Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-10 at 21:08

HEADLINES
Doha strike targets Hamas leaders, sparks uproar
Gaza evacuation soars as ground offensive looms
Elizabeth Tsurkov released, hostage talks unsettled

The time is now 5:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

This is the 5:00 PM hourly update.

A fragile, ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Iran remains in place, but there is little sign of a durable settlement. Across the region, Israel has pressed its security doctrine, insisting that it will act decisively to deter and defeat threats, while other capitals weigh how far they are willing to press or constrain the actions taken by Jerusalem. The wider strategic picture centers on Iran’s influence and its network of allied groups, and how each side calculates the risk of broader confrontation as the Gaza war and regional flashpoints continue.

On the military front, Israel’s campaign against Hamas and its allies has entered a phase in which Hamas’s leadership and its external command structures are under intense pressure. A notable operation in Doha, Qatar, targeted a meeting of Hamas leaders, drawing immediate international attention. Early reporting indicated a large strike by the Israeli Air Force using more than 10 jets and multiple munitions, with Qatar not reporting a direct defense activation and the United States being informed at some point during the operation. At the time of the briefing, it was unclear whether Hamas leaders were killed, with some accounts describing high-level casualties, others noting uncertainty. The broader diplomatic fallout is significant: Doha labeled the attack a criminal assault and a breach of international law, and analysts warn that the attack risks complicating hostage talks and mediation efforts in the region.

In the wake of that strike, the UN Security Council scheduled a meeting to discuss Israel’s actions in Doha, and international reactions ranged from condemnation to cautious emphasis on de-escalation. European leaders—including the United Kingdom, France, and Germany—publicly criticized the strike, raising concerns about sovereignty and regional stability. Spain announced measures that signaled a tougher line against Israel, illustrating how European public opinion is balancing security concerns with humanitarian considerations. Canada signaled a review of its relationship with Israel following the Doha strike, signaling a broader international recalibration in the wake of controversial counterterrorism actions. In Washington, President Trump issued a measured response, signaling displeasure but indicating that the United States would not permit a recurrence on allied soil, while preserving space for diplomacy with partners like Qatar that have played a mediating role in Gaza.

In Gaza, the situation on the ground remains volatile as a large-scale evacuation continues to unfold. Tens of thousands have left Gaza City in the past 24 hours, bringing the total of evacuees to roughly 150,000 or more since the order was issued. That leaves a substantial portion of Gaza’s population—hundreds of thousands—in areas where a ground offensive could soon begin. Israeli officials have warned that once a critical threshold of the civilian population has relocated, a ground operation would proceed to clear the way for security objectives and to prevent the transfer of weapons and militants. Meanwhile, high-rise structures in Gaza City have been targeted in repeated strikes as part of ongoing efforts to degrade Hamas’s urban capabilities. The humanitarian dimension remains acute, with warnings about food, water, and medical access intensifying as the conflict persists and international aid pipelines face pressure.

Elizabeth Tsurkov, an Israeli-Russian dual national who was held by a Shiite Iraqi militia, was released and returned to Israel with the involvement of US and allied channels. Her case has...