Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-15 at 10:07

HEADLINES
Israel presses toward Gaza City, civilians suffer
Doha talks imperil regional normalization
Iran proxies drive Syria Lebanon Yemen showdown

The time is now 6:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

Good morning. This is your six o’clock update on the Gaza war and the broader regional crisis as fighting enters its second year, with the international community watching closely for signs of restraint and diplomacy even as the battlefield shifts.

The conflict in and around Gaza remains deeply unsettled. Israel has begun to press toward Gaza City with the aim of defeating Hamas, warning civilians to move toward a designated humanitarian zone as it seeks to prevent hostage releases from being exploited to halt the offensive. In Gaza City, officials say dozens of buildings have been destroyed in the past days and casualties on the Palestinian side have mounted. Israel argues its campaign is aimed at dismantling Hamas’s command and control while avoiding civilian harm, but the humanitarian toll is rising, drawing concern from governments and aid organizations about displacement on a scale not seen since the war began. In parallel, the United States continues to press for progress on hostage releases as part of a broader strategy to finish the war’s goals with Hamas, a stance echoed in discussions during a visit by United States Secretary of State to Jerusalem and in talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Diplomatic maneuvering is intensifying at the same time. An emergency summit of Arab and Islamic states convened in Doha to respond to Israel’s operations in the Gulf and in Gaza. The draft language circulating at the talks warns that brutal Israeli actions threaten gains toward regional normalization and the stability those agreements were meant to secure. Leaders from across the region are weighing how to respond, balancing long-standing grievances with the practical need to manage conflict spillover and humanitarian needs. United States officials have underscored that Washington’s support for Israel’s security remains steadfast, while also urging a path to reduce civilian suffering and to pursue a comprehensive, sustainable end to the fighting.

On the ground in Gaza, the assault has exposed the heavy reliance Hamas uses on urban terrain and the surrounding civilian population. Reports say Hamas is moving hostages around within Gaza City, including to locations above ground, in a tactic aimed at constraining Israeli airstrikes and pressuring international opinion. Aid agencies warn that a civilian catastrophe would complicate any international effort to mediate, while Israel insists that it is acting against a terrorist organization that has used civilians as shields and stores weapons in residential areas, schools, and hospitals. The conflict’s human dimension remains the core challenge for any political solution, and the world is watching how the humanitarian corridor concept would function in practice if and when a larger pause or ceasefire is negotiated.

The broader regional landscape remains shaped by Iran and its networks. In Syria, the government under Bashar al-Assad maintains its alliance with Iran, and Israel has continued strikes on targets linked to Iran within Syrian territory. Hezbollah’s position on Israel’s northern frontier is another critical factor, with recent battles and political pressure contributing to an uneasy regional balance. In Lebanon, Hezbollah has suffered significant setbacks in the previous year, complicating its ability to reconstitute strength along Lebanon’s border while Lebanese authorities press to expel militant groups and restore state control. In Yemen, the Houthis have pursued attacks against Israel, and Israeli forces have conducted actions aimed at curbing those threats. The Iranian-led camp remains a central variable in any credible...