Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-07 at 14:07

HEADLINES
Ma’ale Adumim E1 annexation plan sparks backlash
Hostages dominate Gaza corridor negotiations
Houthis strike Ramon Airport, Israel responds

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

Good morning. This is a 10:00 AM hourly news update.

Tensions in the region remain fragile as security operations and diplomacy play out against a complex backdrop. In Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed the objective of dismantling Hamas strongholds and opening humanitarian corridors, saying quickly ending the war remains the best path to reduce international pressure and secure a durable outcome. Hamas, for its part, has insisted on terms for any ceasefire and continues to resist disarmament, signaling that the path to a lasting pause remains contested and heavily conditioned by security realities on the ground.

On the ground in the West Bank and the wider arena of settlement policy, reports have circulated about a framework agreement tied to the E1 corridor in Ma’ale Adumim. Officials and local leaders have given mixed signals: Ma’ale Adumim’s mayor described a critical moment for potential annexation discussions, while indicating he was not aware of a signed framework due on Thursday. The plan would authorize significant housing expansion along the E1 zone, a development seen by critics as physically fragmenting a future Palestinian state and by supporters as infrastructure and security planning. International reaction has been sharp, with condemnation from several European capitals and from regional partners who view the project as a major obstacle to a two-state solution.

In international security news, the Houthis in Yemen have carried out another drone attack against Israel, underscoring a persistent but fluctuating threat from Iranian-backed proxies. Israel says it intercepted several drones, with one strike striking the Ramon Airport near Eilat, injuring two civilians. The airport has since resumed operations, and the first flight to Ben Gurion is expected to depart soon. The incident prompted a temporary airspace closure and a careful review of warning protocols, as investigators examine why one drone did not trigger alarms. The episode adds to a pattern of cross-border attacks that heighten regional peril while testing Israel’s air defense and civil aviation readiness.

Across the border, the broader security picture includes Hezbollah and other Iranian-linked networks in Lebanon and Syria. Officials describe a degraded but not eliminated threat from those proxies, with ongoing efforts to keep the group from reconstituting a military foothold and to maintain pressure on Israeli forces and allied partners. In Syria, a reconstituted government and allied militias continue to reshape the battlefield, with casualty and hostage dynamics complicating any potential stabilization moves.

In Gaza’s humanitarian and hostage context, Israel continues to emphasize that any humanitarian corridors must be paired with security assurances and the disarmament of militant factions. The hostage dimension remains central to diplomatic calculations, with regional and international actors urging restraint and a clear path to the release of captives while acknowledging the security needs that Israel cites as essential to protecting civilians and its own citizens.

Domestically, Israel’s political and security environment continues to be active and dynamic. Protests have arisen outside the home of the IDF chief, drawing widespread attention and prompting authorities to declare the surrounding area a close military zone to maintain public safety and order during a period of heightened security operations and political debate. In parallel, Israeli authorities and security agencies have highlighted ongoing strategic concerns tied to Iran, its proxies, and regional actors,...