War in Israel: Update on Current Situation

August 14, 2025 - October 7 War, Day 678, 50 hostages remain in captivity

As Israel continues to increase the amount of aid reaching Gaza, the government has ordered an expansion of fighting in the Strip. In parallel, talks of a ceasefire agreement continue.

Upcoming Webinars

Jewish Federations of North America is pleased to announce two upcoming webinars:

• Tomorrow, Friday, August 15 at noon ET, join us for a webinar with Israel’s Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter. Registration can be found here.
• On Tuesday, August 19 at 2 pm ET, join us for a webinar with retired IDF Colonel Miri Eisin, Chair of the Board, Taub Center for Social Policy Studies in Israel. Registration can be found here.

Gaza Fighting and Ceasefire Negotiations

• Following Israel’s security cabinet’s decision to occupy Gaza City and other areas, the IDF’s Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, has approved a new concept for an expanded Gaza operation focusing on aggressive incursions.
• Israel continues air and ground operations in Gaza City and surrounding areas, with recent strikes killing at least a dozen more people. While the Cabinet has approved the new ground operations, including the call-up of hundreds of thousands of reserves,  major new initiatives have not yet commenced.
• See INSS’s The Case for the Occupation of the Gaza Strip; and also IDI’s It's Time to Talk About the Far-Reaching Potential Implications of Occupying Gaza.
• The Cabinet decision has resulted in immense international pressure on both Israel and Hamas to reach a deal and avoid continued fighting. The Israeli government had already accepted a US-brokered ceasefire agreement (that Hamas refused), and has now said that instead of phased hostage releases, Israel now seeks a single, comprehensive deal for all remaining captives. Talks, mediated by Egypt and Qatar, revolve around a ceasefire and a potential Israeli pullback—but for now, Hamas is refusing disarmament before any such step.
• However, a Hamas delegation is currently in Cairo for negotiations with Egyptian intermediaries, which also include discussions surrounding humanitarian aid.
• Egypt is intensifying its pressure on Hamas to show greater flexibility in its talks with Israel. Israeli media says that Egypt—alongside Qatar and the United States— is working on a proposal that would see the release of all 50 remaining Israeli hostages, both living and deceased, in a single exchange. In return, a 60-day ceasefire would be declared, during which time unlimited humanitarian aid would be allowed to enter Gaza. That period would be used for negotiations on a long-term truce, with U.S. and international guarantees that Israel would not resume fighting once its captives are returned.
• The plan reportedly envisions an interim Gaza administration composed of 15 Palestinian technocrats operating under the Palestinian Authority. While Israel has not formally responded to this new proposal, elements of the deal, particularly PA involvement, are expected to face strong opposition by the government. Israel is also insisting on the demilitarization of Hamas as a precondition, a demand the group continues to reject. Israeli officials say that if the talks progress to a “serious” stage, a delegation will travel to Qatar to pursue further negotiations.
• Following the killing in Gaza of Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al-Sharif, Israel has released what it calls “conclusive proof” that Al-Sharif was indeed a significant Hamas operative. Numerous photos of the “journalist” have been circulating, depicting him smiling alongside senior Hamas leaders, including Yahya Sinwar. US District Court documents show that while Hamas was committing the October 7 massacre, Al-Sharif posted the below on his Telegram:
  • “God is great God is great Thousands of settlers fled from the Gaza Strip.”
  • “It is a jihad, a jihad of victory and martyrdom.”
  • “9 hours later and the heroes are still roaming around the country, killing and capturing... God, God, how great you are.”

