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

HEADLINES
Gaza War Ramps Up, Hostage Talks Persist
Spain Plans Israel Arms Embargo Netanyahu Targeted
Kyiv Struck by Drones Missiles Fire Ignites

The time is now 3:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

As of 3:00 AM, here is the latest from the front lines, the diplomatic arena, and the broader regional picture.

In Gaza, Israeli forces are moving into a new phase of the war. The destruction of high-rise buildings in Gaza City marked the opening salvo of Operation Gideon’s Chariots II, with officials stating the aim is to degrade infrastructure, especially tunnels, and to create space for moves on the ground. The military says soldiers are not seeking to root out militants in civilian areas, but to target capabilities that enable militants to operate while civilians are displaced. On the hostage front, a new draft for a deal with Hamas has circulated in recent days through intermediaries. United States officials have presented a plan that would end the Gaza war in exchange for the immediate return of all remaining hostages, and the release of hundreds of jailed prisoners. Hamas has not publicly rejected the proposal, but said it is open to ideas that would achieve a permanent ceasefire, a full withdrawal of Israeli forces, unimpeded humanitarian aid, and a serious prisoner exchange process through mediators. In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described the talks as part of a broader effort to secure lasting security; Defense Minister Israel Katz, meanwhile, faced criticism after posting that “we started” in relation to the Gaza campaign, an instance that highlighted the political sensitivity around timing and messaging as operations intensify. Across the border, the broader political and military calculus remains tense, with officials warning that any escalation carries risks to civilians and international reaction.

Separately, the Israeli Defense Forces intercepted one of two rockets launched from central Gaza toward border communities—an incident that marked the first rocket fire from Gaza in about three weeks. In a separate flare-up, two rockets were fired from Khan Younis, triggering alarms in the Sdot Negev Regional Council and Netivot; the siren was heard as residents took cover. The pace of attacks and the timing of escalations are part of a broader pattern that Israeli officials stress is aimed at pressuring negotiations while preserving security options.

On the diplomatic front, a wave of international reactions remains mixed. In Europe, Spain has signaled a sweeping turn against Israel in the Gaza conflict, with reporting that Madrid plans to approve a total arms embargo on Israel and could declare Prime Minister Netanyahu persona non grata. The proposal would extend to all arms and military technology deals with Israeli entities, and some discussions have included restricting port access to vessels carrying arms to Israel. Spain’s stance comes amid long-standing friction over Israel’s Gaza policy and the broader regional dispute, and it has begun to affect public-facing events linked to Israel in European venues. In the meantime, a number of Western publics and policymakers continue to watch how these tensions influence regional stability and security cooperation.

In Kyiv, the war between Russia and Ukraine took another alarming turn as drones and missiles struck the Ukrainian capital, setting a government building ablaze. Kyiv’s mayor described the attack as a major incident, with a resulting fire in the central government complex after drones and missiles targeted the city. The assault underscores the widening spectrum of regional security challenges that increasingly intersect with global power dynamics and supply chains.

The Islamic World and regional alignments remain fluid as Iran’s proxies and allied groups watch developments closely. While the most...