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

HEADLINES
- Doha strike hits Hamas leadership threatens talks
- Elizabeth Tsurkov freed from Iran-backed militia
- Iran resumes IAEA inspections in Cairo

The time is now 7:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

Good evening. It is 7:00 PM, and this is the hourly update on the evolving regional crisis and the latest developments shaping the path toward or away from peace.

Mediated talks in the Gaza theater remain fragile. Qatar’s prime minister reiterated that mediation is part of his country’s identity and that nothing will deter its role in seeking an end to the war, even as Israel’s strike in Doha targeting Hamas leadership prompted sharp condemnation and questions about the course of negotiations. Doha, Cairo, and Washington have long been central to attempts to broker a ceasefire and a broader settlement, and today’s events underscored how quickly violence can complicate those efforts. Officials say the United States alerted Qatar about the attack within minutes of it beginning, a detail Doha’s leaders publicly emphasized as part of clarifying the sequence of events and the partners involved.

The attack itself drew immediate reactions. Israel described the strike as a justified action in response to attacks linked to Hamas leadership, while Hamas and its supporters said the strikes could not derail their internal discussions and that leadership might survive. In the wake of the strikes, questions about the fate of Hamas figures and the status of negotiations intensified, with Qatar indicating it would respond to what it called a grave violation of sovereignty and international norms. The strikes also prompted a broader debate about the timing and location of such actions in the context of ongoing hostage negotiations and ceasefire talks.

Among the most urgent issues gripping the region are the hostages in Gaza and the efforts to secure their return. Families of the captives expressed grave fear that the Doha strike could imperil any chance for a comprehensive deal. They stressed the need for a structured plan to bring home all 48 hostages, highlighting how quickly political and military moves can alter the prospects for negotiation. Israeli officials stressed their commitment to obtaining the release of all hostages, while acknowledging the obstacles posed by leaders of Hamas who operate from outside Gaza and by shifting diplomatic currents in the Atlantic-facing talks.

In a related development, a significant breakthrough emerged in Iraq. Elizabeth Tsurkov, an Israeli-Russian doctoral student and researcher, was released after more than two years in captivity at the hands of a Iran-backed Iraqi militia. The release was announced by the Iraqi prime minister and further amplified by US officials and President Donald Trump. Tsurkov’s sister and family expressed deep gratitude for the successful effort, and officials said she was in the care of US authorities and was headed to the American embassy in Baghdad to facilitate reunification with her sister. The case underscored how hostage diplomacy intersects with broader regional security calculations and the persistence of international coalitions able to secure releases through sustained pressure and covert diplomacy.

On the nuclear front, Iran agreed to resume inspections with the International Atomic Energy Agency in Cairo, signaling a return to routine verification after periods of retaliation and friction. Tehran warned that any new sanctions or military strikes could immediately derail the agreement, a stark reminder that the fragile nuclear deal remains subject to political contingency. The resumption of inspections is viewed by many as a crucial confidence-building step, but Tehran’s warning highlights the precarious balance between diplomacy and coercion that dominates discussions about the potential for broader stability in...