Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-07 at 08:09

HEADLINES
- Bright Star 25 drill unites 40 nations
- Gaza tents move 100,000 south amid displacement
- Baskin leads hostage talks toward ceasefire

The time is now 4:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

This is your hourly update at 4:00 AM. The situation remains tense and fluid as regional actors calibrate their moves and international efforts seek to shape a path to stability. In broad terms, any ceasefire with Iran and its allied proxies remains fragile, with both sides signaling willingness to press for de-escalation while underlying strategic calculations keep pressure on the region.

A major multinational military exercise is underway in Egypt. Bright Star 25 brings together about 40 nations to practice interoperability and regional security tasks. The exercise is centered at the Mohamed Naguib Military Base and aims to strengthen operational coordination and stability across the area, reflecting ongoing partnerships between Israel, the United States, and allied states in pursuit of security through credible deterrence and readiness.

In Gaza, Israel is preparing for potential humanitarian and public health challenges that could accompany any sustained activity near urban centers. Plans include moving 100,000 tents toward southern Gaza in the context of a possible population shift, and scaling up medical services and vaccination campaigns, including polio vaccines, to curb potential outbreaks amid heightened displacement and strain on health facilities.

A new public committee is being formed within the defense and health ministries to expand resources for wounded IDF soldiers. Led by senior medical experts, the panel will oversee an enhanced national response with a focus on psychological care and social reintegration, reflecting growing attention to the long-term needs of service members who bear the burden of conflict.

On the diplomacy front, the United States has signaled its intent to shape talks with Hamas through mediation led by long-time peace activist Gershon Baskin, who has been involved in past negotiations including the Shalit deal. Baskin’s current role comes as Washington cites principles aimed at advancing a comprehensive settlement, with mediators in play and hostages at the center of discussions. Hamas has indicated it remains open to ideas that achieve a durable ceasefire and a path to prisoner exchanges, but has not publicly accepted any proposal.

Militarily, IDF forces intercepted a rocket fired from central Gaza toward border communities. The strike marked the first outbound rocket fire from Gaza in about three weeks, underscoring how even brief lulls in hostilities can be punctuated by renewed fire and the importance of rapid defensive and humanitarian responses.

There is growing debate about foreign influence in domestic security and political life. A former Shin Bet official argues for a clear legal framework defining any NGO funded by a foreign government as subject to foreign-agent designation, with compliance requirements and transparency measures to safeguard national security and public trust.

Allegations surrounding former Shin Bet leadership have drawn international attention as well. Reports from German and other European outlets describe a controversial custody- and kidnapping-related operation linked to a German heiress and a private security contractor, raising questions about covert operations and cross-border enforcement. Officials and spokespeople deny involvement and stress the need for lawful processes.

In regional diplomacy, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are reportedly working in concert to urge Israel not to move forward with sovereignty plans in Judea and Samaria. The two Gulf states have cautioned that any unilateral steps could complicate regional normalization efforts and the broader peace...