Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-07 at 00:06

HEADLINES
Gaza ceasefire talks target end, hostage release
Hostages still held; protests surge outside residence
Australia designates IRGC terrorist, expels ambassador

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

Good evening. Here is your hourly update on the region’s feeding tensions, the Gaza war, and the broader international response as of 8:00 PM.

Diplomatic and strategic backdrop
Mediators are pressing for a comprehensive Gaza deal this week that would aim to end the war, secure the release of hostages, and allow unfettered aid access. While discussions advance, Israel has reiterated it will engage only in a deal that fully ends the conflict, a stance supported by some regional partners who warn that any move toward West Bank annexation could derail normalization efforts with key partners. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have signaled that any renewed push toward annexation would jeopardize progress toward broader normalization deals and could trigger a recalibration of regional ties.

In Washington, a cautionary note remains in play about Iran’s regional influence. Israel has told US officials that it views any significant action by Iran’s proxies as a trigger for a strong response that could extend beyond Yemen, potentially reaching Iranian targets as well. The message underscores a continuing pattern of red lines being tested by Tehran’s network of allied groups, from Yemen to Lebanon and Syria.

Hamas, Gaza, and the hostage situation
Hamas continues to hold a substantial number of hostages in Gaza, with officials estimating 48 captives still in Gaza. The foreign and security situation remains precarious as the IDF presses forward with its operation in Gaza City, even as families of hostages and a broad protest movement urge a resolution that would secure all hostages’ freedom and end the war. Hamas has publicly indicated openness to a resolution that ends the fighting and enables a full Israeli withdrawal, unfettered aid access, and security guarantees, though negotiations remain complex and contingent on broader security assurances and the fate of the remaining captives.

On the ground in Israel, large demonstrations have formed outside Prime Minister Netanyahu’s residence, organized by families of hostages and a wide cross-section of society. The protests have focused on demanding a definitive end to the war and the immediate return of captives, while warning against a prolonged campaign that could imperil those held in Gaza. Within this context, lawmakers and security officials remain engaged in high-stakes discussions about the next phase of the Gaza operation, including the balance between military objectives and civilian and hostage safety.

Domestic Israeli developments and public diplomacy
The government is moving to bolster its public messaging apparatus. A cabinet plan would establish a new public diplomacy unit within the Foreign Ministry, aimed at countering anti-Israel content online and in the media, with authorities given flexibility to appoint leadership without a formal tender. The move signals a heightened effort to shape international perception as the war continues.

In parallel, a high-profile exchange occurred between lawmakers and police during a hostage rally. The confrontation underscored the political tensions surrounding the campaign, with security officials insisting that demonstrations remain nonviolent while critics argued for an intensified public stance to pressure the government toward a faster resolution.

The hostage situation and Gaza operation have dominated political discourse, with some opposition figures arguing that a broad, sustained mobilization—comparable to past large-scale protests—could influence government decisions. Critics of the war have urged urgency, while supporters...