Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-06 at 09:08

HEADLINES
Hostage talks stall; Trump pressures Hamas
Gaza City operation looms amid famine warnings
US expands sanctions on detentions abroad

The time is now 5:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

An uneasy ceasefire picture persists as Israel and its regional dynamics circulate around the Gaza conflict, with Washington pressing for a resolve that preserves Israel’s security while international actors seek a path that prevents a broader regional crisis. In Jerusalem, the debate over how to secure the return of hostages and defeat Hamas remains central. Of note, reports indicate former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi urged Benjamin Netanyahu to back a one‑phase, comprehensive hostage release ahead of a Rafah offensive, a plan Netanyahu rejected as defeat and instead pursued a phased or contingent approach. The government’s posture remains that the war could end immediately if all hostages are freed, Hamas is disarmed, Gaza is demilitarized, Israeli security control is established, and an alternative civilian administration is in place. Those conditions frame ongoing negotiations as well as military planning.

On the ground, Israeli forces are advancing in discussions of a broader operation around Gaza City. The army has called Gaza City residents to move south to a designated humanitarian zone in Al-Mawasi, emphasizing that relief networks there will continue in parallel with the military campaign. Aid agencies and the United Nations warn that the city is home to large numbers of displaced people and that the wider operation could displace many more. The UN has warned of famine conditions in Gaza City and surrounding areas, underscoring the humanitarian stakes as fighting intensifies.

Hostage negotiations remain a focal point of international attention. US President Donald Trump has said Washington is in “very deep negotiations” with Hamas over the captives and has warned that if all hostages are not released, the situation could become “nasty.” In a related development, Trump signed an executive order allowing the designation of nations as state sponsors of wrongful detention, a tool intended to deter hostage diplomacy and sanctions‑based leverage, though it does not single out Hamas by name. Pro‑Israel voices in the hostage families community welcomed Trump’s effort, while noting the painful toll on families who hope for a full and prompt release.

Hamas has publicly signaled willingness to enter into a comprehensive hostage deal in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and other concessions, a stance Israel dismissed as spin as it presses ahead with its Gaza City plans. Israeli officials, including senior security figures, continue to warn that a Gaza City operation could take months and risk harming hostages, as some observers say Hamas might move captives to other locations ahead of intensified operations. The security establishment remains divided over whether a phased deal or a full‑scale, all‑at‑once settlement better serves Israel’s security interests, with the prime minister and several security chiefs insisting on the all‑hostages‑for‑peace approach, and others cautioning about the operational and humanitarian risks of a prolonged campaign.

International diplomacy around Gaza extends beyond the Israeli‑Palestinian arena. Cairo has used sharp language to press for Palestinian state recognition and to condemn Israeli policies seen as displacing Palestinians, while maintaining that Egypt does not support coercive expulsions and seeks a durable, internationally supported settlement. In Beirut, Lebanon, Hezbollah’s stance is nuanced: officials quoted by Reuters described Friday’s cabinet discussion on an army plan to establish a state monopoly on arms as a moment to return to prudence, even as Lebanon’s cabinet welcomed the plan to disarm Hezbollah and begin implementation. Analysts say...