Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-06 at 00:05

HEADLINES
- Gaza City Operation Aims for All Hostages
- Trump Sees Deep Talks DoD Renamed War
- Nir Oz Rebuilds as Hostages Stay Central

The time is now 8:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

This is the hourly news update. Tonight the focus remains on the Gaza conflict and the hostage crisis, with parallel political and international developments shaping the backdrop of the region.

In Gaza, the Israeli military leadership is pressing ahead with plans for the Gaza City operation, stressing the obligation to protect troops while pursuing the goal of securing the return of hostages. The country’s top commanders have told hostage families that the operation will proceed with responsibility toward both soldiers and captives, while acknowledging challenges in intelligence about the captives’ exact locations. In recent days the balance of hostages remains precarious: about 48 people are held by Hamas and allied groups, with 26 confirmed dead and roughly 20 believed alive. Video footage released this week showed a hostage, Alon Ohel, whose condition has raised serious medical concerns; Serbian diplomats in Washington described the footage as an important signal and said Belgrade would pursue diplomatic channels to secure his release along with the others. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated his position against a partial hostage release in favor of a comprehensive deal that would see all captives returned and Hamas disarmed. In private discussions with hostage families, Israel’s top general, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, underscored that any operation would be carried out with unwavering attention to the well-being of captives, saying that hostages are on his mind and that he is acting with professional responsibility toward all involved. The government’s line on talks and strategy has remained cautious, even as international partners urge progress toward a broader ceasefire and hostage resolution. Intelligence officials have also signaled that information about hostage locations remains incomplete, complicating planning for any potential moves.

In Washington, President Donald Trump said the United States is in “very deep” negotiations with Hamas and urged the release of all hostages held in Gaza, warning that failure to do so would lead to a tough and potentially dangerous outcome. The administration described the talks as ongoing and serious, with the aim of securing a comprehensive result. In addition, the president signed a presidential order renaming the Department of Defense the Department of War, signaling a shift in language that he described as aligning with a broader national security posture. The White House asserted that the move would empower cabinet officials and sharpen the signaling of US resolve in defense matters.

Domestically, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he intends to stay in the race and seek re-election, addressing questions about recent press reports that he had traveled to Washington for discussions about his political future; he did not directly confirm whether he had been in talks with any campaign team. The development underscores the headline tension between state and national politics and how a candidate’s posture on national security and foreign policy can influence a municipal race.

On the diplomatic front, the recent activity in the region continues to reverberate through international markets and alignments. The United States remains a key ally to Israel, emphasizing a coalition approach that seeks to press Hamas toward hostage release and a broader structural settlement in Gaza. In Europe and beyond, governments watch closely as the hostage issue and the broader conflict shape regional security calculations.

Israel’s national football team delivered a strong performance, beating Moldova 4-0 in World Cup qualifying, a result that...