Humanitarian Aid

• The IDF reports that hundreds of aid trucks continue to enter Gaza each day and is issuing daily reports on humanitarian aid delivery.
• The most recent update shows that in the prior 24-hour period, aid flows were as follows:
  • Aid transferred to Gaza as facilitated by Israel: 286 truckloads, of which 95 were UN trucks.
  • Through the UN: WHO (12), ICRC (7), ERC (59), WFP (17); a total of 95 trucks
  • Foreign country provided aid: 20 trucks (UAE)
  • Private sector aid: 103 trucks
  • Gaza Humanitarian Fund (supported by the US and Israeli governments): 61 trucks and five fuel tankers
  • Airdrops: 131 pallets of food provided by the UAE (16), Jordan (16), Germany (44), Netherlands (16), Italy (16), Belgium (16), and France (7)
• The GHF reports that in the same 24-hour period:
  • Three distribution centers opened.
  • 1.5 million meals were delivered in 26,784 boxes of food - the equivalent of 32 trucks – as well as five truckloads of potatoes and two of onions.
  • In addition, two pallets of ready-to-use supplementary food (12,500 individual packs) were distributed at a GHF site in coordination with GHF’s partnership with Samaritan’s Purse.
  • Approximately 115.3 million meals have been distributed to date via roughly two million boxes.
• The 50 hostages who Hamas has held in Gaza for 678 days have not been given access to this or any other humanitarian assistance.
• As reports of widespread hunger in the Strip continue, can the situation in Gaza be classified as a famine? Read more here.
• Watch this footage of an armed Hamas terrorist traveling in a car bearing a World Central Kitchen aid convoy logo.
• Earlier this week, an Israeli Channel 12’s reporter spoke with Gazans departing the Strip for medical treatment. Many of them voiced sharp criticism of Hamas.
  • Since June 2024, more than 3,900 Gazans have exited via Israel, most for urgent medical care, with destinations including the US, UK, Italy, Spain, Canada, and Norway.
  • One man named Muhammad, en route to Jordan for his son’s heart surgery, accused Hamas of causing their hardship. “My child is suffering because of Hamas… they hurt us. Hamas is responsible for this,” he said, naming senior figures Khalil al-Hayya and the late Yahya Sinwar. Before October 7, he recalled, life was stable: “We’d come to work, go to Israel, leave Israel, work, eat, and drink… Hamas didn’t like that—so it destroyed Gaza completely.” Muhammad also alleged that Hamas steals humanitarian aid. “There is aid, but we’ve already experienced hunger. Hamas started shooting, taking the aid, eating and drinking, and beating people.” He contrasted this with Israel’s role, saying, “We eat and drink thanks to their kindness… Hamas would steal whatever came through. Now they’re attacking the people guarding the aid so they can take it.”

International Diplomacy

• The United Nations has circulated a draft of its annual report on conflict-related sexual violence to the Security Council, listing Hamas for the first time among parties accused of using sexual violence in conflict. The inclusion follows multiple research submissions from Israeli investigators.
  • The draft also raises “significant concerns” about alleged sexual violence by Israeli armed and security forces, a claim Israel has rejected as “baseless.”
  • Israeli officials note that the IDF investigates any such allegations from Palestinian sources through formal inquiries, and stress that no evidence has ever shown systemic use of sexual violence as a tactic by Israeli forces.
  • Jerusalem views the accusations as an attempt to draw a false equivalence between Hamas and the IDF.
• Australia has joined Canada, France and the UK in announcing that it will recognize a Palestinian state. Hamas has praised the move, while Israel’s President Herzog echoed the words of many Israelis when he said, ”When Israel fights cruel terror, it does so for the sake of peace and for the sake of the free world. (But) these declarations, by Australia and other countries, are a reward for terror, a prize for the enemies of freedom, liberty, and democracy. This is a grave and dangerous mistake, which will not help a single Palestinian and sadly will not bring back a single hostage.”
• Israel may reconsider its security cooperation with the United Kingdom if British Prime Minister Keir Starmer formally recognizes a Palestinian state, according to The Times of London. The paper cited an unnamed diplomatic source warning that “London needs to be careful because Bibi and his ministers have cards they could play too,” adding that while Israel values its partnership with the UK, recent decisions have placed it under pressure and “the UK has a lot to lose” if Jerusalem responds. Cutting security ties would carry significant consequences for both nations; The Times noted that Israeli intelligence from Mossad on an alleged Iranian plot to target Israel’s embassy in London was believed to have prompted two of the UK’s largest counterterrorism raids in recent years. Analysts suggest the comments may be intended as a warning rather than a genuine policy shift, with both governments unlikely to want a rupture in security relations.
• In a move that has shocked many Israelis, the Toronto International Film Festival has cancelled its scheduled screening of a film about the October 7 massacres because of “concerns about permission to use footage from the GoPro cameras of terrorists’ massacre videos.” Israel’s Foreign Minister Gidon Sa’ar tweeted that “This festival would have asked Hitler or Goebbels for copyright on Auschwitz footage. Of course, the festival is about to screen five Palestinian films.”
• U2 (the band) publicly condemned Israel’s blockade and military tactics in Gaza while also denouncing Hamas’ atrocities. The musicians called for humanitarian access, reaffirmed support for a two-state solution, and pledged aid to Medical Aid for Palestinians. Many Israeli sources took issue with numerous aspects of the band’s statement. Still, they welcomed its more nuanced stance and its attempts to study and understand the issues, while avoiding clichés and empty slogans. See more here.
• Watch this recorded video message from Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu to the people of Iran. Against the backdrop of Iran’s current severe water shortage, Netanyahu says, “The moment your country is free, Israel's top water experts will flood into every Iranian city bringing cutting-edge technology and know-how. We will help Iran recycle water, we'll help Iran desalinate water.”

