Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-15 at 04:06

HEADLINES
Gaza City invasion looms as hostages remain
Soroka Hospital crippled beds and ORs cut
Barak F16 upgrade expands Israel strike reach

The time is now 12:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

Tonight's hourly update focuses on the ongoing Gaza war and the surrounding regional pressures, with a note on US and Israeli defense developments, and a look at the human costs on the ground in Israel.

In Gaza, fighting and mounting humanitarian concerns continue as Israel and Hamas face a tense pause and a potential new phase of the conflict. The Israeli military has prepared the framework for a possible ground operation in Gaza City, signaling a shift from heavy surveillance and aerial pressure to potential on-the-ground action. Israeli officials have emphasized the objective of dismantling Hamas’ leadership and military capabilities while seeking to minimize civilian casualties, a difficult balance as hostages remain in Hamas custody and aid corridors face continued strain. The fate of hostages and the terms of any de-escalation remain unresolved, with international calls for restraint and for humanitarian access persisting in parallel with security concerns.

Turning to Israel’s home front and critical infrastructure, Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba remains a focal point of the war’s human impact. A missile strike in June battered the hospital’s surgical ward and surrounding facilities, leaving the centralized Negev medical hub operating at reduced capacity. Reports describe 25 percent fewer beds and 36 percent fewer operating rooms, with only 14 operating rooms protected against rocket fire, four of them in the maternity area. The hospital, which treats a large share of the Negev’s population including communities near the Gaza Strip, faces urgent requests for funds to rebuild and fortify. Government and Clalit Health Services have begun to share the responsibility for two-thirds of the renovation costs, with private donors expected to cover the remainder. The hospital’s leadership says restoring full capacity—especially fortified operating rooms and intensive care units—is essential to meet ongoing demand from casualties in the conflict and to ensure the Negev’s medical workforce can remain in place.

On the defense front, Israel continues to rely on advanced air power and modernization to confront evolving threats. The Air Force’s F-16 fleet, including the Barak variant, is undergoing a major overhaul intended to meet future combat needs. The Barak aircraft previously demonstrated the capability to strike Iran without refueling, increasing the striking reach and operational tempo of Israel’s air campaign. The current updates aim to preserve that edge as regional dynamics shift, with Iran and allied proxies remaining a central concern for Israeli planners and for US partners in the region.

Diplomatically, Washington’s posture remains a live factor in the regional calculus. A high‑profile visit by US Senator Marco Rubio to Israel underscored American urgency to end the war, secure the release of hostages, and avoid undermining international cooperation or broadening global isolation. In parallel, President Donald Trump’s public remarks after a strike on Hamas in Doha urged Israel to exercise restraint, emphasizing a balance between military action and broader strategic considerations in the fight against Hamas. Washington’s messaging reflects the long-standing aim of pursuing peace through strength, a framework that stresses the need for security assurances for Israel while seeking regional stability and humanitarian relief for civilians caught in the crossfire.

In the broader regional frame, Israel’s war continues to shape and be shaped by regional actors and narratives. The conflict has intensified discussions about Iran’s role and its proxies, with Israeli planners wary of...