Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-08-18 at 13:10

HEADLINES
World's oldest nursing home uncovered at Hippos
Gaza City assault looming; hostage talks intensify
Iran IAEA talks resume under domestic pressure

The time is now 9:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

Good morning. Here is the hourly update with the latest developments from the region and beyond.

Archaeologists in Israel have announced what they describe as the world’s oldest known nursing home. A late fourth or early fifth century mosaic was uncovered at Hippos, or Sussita, overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Centered on the inscription Peace be with the elders, researchers say the find points to a Byzantine era institution dedicated to care for older residents, representing the earliest physical evidence of such social care. The discovery, by a team from the University of Haifa and collaborators, places this facility in the context of a thriving urban center with multiple churches and public buildings. Experts emphasize that the inscription and its placement suggest the facility was part of daily city life and community responsibility, not simply a charitable note tucked away in archives. The finding highlights that care for the elderly has long been a social priority in this region, spanning more than a millennium and a half.

In Gaza, the situation remains volatile as combat plans and humanitarian needs intersect. A growing number of Palestinians have begun moving away from eastern Gaza City, seeking safer ground as Israeli forces prepare further operations. Israeli officials say a major push to take control of Gaza City could come as part of a broader effort to degrade militant infrastructure, with hostages still held by Hamas and allied groups in Gaza. Mediators from Egypt and Qatar are pressing again for a ceasefire and a framework to secure the release of hostages, while humanitarian concerns persist about shelter, food and medical access for civilians. In parallel, the Israeli government has announced continued efforts to ease humanitarian relief, including the distribution of tents and shelter materials to displaced residents and the coordination of international aid, with supplies channeled through a broadened international network.

The hostage issue remains central to negotiations. Reports out of several mediating circles describe a proposed framework for a two month ceasefire that would include the release of a set number of hostages in exchange for a broader easing of hostilities. Some negotiations indicate that a phased approach could be considered under certain conditions, while Israeli officials have stressed a demand for the comprehensive release of all hostages and a broader commitment to end hostilities with specific security arrangements. The talks underscore the persistent gap between demands for immediate relief and the reality of security considerations on the ground.

On the diplomatic front, tensions and diplomacy continue to intertwine. In Beirut, a US envoy said the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon could be the next step, contingent on Lebanon’s progress toward disarming Hezbollah. The Lebanese government has tasked its army with developing a plan to reduce the group’s armed presence by year’s end, a move Washington has urged as part of stabilizing the region. Hezbollah leadership has signaled resistance to disarmament, warning that the group’s weapons are essential to regional power dynamics. Washington has framed the issue as a Lebanese process, emphasizing that progress rests with Beirut’s implementation.

Iran remained a focal point of regional and international attention. Tehran says talks with the International Atomic Energy Agency will continue, even as its cooperation with inspections has stalled amid new domestic laws and recent tensions stemming from the war with Israel. Iranian officials note that inspections will proceed in a direct channel, even as access to nuclear sites has been restricted by Tehran following broader geopolitical shifts. The conversation comes as Iran’s leaders face domestic economic and social pressures exacerbated by sanctions, with state media and official outlets reporting both a determination to maintain nonproliferation commitments and a readiness to adjust cooperation based on strategic calculations. In the same broad frame, Israeli officials have asserted that Iranian advances in its nuclear and ballistic programs remain a core regional threat, underscoring the argument for robust deterrence and steadfast international engagement to prevent escalation.

In the broader Middle East, the war theater stretches to Yemen, where the Israeli Navy has reported strikes on Houthi energy infrastructure as a shows of pressure against Iran’s regional proxies. The attacks are part of a broader pattern of cross-proxy conflict in which Israel and its partners seek to deter Iran’s influence across the region. At sea and in the air, forces from several countries continue to coordinate efforts to curb militant activity and restrict attacks against civilians. The broader objective, officials say, is to reduce the ability of allied groups to strike inside Israel and neighboring states, while maintaining humanitarian channels for aid to affected populations.

Domestically, Israel continues to balance security with civil liberties concerns. An Israeli non-governmental organization has urged the High Court to restrict the use of mounted police to disperse protests, arguing that the presence of cavalry can have a chilling effect on political participation and threaten democratic norms. Advocates emphasize protecting the right to peaceful assembly while maintaining public order, a tension many democracies confront during periods of heightened security concerns and political unrest. In related domestic matters, the government is maintaining a careful watch over security services and political leadership as part of ongoing reviews following the October seventh events, with some officials calling for accountability and reforms aimed at strengthening the resilience of democratic institutions.

In the political and cultural sphere, sentiment within the Jewish world sees renewed energy around a World Zionist Congress faction formed by New Hope and the religious Zionist movement, aiming to bolster Jewish identity and Zionist projects both in Israel and in the diaspora. The alliance signals continued interest in sustaining a broad, active Jewish political culture that extends beyond the borders of the state, a goal many observers say is vital to long-term regional stability and shared democratic values among allies.

Internationally, the financial and strategic landscape continues to shift. Norway’s sovereign wealth fund has decided to end contracts with several external asset managers handling its Israeli investments, a move seen by observers as part of ongoing ESG considerations and a broader re-evaluation of international exposure to Middle East markets. In another development, the Israeli economy reports strong hiring activity in the first half of the year, with a significant rise in the recruitment of local high tech firms, underscoring a resilient sector even amid regional volatility. Business leaders say the strong demand for cybersecurity and technology reflects Israel’s competitive advantage in defensive and offensive tech, contributing to a robust economy even as security concerns influence global partnerships.

From the diplomatic layer to the judiciary, the state apparatus continues to scrutinize past crises. The state comptroller has scheduled meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and former military chiefs to review the response to the October seventh attacks, a process lawmakers describe as an important accountability step. Officials say the examination seeks to understand what went wrong and how to improve readiness, coordination, and resilience in the face of future threats, while acknowledging that responsibility for ensuring such a tragedy does not recur rests with all levels of leadership.

Internationally, the region is also watching a broader strategic dynamic. A United States envoy quoted as saying Israel should comply with a Lebanese plan to disarm Hezbollah, and discussions have centered on how to integrate a framework for Hezbollah’s disarmament with the stability of Lebanon’s political and economic system. While Washington emphasizes a Lebanese-led process, Israel remains vigilant about any shift that could alter the balance of power in the Levant and potentially affect security guarantees for both sides.

Amid these currents, humanitarian concerns remain pressing. Reports from Gaza indicating ongoing casualties and injuries continue to illustrate the human cost of the conflict. The health authorities in Gaza have tallied thousands of deaths and injuries since the onset of the current hostilities, underscoring calls from international organizations for unimpeded aid and strict adherence to international law to protect civilians. Humanitarian agencies point to a critical need for shelter, food, medical care, and safe corridors to reach those in need, even as security and ceasefire negotiations proceed at a cautious tempo.

On the diplomatic front, a new framework for hostage negotiations has circulated in multiple outlets, with mediators proposing a two-month ceasefire and a staged release of captives. Israel has reiterated its position that any arrangement must secure the full release of all hostages and the disarmament of militant groups in Gaza, a condition that has complicated previous rounds of talks. Hamas officials have signaled a willingness to discuss a broader ceasefire and humanitarian access, but remain tied to conditions that reflect internal political calculations and broader regional dynamics. The discussions continue to unfold as mediators press for agreements that could halt fighting and address the humanitarian crisis whil