Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-06 at 14:05

HEADLINES
Gaza strike targets Hamas hub, civilians endure
UAE calls West Bank annexation red line
Lebanon centralizes weapons despite Hezbollah unease

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

This morning, the region remains in a tense balance as Israel intensifies actions in Gaza while regional and domestic developments reverberate across politics, diplomacy, and daily life.

In Gaza City, the Israel Defense Forces continued a campaign aimed at Hamas infrastructure as operations expand in and around the city. Late yesterday, authorities ordered residents to move south toward humanitarian zones in the al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis, a move described as part of a broader effort to create safer passages for civilians while the military concentrates its effort toward central Gaza. The military said it was targeting Hamas activity in and around高-rise structures, and warned residents to evacuate from areas judged to be being used for military purposes. In one case, a high-rise building in the Tel al-Hawa district of Gaza City was brought down in a strike described by the army as part of its efforts to disrupt Hamas’ surveillance and command capabilities. The strike came as medical authorities in Hamas‑run Gaza reported dozens of fatalities in the day and a separate tally indicated that malnutrition was claiming additional lives. The United Nations and aid agencies have warned that the humanitarian situation remains dire, with about a million people said to be in and around Gaza City and the potential for a renewed surge in displacement as operations proceed.

Across the border, tensions surrounding the West Bank and broader regional relations continue to shape policy discussions in Jerusalem and Washington. A public warning from the United Arab Emirates that any move toward annexation of parts of the West Bank would be a red line threatening the Abraham Accords contributed to a postponement of Cabinet discussions on annexation. Emirati officials, who have pursued normalization with Israel since 2020, signaled through public and private channels that moving ahead on annexation could jeopardize regional ties and complicate US-led efforts toward wider stability. In Israel, the government has been weighing security priorities and diplomatic realities as it faces a hard line from both regional actors and international partners.

Lebanon’s political scene adds another layer of complexity. In Beirut, Lebanese Shi’ite officials and Hezbollah supporters reacted with muted concern to a cabinet plan to centralize weapons under state control, even as some ministers walked out and protests continued in the Dahieh district. The broader regional dynamic remains one where Hezbollah’s leverage and the Lebanese state’s capacity to manage armed groups are under close scrutiny as the region’s conflict calculus evolves.

In the domestic arena, families of hostages held since the autumn crisis have maintained a steady, high‑visibility campaign to press for decisive action and accountability. In social media posts and public statements, relatives have urged senior leaders to act with urgency, signaling that the single most immediate concern for many citizens remains the fate and safety of the hostages.

The cycling world this morning offers a contrasting note of international sport amid political tension. The Israel-Premier Tech cycling team announced a modification of their race kit for the remainder of the Vuelta a Espana, citing the dangerous nature of some protests at the event. The team will keep the name intact but will wear monogram‑style branding on the jerseys to prioritize rider and peloton safety after protests disrupted the finish of a recent stage and prompted security concerns. The decision underscores the delicate balance athletes strike between competition, freedom of expression, and...