The Prime Minister's Office has requested a meeting in Washington between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump for the end of October, immediately following the United Nations General Assembly rally in New York, according to U.S. senior officials. The request was made on September 16th, 2025, as reported by Ynet News. This diplomatic outreach follows ongoing military operations in Gaza City, where the Israeli Defense Forces' 98th Division is engaged in Operation Gideon B. The IDF stated that Gaza City is Hamas's central military and governing hub. The Israeli Air Force has conducted strikes on over 850 targets in the city over the past week. The IDF estimates that 2,000-2,500 skilled terrorists and several thousand recruited teens are present within the city. In parallel, Israeli security forces conducted an operation in Qalqilya in the northern West Bank between 1:48 PM and 2:02 PM UTC on September 16th, 2025, resulting in the deaths of two Palestinian gunmen, including a key figure in weapons trafficking, and the arrest of two other individuals. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported 428 deaths from famine and malnutrition in Gaza as of the same date, including 146 children. Former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot announced the formation of his new political party, "Straight! With Eisenkot," on September 16th, 2025. Recent polling suggests the party could secure between 6 and 12 seats in the Knesset. Separately, Benny Gantz addressed accusations of neglecting the land army, stating that such narratives aim to create a "virtual reality."
