Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-08 at 23:06

HEADLINES
UK backs Palestinian statehood, urges Gaza ceasefire
Qatar pushes Hamas toward US-backed hostage deal
Israel strikes Syria as HTS retreats

The time is now 7:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

Good evening. Here is the hourly news update.

Diplomatic and military developments across the Middle East remain finely balanced, with pressure mounting on all sides as Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepens and regional powers reassess their steps. In London, Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and voiced support for Palestinian statehood at the United Nations, while stressing the urgency of a Gaza ceasefire and the release of hostages, and insisting there will be no role for Hamas in future governance. The British government this week also reaffirmed its conclusion that Israel is not committing genocide in Gaza, a determination that differs from some other international voices and reflects ongoing debate over the violence and its consequences.

In diplomatic signaling, Qatar continued to press Hamas to accept a US-backed ceasefire and hostage deal advanced by Washington, though Hamas has signaled concern about how hostages would be returned, preferring staged rather than all-at-once releases. At the same time, discussions at the UN and among Western partners over a two-state framework and international surveillance of actions in Gaza continue to stall at times, with visa issues at the heart of some debates about Palestinian attendance at a key United Nations conference.

On the battlefield, Israel again conducted airstrikes in Syria, including near the central city of Homs and along the Latakia corridor and Palmyra, prompting official condemnations from Damascus and a reminder from Syrian authorities that such strikes threaten regional stability. Israel did not immediately comment on the reported strikes. In parallel, reports out of Syria indicate that groups aligned with the so-called HTS, or al-Jolani faction, have been retreating from some positions and moving toward more densely populated areas, signaling a shift in the dynamics of Syrian front lines as regional actors adjust their post-conflict calculations.

A separate security thread concerns the broader regional balance with Iran and its proxies. While this update does not hinge on a single, verifiable ceasefire line with Iran, the region remains tense as different capitals press for leverage, humanitarian relief, and accountability for violence. In parallel, the latest in the hostage and ceasefire dialogue includes discussion of the US-backed framework that Qatar and others are urging Hamas to accept, alongside ongoing efforts by regional actors to secure a sustainable settlement that excludes Hamas from governing Gaza.

In Washington, President Donald Trump’s administration has maintained a posture advocating a forceful approach to security in the region and reaching deals that emphasize strength and deterrence, with public signals urging Hamas to accept a deal that would end immediate hostilities and curb escalations. Also shaping the tone of US coverage this week is the domestic political environment, including legal developments that can influence policy conversations, such as a federal appeals court ruling on a high-profile civil case involving the former president.

Within the broader international context, a dynamic debate continues over whether and how to reimpose or lift sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear program. South Korea, as current president of the UN Security Council, finalized a draft resolution to permanently lift Iran sanctions under the council’s snapback mechanism, a move that is unlikely to pass given divisions and the need for consensus among major powers. Russia and China are pursuing an alternative six-month extension of the nuclear deal framework...