Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-07 at 22:06

HEADLINES
Gaza Toll Surges to 64,000 Civilians
Hostage Talks Stall as 48 Remain
Iran Axis Targeted in Gaza Stabilization Push

The time is now 6:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

Good evening. We begin with the latest developments in the Gaza crisis and the wider regional security picture as of this hour.

In Gaza, Israeli forces continue operations aimed at dismantling what officials describe as Hamas’s military capabilities in the city of Gaza. The army said it struck multiple targets and has warned residents to move south to a designated humanitarian zone, while cautioning that Hamas uses urban towers and civilian structures for military purposes. Over the weekend and today, the Israeli military said it hit a series of high-rise buildings in Gaza City that it said were used for military reasons, after issuing evacuation notices to nearby residents. In the Hamas-controlled health ministry’s accounting, more than 64,000 people have been killed or are presumed dead since the start of the war, with the toll heavily weighted toward civilians in a crowded urban environment. The UN and aid organizations warn of a rapidly narrowing window to avert famine in northern Gaza, even as aid shipments reach civilians in parts of the enclave. Officials say more than 1,900 aid trucks have been distributed in the past week, underscoring the ongoing challenge of delivering relief in the midst of a sprawling military operation.

Across the political and diplomatic arena, the question of a ceasefire and hostage release remains a focal point. United States President Donald Trump has framed his pressure on Hamas as a final warning, saying that Israel has accepted his terms for ending the conflict and urging Hamas to do the same. Observers note that Israeli officials have not publicly confirmed acceptance, but are said to be “considering” the plan as mediation continues through channels involving US envoy Steve Wittkoff and other intermediaries. Reports describe a package proposing the release of all hostages on the first day of a ceasefire, with subsequent negotiations to resolve the war, and a pathway for reconstruction and regional stabilization under third-party oversight. In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has signaled that its public conditions for ending the war—clear disarmament of Hamas, simultaneous release of all remaining hostages, demilitarization of Gaza, and a civilian governing body in the Strip—still frame the core red lines, even as discussions continue about more phased approaches in private channels. Hamas has signaled openness to negotiations mediated by third parties, while reiterating its conditions for a durable ceasefire, including an end to the war and international guarantees, without explicitly endorsing any single plan. The negotiations have drawn in regional actors and mediators, with some discussions conducted through informal back channels and third-country intermediaries.

In a broader regional context, officials press the case that stabilizing Gaza is part of a wider effort to limit Iran’s influence and the reach of allied groups. Israeli leaders have framed recent military actions as part of reducing what they describe as an Iranian axis’s ability to threaten Israel and neighboring states. The dynamics involve a mix of diplomacy, ongoing battlefield operations, and international concern about civilian harm and humanitarian access. In parallel, domestic and international voices warn that stalled diplomacy could prolong hardship for civilians while inviting new security challenges in the months ahead.

On the hostage issue, the latest negotiations are testing a path forward that would secure the return of hostages and set terms for a broader settlement. Hamas has indicated readiness to resume discussions and has conveyed that it views mediation positively,...