Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-05-17 at 13:04

HEADLINES
Israel strikes Hezbollah as Gaza escalates violence
Global outrage grows over Gaza humanitarian crisis
Diplomatic deadlock persists amid regional instability

The time is now 09:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

Today at 9:00 in the morning, Israel remains engaged in a multi-front conflict involving Iran and its proxies across seven key areas: Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, the West Bank, Yemen, and Iran itself. Israeli forces continue targeted operations aimed at neutralizing threats, including recent efforts to eliminate terrorist operatives and prevent attacks. In the northern front, Israel announced the killing of a Hezbollah commander in southern Lebanon, amid ongoing Israeli strikes despite a ceasefire agreement from November, with Lebanese authorities reporting casualties from Israeli drone strikes. Israel's military states that it is actively dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure and responding to violations of the ceasefire understanding.

In Gaza, the Israeli Defense Forces have expanded their military operations, including night strikes that killed at least 58 Palestinians overnight. The IDF has issued warnings to Gazan residents to evacuate certain areas as part of preparations for a possible ground offensive, which is being coordinated in the context of ongoing negotiations mediated by Qatar. Despite efforts to negotiate a ceasefire, including discussions of a potential exchange of hostages for a ceasefire period of 45 days, progress remains slow, and frustration is mounting among mediators.

In the West Bank, Israeli forces continue operations targeting suspected terrorists, while in Syria and Iraq, airstrikes attributed to Israel and other regional actors persist, contributing to regional instability. In Yemen, Iran-backed Houthi forces have maintained their posture, complicating efforts for de-escalation.

International reactions are sharply divided. Spain announced plans to submit legal proposals to the United Nations, questioning Israel’s compliance with its international obligations regarding Gaza’s humanitarian access, amid accusations of a grave humanitarian crisis caused by the blockade. Meanwhile, Italy's foreign ministry criticized Israeli actions in Gaza, with the Italian prime minister expressing concern over the suffering in Gaza.

Domestically, Israeli society faces mounting pressure over the conflict’s toll, including incidents like a three-year-old child who was rescued after being trapped in a hot car for an hour, and an 80-year-old man severely injured after falling from a height. Fire outbreaks are also reported, with a fire in the Harobit forest now under control and another in Tira threatening nearby areas.

In diplomatic developments, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that Hamas has resumed negotiations in Doha regarding a hostage deal, with both sides discussing all issues without preconditions. This comes amid Israeli military expansion in Gaza, following a decision by Israel's security cabinet to significantly escalate operations if Hamas does not agree to an outlined proposal by the end of the US President Donald Trump’s Middle East visit.

Meanwhile, in the broader geopolitical arena, French and German leaders have commented on Ukraine's situation, and Spain is preparing to submit proposals to the UN regarding the Gaza blockade, highlighting international concern over the ongoing humanitarian crisis. The Israeli government reports that its military activity will continue intensively, with the possibility of expanding operations if negotiations do not yield results soon.

In the background, diplomatic efforts continue, with reports that the Israeli delegation will remain in Qatar until at least Saturday night, trying to broker a deal while tensions escalate on the ground. The overall atmosphere remains...