Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-06 at 21:07

HEADLINES
Saudi warns annexation could end normalization
Gaza hostages drive new mediation talks
London protests Paris detentions reshape Gaza response

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

At 5:00 PM, here is your hourly update on the evolving regional picture and related global developments.

Regional diplomacy and normalization, and the leverage of Gaza policy
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman publicly warned that moving to annex parts of the West Bank could end any chance of normalization with Israel, a warning that follows a similar line from the United Arab Emirates. The UAE has signaled that annexation would constitute a red line that could push it to rethink its participation in the Abraham Accords. The latest signals from Riyadh and Abu Dhabi underscore how sensitive the normalization project remains to any moves that affect the trajectory of the Palestinian conflict. In parallel, Spain is reportedly considering accelerating an arms embargo on Israel at the next Council of Ministers meeting, a move that would impose new limits on weapon transfers and technology linked to the conflict. Taken together, these developments highlight how Western and regional partners are weighing strategic interests, security concerns, and the stability of the broader regional peace architecture as the conflict in Gaza persists.

Gaza war, hostages, and the humanitarian and political stakes
Eight to ten Israeli hostages are believed to be alive in Gaza City, according to a Hamas video cited in reporting, as the Israeli Defense Forces push deeper into the city. Families of hostages have voiced mounting concern about the danger to loved ones amid the intensified campaign, even as Israeli officials stress that the hostages remain a focus of concerns and operations. The Israeli government has publicly acknowledged the risks to civilians and to those held by Hamas, while defense leaders privately weighed the implications of continuing an offensive in Gaza City for the sake of military objectives and hostage release prospects. In Washington, US officials have conveyed that any plan to halt the fighting would require a framework for negotiations that would secure the return of all hostages, and American officials have made clear that broader military pressure could continue if Hamas refuses to engage in meaningful talks. President Donald Trump has publicly pressed for a rapid return of all hostages and has urged Hamas to release them immediately, arguing that the parents of the captives deserve nothing less and that ongoing demonstrations in Israel over the hostages place political pressure on the government. US mediation efforts have involved Egypt and Qatar, and Washington has signaled readiness to support a phased approach that could include international involvement in areas Israel disengages from, with practical steps toward a broader settlement.

A note on the hostages and the mediation framework
In recent days, US officials have voiced that Hamas would face a considerable price if hostages are harmed, reinforcing a warning that leadership abroad could come under targeted action. Direct talks between US negotiators and Hamas have resumed after a period of distance, with mediators seeking a pathway to end the war and secure the return of all hostages. The framework under discussion has included elements that could resemble an initial pause coupled with concrete humanitarian arrangements and the potential return of hostages, followed by broader assurances and negotiations on a comprehensive settlement. Egypt and Qatar have been active in trying to bridge differences, while Israel has pressed for a broader security outcome that would prevent another wave of violence and ensure long-term stability.

Israel’s domestic and regional security context
The Gaza operation...