Israel At War Monday August 25

 Israel at war day 689

- President Trump: I'm pretty sure in 2-3 weeks we'll have a decisive end to the war (in Gaza). The war has to end but people can't forget October 7th.

- Prime Minister’s Office Statement:

Israel deeply regrets the tragic mishap that occurred today at the Nasser Hospital in Gaza. Israel values the work of journalists, medical staff, and all civilians. The military authorities are conducting a thorough investigation. Our war is with Hamas terrorists. Our just goals are defeating Hamas and bringing our hostages.

- President Trump, in response to a reporter's question about the deaths of 20 Gazans, including “journalists”, in an Israeli attack on the Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis today:

I'm not happy about it. I don't want to see these things. At the same time, we have to put an end to this whole nightmare. I rescued the hostages, all of them. Steve Witkoff was amazing. He did a great job, but I rescued them all because of my people and because of me. Now we're left with probably a little less than 20 hostages. I think one or two of them are dead. I said a long time ago that I would get them out, but when we get to the last 10 or 20, these people (Hamas) will not release them because they will be eliminated after they release them. It's a terrible situation a very terrible thing.

- IDF strike on south Gaza hospital said to kill 20, including rescuers and journalists

According to IDF sources, the attack was carried out after ground forces identified a threat to them from the hospital roof. The troops of Division 36 operating in Khan Yunis identified observations directed at them from the hospital roof for an extended period, and therefore attacked there. According to security officials, the entire hospital area is supposed to be cleared of the civilian population - except for the patients and medical staff who are allowed to remain there. Journalists affiliated with Reuters, AP, and Al Jazeera killed  The hospital was reportedly operating at full capacity, treating over 1,000 patients at the time of the strikes, Nasser Hospital Director Atef al-Hout told Al-Arabiya TV. He also claimed that over 50 people were wounded.

-A security source on the Nasser hospital strike in Gaza:

There was a camera on the hospital roof that recorded Israeli forces and was being used by Hamas.The forces received authorization to remove the camera with a drone.

Instead, they fired two tank shells  one at the camera and then one at the rescue forces on site.  (Ammit Segal)

-Turkey says Gaza hospital strike ‘attack on press freedom’

- The current hostage, ceasefire deal on the table is "no longer relevant," as any future negotiations must include the release of all hostages and a ceasefire on "terms that Israel is ready for," N12 quoted senior Israeli officials as saying on Sunday. “There is no connection between the upcoming military operation in Gaza,” the officials said, according to the report. “The hostage deal talks will not stop the operation, but the operation will accelerate the talks.”

- A new location for hostage deal negotiations outside of Qatar, Egypt

A new venue for negotiations, outside of Qatar and Egypt, is also reportedly to be up for debate, with a European capital or the United Arab Emirates (UAE) presented among the potential options.

- Syria says it “strongly condemns” what it says was an Israeli military incursion into an area in the country’s south, calling it a “dangerous escalation.” According to Damascus, dozens of soldiers and over 10 military vehicles were involved in a raid in the area of Beit Jinn, which sits near the border with the Golan Heights.

- Israel is “ready to support” Lebanon’s efforts to disarm Hezbollah and will implement a phased reduction of its military presence in Lebanon as a “reciprocal measure,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement on Monday. If the Lebanese Armed Forces “take the necessary steps to implement the disarmament of Hezbollah, Israel will engage in reciprocal measures, including a phased reduction of IDF presence in coordination with the US-led security mechanism,” the statement reads.