

Published on 1 month ago