HEADLINES
Fragile Ceasefire Holds as Iran Proxies Escalate
700000 Gaza Residents Flee as Civilians Pay
Houthi Drone Attack Hits Eilat Wounds 22

The time is now 3:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

This is the 3:00 PM hourly update. The region remains in a tense balance sheet of war and diplomacy, with a fragile ceasefire footing amid a shifting proxy map, growing international pressure, and domestic political maneuvering in Israel as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares for a trip to the United States.

First, the security front. The uneasy ceasefire between Israel and Iran and its regional proxies shows no clear settlement. Israel says it will continue to defend itself against what it calls hostile activity emanating from Iran and its allied networks, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthi movement in Yemen. Iran, for its part, insists it does not seek nuclear weapons and has denounced what it calls aggression against Iranian cities, even as it faces renewed Western pressure over its nuclear program and sanctions. The back-and-forth comes as the United States emphasizes diplomacy “through strength,” with Washington pressing a path to contain escalation while keeping pressure on Tehran and its proxies.

On the diplomatic and political front, the situation in New York looms large. Prime Minister Netanyahu, ahead of a flight to New York for the United Nations General Assembly and meetings in the United States, has characterized Palestinian state recognition by other governments as a “disgraceful capitulation.” He is slated to meet US President Donald Trump on Monday during the trip and is expected to return to Israel on Tuesday morning. In Washington, US special envoy Steve Witkoff voiced guarded optimism, saying there could be a breakthrough on Gaza in the coming days as talks around Donald Trump’s 21-point peace plan circulate among leaders at the UN and beyond.

A parallel diplomatic thread centers on a broader regional vision. Reports from World Israel News and other outlets describe Trump promoting a postwar framework in which Muslim-majority states would assume a larger role in Gaza’s future governance, potentially reducing Hamas’s influence. While such outlines are contested and debated among regional actors, they reflect a US-Israel effort to pursue “peace through strength” and a security architecture that preserves Israel’s security while seeking long-term regional stability.

In Syria and Lebanon, the posture remains highly dynamic. Syria’s leadership used the UN General Assembly stage to press for dialogue and renewed ties, with President Ahmad al-Sharaa delivering the first Syrian UN address by a head of state since 1967 to condemn ongoing Israeli actions while reaffirming Syria’s commitment to diplomacy. In Lebanon, President Michel Aoun urged an immediate end to Israeli aggression and called for a transition that would see the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL take greater, sustained responsibility on southern borders, even as Hezbollah’s maneuverability and leadership have faced significant setbacks in the wake of last year’s clashes. Across the region, Iraqi, Moroccan, and Spanish officials used the gathering to press their own agendas for a ceasefire and a two-state framework, while stressing humanitarian access and reconstruction.

Hamas and the hostage crisis in Gaza remain central to the strategic outlook. Israeli leaders reiterate a combined military-diplomatic effort aimed at defeating Hamas and securing the return of all hostages. The fate of those held in Gaza continues to drive US-Israel consultations and regional diplomacy, with American officials denying or reframing reports of a potential long-term ceasefire deal that would tie hostage releases to broader security arrangements. At the same time, the Gaza Strip’s humanitarian and civilian toll continues to weigh heavily on international attention. Estimates from the Israeli side describe significant displacement: as many as 700,000 Gaza residents have reportedly evacuated from the city of Gaza itself, with around 200,000 to 300,000 believed to remain in place to some degree, a shift that affords Israeli forces greater freedom of movement in the urban center, while complicating civilian protection and rescue efforts. On the casualty front, figures from various authorities remain disputed and politicized, with Hamas-leaning reports and international bodies citing tens of thousands of fatalities in Gaza since the latest round of fighting began.

Meanwhile, the Houthi threat persists beyond the Gulf. A Houthi drone attack struck near Eilat, wounding about 22 people, including several seriously. Israel’s Iron Dome system intercepted some missiles but reportedly failed to down the UAV in this incident, prompting a government investigation and renewed questions about how best to counter long-range drone threats. Israeli defense sources indicate a readiness to escalate pressure against the Houthis if attacks continue, with discussions underway about additional retaliatory actions across the region and potential cross-border operations coordinated with broader defense ministries and intelligence organizations.

International and regional actors continue to shape the narrative. France’s President Emmanuel Macron warned that only hours remained to avert a new wave of nuclear sanctions against Iran, underscoring the high-stakes negotiations centered on Tehran’s nuclear program and the international community’s insistence on verifiable constraints. The Spanish king and other European leaders pressed for a ceasefire and humanitarian channels into Gaza, while Arab leaders in Jordan, Morocco, and elsewhere weighed in on the path to a two-state solution and the need to uphold international humanitarian law in Gaza and the West Bank. In addition, there were reports from Beirut and Amman about aviation and ground movements involving Iranian and Lebanese authorities, reflecting ongoing geopolitical jockeying over regional alignments, security guarantees, and the influence of Iranian proxies.

Domestically in Israel, public demonstrations have begun as Netanyahu prepares for his US mission. Protests at Ben-Gurion Airport expressed discontent with the government’s handling of national security and hostage diplomacy, signaling domestic political pressures that intersect with the security calculus of the crisis. In parallel, the economy and private sector work continue to adapt to wartime realities, with labor actions such as union activity and managerial policy shifts shaping economic resilience at home.

Beyond the immediate conflict, a number of related developments added texture to the global stage. Notably, an Iranian claim of releasing what it calls an “archive” on Israel’s nuclear program and personnel circulated in Iranian and regional media, heightening tensions around intelligence assessments and the possibility of new disclosures. Jordanian and other regional media highlighted debates over education and framing of the conflict, including disputes over how the Gaza crisis and Palestinian statehood are presented in school curricula and public discourse. Meanwhile, a number of regional leaders pressed for a more robust peace process, calling for a ceasefire, humanitarian access, and a credible path to a two-state solution that would enable a durable peace based on security guarantees for Israel and a viable Palestinian state.

Looking ahead, the agenda in New York and Washington will include continued discussions of Trump’s 21-point peace plan, debates over how Gaza’s governance could be shaped without Hamas in a post-conflict phase, and continued efforts to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza. In the interim, Israel remains focused on security readiness, with military and intelligence communities monitoring threats from Iran and its regional allies, and with defense teams preparing for possible escalations in Yemen and beyond. The international community continues to urge restraint and humanitarian access, while also pressing for concrete steps toward a durable political solution that can sustain a stable, two-state framework.

As events unfold, the newsroom will monitor overnight diplomacy, the status of hostages, and any new developments on the ground that could alter the security calculus in Israel, Gaza, and the wider region. We will bring you the latest as it happens.

Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.
I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.
Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description.

SOURCES
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