Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-09 at 00:06

HEADLINES
Drone strike hits Family flotilla ship
Syria accuses Israel of fresh airstrikes
Starmer meets Abbas to push two-state talks

The time is now 8:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

A drone strike appears to have targeted the lead vessel of Greta Thunberg’s Global Sumud Flotilla as it sat in the Tunisian port of Sidi Bou Said, with the flotilla reporting on social media that its main ship, the Family, was struck. There is no independent confirmation at this hour, and observers are awaiting more details as the flotilla remains at the port ahead of planned departures to Gaza to challenge the blockade. The episode underscores tensions surrounding maritime aid efforts to Gaza and the fragile security environment in the region as flotilla organizers and international observers monitor developments.

In Syria, reports from the central region include airstrikes that Damascus attributed to Israeli forces, with Syria’s foreign ministry calling the incidents a violation of sovereignty and regional stability. Israel has not publicly claimed responsibility in this reporting window, and the Israeli military has offered no immediate comment. The strikes, if confirmed, would fit a pattern of sporadic Israeli operations inside Syria aimed at Iranian and allied targets, drawing swift condemnations from Damascus and escalatory rhetoric from Syrian authorities.

Telegraphing broader diplomatic currents, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in London to discuss Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, the plight of hostages, and the political future of the region. The leadership reiterated opposition to Hamas’s role in any future governance and signaled continued, if cautious, support for steps toward a Palestinian state at the United Nations, conditional on progress toward a ceasefire and credible humanitarian arrangements.

Within London’s diplomatic discourse, the British government reiterated its view that Israel is not engaging in genocide in Gaza, a position echoed in parliamentary correspondence and official statements. The government has stressed that under international law, genocide requires proven intent to destroy a protected group, and officials say that assessment should not be conflated with legitimate security concerns and humanitarian obligations in Gaza. The stance comes amid intense international scrutiny of the Gaza crisis and competing narratives about accountability and protection of civilians.

Meanwhile in Germany, anti-Israel protesters broke into an Elbit branch, painting the entrance with red paint, spraying graffiti, and hurling smoke grenades before police arrested five activists. The investigation was referred to the country’s security and counterterrorism authorities. The incident highlights the international resonance of the Gaza conflict, as demonstrations and counter-demonstrations continue to unfold across European capitals.

In Washington, a pair of high-visibility items drew attention. First, Democrats released a drawing they said Trump allegedly sent to Jeffrey Epstein, a report that the president has denied in a defiant posture toward a longstanding tabloid narrative. The episode arrived amid broader discussions about presidential disclosures and the handling of sensitive past communications. Separately, more than 1,800 actors, producers, and other entertainment industry figures signed a pledge not to work with Israeli film institutions perceived as complicit in Palestinian rights abuses, invoking a comparative history of solidarity campaigns and calling on the industry to refrain from collaboration with entities deemed to be endorsing abuses. Signatories included prominent international figures, while Israeli officials dismissed boycotts as discriminatory and counterproductive to peace efforts.

Across the sports and...