Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-08 at 02:08

HEADLINES
Netanyahu under far-right pressure over Gaza aims
Trump vows all Gaza hostages return soon
Officer killed in Zalafa operation

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

From the newsroom at 10:00 PM, this is your hour-by-hour update on the war in Gaza, regional dynamics, and headlines shaping the region.

The political and military picture around the Gaza war remains unsettled. An opinion article in a major publication questions Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s aims, asking whether he intends a broader conquest of Gaza, whether he is under pressure from far-right coalition partners, or whether he is seeking to push Hamas toward a more flexible stance. The piece underscores how the strategic choices in Tel Aviv are being watched closely by allies and adversaries alike as the situation on the ground continues to deteriorate for civilians in Gaza and for Israeli security teams seeking to restore calm.

In Gaza, discussions about a possible ceasefire and a pathway to hostage release continue to dominate diplomacy. President Donald Trump has been making public remarks about a Gaza deal, telling Fox News that a deal is “very soon” and reiterating his view that all hostages will be returned. He offered updated figures in the interview, saying there are about 48 hostages still involved, with Israeli authorities placing roughly 26 dead and about 20 alive, and two uncertain. Trump asserted he expects all captives to come home, though details of any agreement remain unresolved as negotiators weigh safety, sovereignty and humanitarian needs.

Security incidents in Israel itself remind the public that the conflict touches communities far from the front lines. A plainclothes Israeli police officer, 28 years old, was killed in a shootout with armed traffickers during an operation in Zalafa. Large forces remain in the area as investigators search for suspects, and the incident followed a visit by a nationalist leader to nearby Umm al-Fahm that drew protests from residents and criticism from local leaders. The violence underscores the ongoing risk to security personnel and civilians in parts of northern Israel.

International reaction to the conflict and its broader implications continues to mobilize crowds and politics abroad. Tens of thousands gathered in central Brussels in an anti-Israel protest, drawing attention to the Palestinian cause as Belgium weighs how to respond to the Gaza crisis. Belgian officials have said they will recognize the State of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly, but with conditions tied to Hamas’s disarmament and its role in governance, and with practical steps such as whether to establish formal diplomatic credentials to come only after those conditions are met. European Union credibility on foreign policy has been a frequent topic of debate as divisions among member states complicate a unified stance on Gaza.

In a broader regional and global context, the United States continues to pursue a strategy of pressure and diplomacy aimed at shaping events in the Middle East. Reports indicate a readiness to deploy secondary sanctions as part of a broader effort to impact Moscow’s economic posture, reflecting the ongoing tension between Washington and Russia and the potential ripple effects for global markets and security alliances. The administration’s posture also interacts with its stance toward Israel and the broader goal of peace through strength, aligning with partners who emphasize security guarantees while seeking humanitarian relief and political pathways for civilians caught in the conflict.

Back in Israel, domestic developments at home reflect the pressures of wartime governance. The Labor Ministry disclosed that the number of workdays lost to strikes more than tripled over the past year, with teachers’ strikes comprising...