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

HEADLINES
Jerusalem Bus Attack Kills Four, Wounds Eleven
Gaza Toll Reaches Sixty-Four Thousand, Hostages Remain
Israel Names Halevy to Lead Gaza Aid

The time is now 4:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

This is a live hourly update. At dawn in Jerusalem, a terror attack at a busy bus junction left four people dead and 11 wounded as two gunmen opened fire on passengers aboard a city bus and at nearby pedestrians. Armed civilians and security forces returned fire, and both attackers were neutralized. A civilian security volunteer who helped stop the attack was reported to have only recently obtained a license to carry a firearm. Emergency responders worked to treat the injured on the road and at nearby hospitals as police sealed off the scene and investigated possible accomplices.

The incident comes amid a broader, fragile security picture surrounding Gaza and the wider region. In Gaza, Israeli forces continued operations around Gaza City, intensifying bombardments as they press to limit Hamas’s ability to threaten Israeli civilians and attempt to advance toward the city’s center. The civil defense system reported a toll of at least 48 dead from attacks on Sunday, with additional casualties overnight in strikes around Gaza City. The health ministry in Gaza said that the overall Palestinian death toll has risen past 64,000, a figure published by the Hamas-controlled health authority and used by international organizations as a reference point, though the situation on the ground remains difficult to independently verify. The number of hostages believed to remain in Gaza stands at about 47, with negotiators from multiple sides seeking a path to relief and a ceasefire. Hamas has signaled a willingness to sit for talks, but has laid out conditions that center on a comprehensive end to the war, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the establishment of a Palestinian-administered governance mechanism in the Gaza Strip.

On the political and diplomatic front, Israel’s leadership has issued stark warnings to Hamas. Israel’s defense minister said Hamas must surrender and lay down its arms or face annihilation, a statement that coincided with public reiterations by other Israeli officials about expanding military operations around Gaza City. The exchanges come as US President Donald Trump, weighing in from abroad, has stated that Hamas must accept a deal to release the hostages; Trump described his position as a final warning and pressed for a negotiated outcome. In parallel, a White House envoy reportedly delivered a new ceasefire and hostage deal framework to Hamas, though White House officials have not disclosed details. Hamas responded by signaling readiness for immediate talks, but with demands that reflect a broader regional blueprint involving an end to the war, withdrawal from Gaza, and the formation of an independent Palestinian committee to manage Gaza.

Israeli security and humanitarian coordination within Gaza is undergoing a change in leadership. The army has named retired Police Commissioner Yoram Halevy to head the coordination unit known as COGAT, which manages humanitarian aid in Gaza and coordinates with the Palestinian Authority and international organizations. The move comes as Israel seeks to improve the flow of aid to civilians while continuing its military objectives and security controls in and around Gaza.

Regional dynamics beyond the immediate battlefield remain unsettled. Iran and its regional proxies are under pressure from the unfolding conflict, with defense analysts noting that Tehran’s ability to project power has been constrained but not extinguished. A defense expert warned that Iran is likely to attempt further strikes or alignments against Israel as the Gaza operation continues, underscoring the persistent threat from Tehran’s network across the region. In...