Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-10 at 11:07

HEADLINES
Doha airstrikes hit Hamas leadership
Gulf allies rally around Qatar after strikes
Rehovot fights unprecedented rebuilding after missile damage

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

At seven o’clock in the morning, the region remains in a cautious balance as Israel’s campaign against Hamas and its wider regional implications continue to unfold. The latest developments center on a high-stakes exchange of military action, regional diplomacy, and how Western allies are recalibrating their approach.

In Doha, Israel conducted airstrikes against Hamas officials. While Israel has not publicly confirmed the deaths of senior Hamas leaders in the operation, regional and Jerusalem sources indicate the strikes targeted figures associated with the group’s leadership in Qatar. The episodes follow a pattern of Israel signaling it will pursue high-value targets to disrupt Hamas command and control, even when the fate of specific individuals remains contested publicly. The sense from officials in Jerusalem is that the objective is to degrade Hamas capabilities and pressure its leadership to rethink tactical calculus, including hostage-related considerations.

In Washington, the Israeli prime minister and the former US president spoke twice by phone within hours of the strike. Israeli officials described the conversations as tightly coordinated and constructive, underscoring a shared commitment to security and to pursuing a strategy they label as peace through strength. The on-record takeaway from those discussions is a reaffirmation of close cooperation between Jerusalem and its longtime ally as the region tests new alignments and responses to Hamas and allied groups.

regional solidarity was visible on the ground. The United Arab Emirates president arrived in Qatar a day after the Israeli strike, a gesture described by officials as a show of regional unity. Jordan’s crown prince was also expected to visit, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was anticipated to travel to Doha in the near future. The visits are part of a broader pattern in which Gulf and neighboring states signal support for Qatar amid shifting dynamics in the aftermath of the strikes and amid regional concerns about Hamas and its messaging.

The international reaction extends to the United Nations and the European Union. The United Nations Security Council is slated to meet to discuss the Qatar strikes, reflecting concern that events in Doha could shape the broader regional security environment. In Brussels, European Union leaders have signaled willingness to consider new steps aimed at supporting Palestinian civilians and Gaza reconstruction while maintaining pressure on Hamas and other militant groups. In a related policy discussion, the European Commission has floated the possibility of suspending parts of the European Union’s trade and association agreements with Israel, while proposing the creation of a Palestine donor mechanism to support Gaza’s reconstruction. In parallel, officials in Europe have floated targeted sanctions against certain Israeli ministers and activists seen as obstructing peace prospects or escalating tensions, a move that underscores the EU’s intent to balance security concerns with political accountability.

Across the region, threats and capabilities remain in focus as Israel strengthens defenses near its borders. Israel’s military says it has expanded patrols along the Jordanian border in response to a rise in infiltration attempts and to guard against weapons smuggling and potential incursions by groups operating east of the country. A new division has been tasked with covering the Dead Sea corridor, and commanders say the force will oversee two theaters as part of a forward-looking effort to prepare for evolving threats. Since the beginning of the year, Israeli security...