Israel Today: Ongoing War Report podcast

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-17 at 14:07

0:00
7:39
Rewind 15 seconds
Fast Forward 15 seconds
HEADLINES
Gaza City Ground Offensive Enters Day Two
Hostages in Gaza Ceasefire Talks Intensify
US Designates Iran-aligned Militias as FTOs

The time is now 10:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

Good morning. This is your hourly news update. The fighting in Gaza remains a dominant headline as the Israeli ground offensive in Gaza City enters its second day. Palestinian health authorities say dozens have been killed across the Strip, including 19 in Gaza City, with the overall toll concentrated in and around the city as airstrikes and artillery intensify. The Israeli military says it has conducted extensive operations overnight, reporting roughly 50 targets hit in the last 24 hours and about 140 targets struck in the past day, focusing on tunnels, facilities used by Hamas, and other infrastructure. The humanitarian situation remains precarious: the Israeli army has said some 400,000 Palestinians have evacuated Gaza City, while estimates place the number of residents who had previously lived in the city at about one million. Internet and telephone service in northern Gaza were reported disrupted as network infrastructure was affected by the ongoing strikes.

Aid groups and the United Nations warned that even with aid moving into Gaza, civilians continue to face extremely challenging conditions. The Palestinian health ministry, run by Hamas in Gaza, says the toll surpasses 64,000 killed or presumed dead in the fighting so far, though the figures are not independently verifiable and do not distinguish civilians from combatants. Israel stresses it takes precautions to minimize civilian casualties and says Hamas operates from civilian areas. On the ground, the fighting has also disrupted essential services. The Palestinian Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, based in the West Bank, reported that a major portion of northern Gaza’s communications network was knocked out, heightening the sense of isolation for residents. Humanitarian aid deliveries have continued, with about 230 trucks entering Gaza on Tuesday through key crossings, and UN and aid partners reporting roughly 250 trucks’ worth of aid collected for distribution from the Gaza side. The United Nations says roughly 600 trucks of aid are needed each day to feed Gaza’s population of around two million, and authorities say hundreds of trucks remain awaiting processing at crossings.

On the hostage front, officials say Hamas and allied groups hold a number of hostages inside Gaza. Some 48 hostages are reported, with about 20 believed to still be alive, while concerns persist for a smaller number. The broader international community has intensified calls for a ceasefire and for a ceasefire-and-hostage-deal to be put in place, as aid organizations warn the humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in real time. In parallel, a UN Commission of Inquiry has issued findings accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza, a charge Israel has rejected, arguing that its actions are aimed at defeating Hamas while attempting to avoid civilian harm. Aid coalitions and humanitarian groups have urged the international community to leverage every available tool to press for an end to the assault and to ensure safe, unimpeded aid delivery.

Turning to international and regional dynamics, the United States designated four Iran-aligned militias as foreign terrorist organizations. The State Department named Harakat al-Nujaba, Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya, and Kata’ib al-Imam Ali as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, signaling a continuation of US efforts to constrain Iran’s proxy networks. In related regional developments, thousands of Syrian Kurds demonstrated in northeastern Syria in support of their autonomous administration and to press for decentralization as talks with Damascus over the region’s future stall. Damascus has resisted decentralization, and talks to integrate Kurdish civil and military institutions into the central government have faced delays.

In Europe’s economic arena, the European Union reportedly moved to suspend parts of its trade agreement with Israel and to raise tariffs by about 227 million euros, a measure the bloc characterized as a response to certain Israeli policies in the region. The decision remains under discussion within EU institutions and would be calibrated to target specific aspects of economic ties rather than a broad rollback of cooperation. The EU’s actions come against a backdrop of other diplomatic frictions as Israel navigates the broad consequences of the Gaza crisis and ongoing regional tensions.

Domestically in Israel, policy and public life continue to unfold amid the war. Transportation Minister Miri Regev drew criticism for bypassing ministry experts and regulators in approving an Uber entry into Israel, a move critics say bypasses the licensed taxi system and regulatory norms. In a separate high-profile exchange, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced tense questioning and public outbursts as he rejected claims of special or exceptional treatment for film producer Arnon Milchan. On a lighter note in demographic terms, Israel’s population surpassed 10 million ahead of the upcoming Jewish New Year, marking roughly 1% growth over the past year with about 179,000 children born and 25,000 new migrants. The population milestone was reported by World Israel News and reflects continued demographic shifts even as security challenges persist.