Other Important News

• Lebanon's cabinet has for the first time formally endorsed a U.S.-backed plan to bring Hezbollah’s weapons under exclusive state control, tasking the Lebanese Army with devising a disarmament roadmap by this coming December. Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun emphasized that no armed groups—including Hezbollah—will be allowed to operate independently or under foreign patronage, reaffirming Lebanon’s commitment to sovereignty and its agreements with Israel. Hezbollah strongly rejected the move, dismissing it as a "grave sin" and vowing to treat the decision “as if it does not exist.”
• Israeli media have reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu wants to oust IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir just five months after he began his position. Following reports that Zamir opposed “occupying Gaza City,” last Monday, Zamir approved 27 senior military appointments. However, before they were announced, the names were leaked to the Israeli press. Defense Minister Israel Katz publicly criticized Zamir for a “violation of established procedure,” and declared that he had “no intention of discussing or approving any of the appointments or names, as the military echelon is subordinate to the defense minister and will act per his directives and the policy he determines.” Katz also said that Zamir was working with “anti-government pot-stirrers.”
• South Sudan officially denied claims that it was in talks with Israel to resettle Palestinians from Gaza. Earlier this week, Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel became the first Israeli government figure to officially visit South Sudan, following South Sudan’s Foreign Minister, Monday Semaya Kumba, who visited Israel earlier this month.
• The Yemen-based Houthis continue to fire weapons at Israel. In the last two days, a UAV and a ballistic missile were launched towards the Jewish state. Israel’s defense systems successfully intercepted both.
• Israeli defense company Elbit has said that it secured a $1.64 billion contract to deliver a range of defense solutions to a European country.” The contract, which Elbit expects to be implemented over five years, includes long-range precision strike artillery-rocket systems, a broad spectrum of unmanned reconnaissance and loitering aerial combat systems, and “highly sophisticated” Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance capabilities, including Signals Intelligence, Communications Intelligence, and electronic warfare systems.
• Israel’s largest circulation daily, Yediot Ahronot, has published a travel advisory-style article titled “How to Protect Yourself Abroad,” reflecting heightened concerns among Israelis about safety while overseas. The piece advises travelers to avoid making their Israeli identity visible, recommending that they refrain from wearing clothing with Hebrew lettering and exercise caution when wearing religious garments, such as kippot or tzitzit. It also suggests not disclosing one’s Israeli or Jewish identity to strangers and avoiding the posting of travel plans or real-time trip photos on social media. The guidance underscores a climate in which many Israelis feel they must conceal their identity while abroad—a precaution that few citizens of other nations are asked to take.

Further Reading

• The Gaza “Starvation” Campaign: An Organized Effort to Discredit Israel
• The Decision of the Lebanese Government to Disarm Hezbollah – Reality or Fantasy?
• Coming to Terms with the Magnitude of Hamas’s Tunnels
• Infographic: Where does the aid go?
• Poll: Large Majority of Jewish Israelis: Israel Making Substantial Efforts to Avoid Palestinian Suffering; Majority of Arab Israelis Disagree

For more information, please contact: Jewish Federations of North America’s Dani Wassner dani.wassner@jewishfederations.org. Subscribe to this weekly update here.