Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-12 at 13:07

HEADLINES
Gaza Strikes Escalate; Aid Corridor Expands
West Bank Crackdown Intensifies After Bus Attack
Doha Strikes on Hamas Leadership Spark Debate

The time is now 9:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

At 9:00 AM, a broad, evolving picture remains in play across Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, with security operations, mounting humanitarian concerns, and diplomatic maneuvers shaping the near-term outlook. In Jerusalem and the surrounding West Bank, Israeli security forces have continued the crackdown following Monday’s Jerusalem bus attack, arresting more than 20 suspects tied to the assault. The operation focused on the two villages from which the attackers originated, part of a wider effort to dismantle militant networks and disrupt planned attacks. In the course of the week, Israeli forces conducted comprehensive searches of hundreds of sites, seized a range of weapons components, and razed several buildings linked to terror infrastructure, while detaining additional individuals suspected of involvement. The sustained security push underscores Israel’s aim to prevent further violence and to impose consequences on networks deemed capable of striking Israeli civilians.

In Gaza, Israeli strikes have intensified in the past 24 hours, with the campaign focusing on the city of Gaza and its perimeters as Israeli forces press toward objectives they describe as eradicating Hamas leadership and capabilities. The toll in Gaza remains enormous, with local health authorities reporting tens of thousands of deaths since the war’s latest phase began, along with a deepening humanitarian crisis. Civilians have faced widespread displacement, hunger, and shortages of essential services. In Gaza City, neighborhoods have borne the brunt of bombardments, and aid agencies warn that a large portion of the population remains in dire need of food, water, medical care, and shelter. The Israeli military has begun expanding a designated humanitarian corridor area in the southern Gaza Strip to increase the flow of aid, aiming to handle a higher intake and prioritize food supplies for civilians leaving northern areas. The UN and other international voices have urged ceasefire provisions and unfettered access for humanitarian relief, while Israel emphasizes its objective of restoring security and preventing Hamas from reconstituting its command structures.

Amid these dynamics, Israel has signaled a willingness to adjust its approach to aid delivery and civilian protection. The planned expansion of Crossing 147 seeks to raise aid-truck capacity to as many as 150 trucks per day, tripling the current intake, with emphasis on food and other essentials for civilians in need within a humanitarian zone. This move reflects an attempt to balance military objectives with humanitarian responsibilities, while continuing to press Hamas for a realized end to hostilities and hostage releases. In parallel, the broader battle for public opinion remains a factor, as international observers scrutinize the humanitarian situation and the strategic logic of any incursion into Gaza City.

On the diplomatic front, Israel’s actions in Doha against Hamas leadership drew widespread attention and elicited mixed reactions across regional capitals. The strikes were condemned by some allies as a destabilizing move that could jeopardize ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire and secure the return of hostages. In the wake of the Doha operation, US engagement with allied mediators remains pivotal, with President Donald Trump publicly weighing in on related matters as he discusses the war and its regional implications. In the United States, Trump has emphasized close cooperation with Israel on security matters, framed within a broader policy stance that highlights peace through strength and the importance of pursuing strategic objectives with allied partners....