International and cultural stories also intersect with the conflict’s broader impact. In Canada, a Radio-Canada journalist faced swift backlash and was suspended after remarks tying Jewish influence to political power drew strong condemnation; the broadcaster issued an apology and removed the journalist from duties while reviews were conducted. In the United Kingdom, two Labour MPs were denied entry to Israel on grounds related to public order as they sought to visit the West Bank, a reflection of the inflammatory dynamics surrounding the conflict and the broader international scrutiny of access and movement in the region. Pope Francis publicly urged prayers for Gazans, calling for a dawn of peace and justice and highlighting the humanitarian concerns facing civilians trapped in the fighting. Beyond Gaza, regional observers have warned that shifting power dynamics in the Middle East—driven by competing alliances and new political equations—will continue to shape security and diplomacy in the months ahead.

Finally, on the academic and cultural front, a mix of perspectives continues to echo through public discourse, from calls for accountability and humanitarian protection to reflections on the war’s lasting imprint on Israeli society and regional relations. As this hour closes, the situation in Gaza remains urgent, international responses are evolving, and domestic developments in Israel carry into the broader narrative of a conflict that commands global attention.

We will continue to monitor the situation and bring you updates as developments unfold. This is your hourly update.

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
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-867788
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-867792
https://www.jpost.com/podcast/jpost-headlines/article-867790
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-867785
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-867783
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-867765
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-867774
https://t.me/abualiexpress/105115
https://www.timesofisrael.com/dozens-said-killed-in-strikes-as-thousands-flee-gaza-city-but-some-vow-to-stay-put/
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1233858
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1233854
https://www.al-monitor.com/__%3C%21--%20THEME%20DEBUG%20--%3E_%3C%21--%20THEME%20HOOK%3A%20%27views_view_field%27%20--%3E_%3C%21--%20BEGIN%20OUTPUT%20from%20%27core/themes/stable9/templates/views/views-view-field.html.twig%27%20--%3E_/originals/2025/09/thousands-syrian-kurds-rally-decentralisation_%3C%21--%20END%20OUTPUT%20from%20%27core/themes/stable9/templates/views/views-view-field.html.twig%27%20--%3E__
https://worldisraelnews.com/japan-rules-out-palestinian-state-recognition/
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1233849
https://t.me/newssil/171105
https://t.me/newssil/171104
https://t.me/abualiexpress/105114
https://t.me/abualiexpress/105113
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1233841
https://www.al-monitor.com/__%3C%21--%20THEME%20DEBUG%20--%3E_%3C%21--%20THEME%20HOOK%3A%20%27views_view_field%27%20--%3E_%3C%21--%20BEGIN%20OUTPUT%20from%20%27core/themes/stable9/templates/views/views-view-field.html.twig%27%20--%3E_/originals/2025/09/us-designates-four-iran-aligned-militias-terrorist-organizations_%3C%21--%20END%20OUTPUT%20from%20%27core/themes/stable9/templates/views/views-view-field.html.twig%27%20--%3E__
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1233840
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-867755
https://t.me/abualiexpress/105112
https://t.me/newssil/171101
https://t.me/newssil/171100
https://t.me/newssil/171099
https://t.me/abualiexpress/105111
https://worldisraelnews.com/israels-population-tops-10-million-ahead-of-rosh-hashanah/
https://t.me/newssil/171098
https://t.me/newssil/171097
https://t.me/newssil/171096
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1233834
https://t.me/newssil/171095
https://t.me/newssil/171094
https://t.me/newssil/171093
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-867751
https://worldisraelnews.com/pope-leo-gazans-are-living-in-fear-unacceptable-conditions/
https://worldisraelnews.com/historically-the-losing-side-leaves-the-battlefield/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/radi

More episodes from "Israel Today: Ongoing War Report"