Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-05 at 02:08

HEADLINES
- Israel Controls 40% of Gaza City
- Moscow Ready to Discuss Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Fuel
- US Plans Rename DoD to War Department

The time is now 10:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

Good evening. We begin with a pair of developments that underline how international tensions and regional conflicts are shaping this hour’s news. First, Moscow says it is prepared to discuss the fate of US nuclear fuel stored at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia plant in talks with Washington, with the issue previously placed in the hands of the UN nuclear watchdog for mediation. The approach signals a desire for containment through diplomacy even as the Ukrainian plant remains a flashpoint in the broader war and energy security debate.

In Washington, the Trump administration continues to press for a securer posture in global affairs while pursuing a strategic alignment with Israel framed as peace through strength. The administration has announced steps and rhetoric aimed at reinforcing deterrence and pressuring adversaries, including proposals to rename the Department of Defense as the Department of War, a move that would reemphasize a more assertive posture in the defense portfolio if Congress allows it.

Turning to the Middle East, the Gaza war remains at a critical juncture. The Israeli military says it has established control over about 40 percent of Gaza City, as it prepares for a potential broader operation to seize the city’s urban core. Hamas’s governance of the Strip continues to face intense pressure from air and ground campaigns, with humanitarian officials warning of escalating need as essential services deteriorate. The Gaza health ministry, which is controlled by Hamas, tallies more than 64,000 dead or presumed dead in the fighting, a figure that cannot be independently verified and that has drawn sharp debate among international observers about casualties, civilians, and combatants. Israel contends it is fighting a terrorist organization and stresses it is trying to minimize civilian harm while arguing that Hamas uses civilians as human shields and operates from densely populated areas.

Amid the fighting, discussions about a broader ceasefire and hostage release persist. A Palestinian-American mediator tied to US efforts says a final ceasefire proposal on the table would lay out the terms for ending the war and freeing all hostages held in Gaza, a formulation described as a comprehensive deal in Washington and other capitals. The exchange of proposals has occurred as UN and humanitarian voices warn of looming humanitarian catastrophes, with UNICEF and others urging access to food, water, and medical supplies for Gaza’s civilians.

On the diplomatic and legal front, the United States has taken steps against groups linked to the International Criminal Court inquiry into alleged war crimes in Gaza. Treasury action designated three Palestinian rights groups tied to calls for ICC investigations into Israeli actions; the move reflects a broader US effort to shape international legal scrutiny surrounding the conflict. In parallel, the administration is weighing other measures intended to project strength, including talks and policy choices aimed at sustaining a US–Israel partnership that supports Israel’s security objectives while balancing humanitarian and diplomatic concerns.

Travel and business developments also figure in today’s landscape. United Airlines has announced it will resume flights to Tel Aviv from Chicago on November 1 and from Washington, DC, on November 2, marking the carrier’s return to these routes after a hiatus, the first since 2023. The move is seen as a sign of confidence in continued air links between the United States and Israel amid ongoing security concerns.

Beyond the Middle East, political upheaval in Southeast Asia is capturing attention. In Thailand,...