Israel Calls Reservists, NATO & Ukraine, Hurricane Erin

Summary

NPR Up First – August 21, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of NPR's "Up First" dives into three urgent news stories: Israel's military escalation in Gaza alongside the possibility of a ceasefire, the debate over Western security guarantees for Ukraine, and the impact of Hurricane Erin on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. With insights from NPR correspondents and key stakeholders, the episode explores the complexities and stakes of each headline.

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1. Israel Mobilizes for Gaza City Operation, Ceasefire Proposal in Limbo

Segment Start: 02:23

Key Points

• Israeli Military Moves:
  Israel is mobilizing 60,000 new reservists, bringing the total to 120,000, in preparation to seize Gaza City, a Hamas stronghold and believed location of hostages.
  • "The plan is to encircle Gaza City, send soldiers in, and then later on send soldiers to central Gaza." – Daniel Estrin [03:07]
• Ceasefire Offer:
  While Egypt and Qatar have brokered a ceasefire proposal, Hamas has agreed (without changes) but Israel has yet to respond.
  • "Now the ball is in Israel's court, and Israel has not yet replied." – Daniel Estrin [03:26]
  • Hostage families in Israel are urging acceptance of the deal to safeguard their loved ones and have staged major protests.
• Political Crossroads:
  Prime Minister Netanyahu faces internal pressure: accepting the ceasefire (which releases half of the hostages over 60 days) could risk the stability of his far-right coalition.
  • "Netanyahu is under the same political pressure. If he agrees to kind of a ceasefire deal now, his far right political partners could topple his government." – Daniel Estrin [05:58]
• Escalation Concerns:
  An assault on Gaza City would mean massive displacement of Palestinians toward southern Gaza, worsening the humanitarian crisis and straining relations with Egypt.
  • "Aid groups are warning that would only exacerbate the humanitarian crisis." – Daniel Estrin [04:33]
• Complex Tactics:
  Israeli officials suggest that merely beginning an offensive could push Hamas to accept a broader deal.
  • "Just starting the ground operation in Gaza City and entering the city could force Hamas to agree to a more comprehensive ceasefire and hostage deal." – Daniel Estrin [05:30]

Memorable Quote

• "Israel finds itself at a major crossroads in the war, and it has not decided what strategic direction to take." – Daniel Estrin [04:06]

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2. U.S., NATO Seek Security Guarantees for Ukraine Amid Fresh Russian Assaults

Segment Start: 06:24

Key Points

• Diplomatic Efforts:
  Senior Pentagon and European defense officials are meeting to develop security guarantees for Ukraine. The proposals are preliminary, with the potential for air support but no U.S. troops on the ground (per President Trump). Some European countries are floating the idea of future deployments.
  • "Any US Role would likely be limited to some form of air support... Trump is clear he doesn't want U.S. troops on the ground in Ukraine even as peacekeepers after the war ends." – Greg Myri [06:52]
• Russian Attacks:
  Russia launched one of its largest airstrikes overnight, with 600 drones and missiles, including a strike on an American electronics plant in western Ukraine.
  • "Russia carried out one of its largest ever airstrikes overnight, more than 600 drones and missiles." – Greg Myri [07:14]
• Ukrainian Perspective:
  Ukrainians remain skeptical, desiring ironclad guarantees. Many insist only NATO membership would deter Russian aggression.
  • "I strongly continue to believe that the only solution is NATO membership for Ukraine. This would stop the war. This would stop Putin's aggression because Putin is afraid of only one thing, NATO." – Alexander Morezhko [08:14]
• Russian Response:
  Moscow is adamantly opposed to any NATO or Western military presence and insists on veto power over any security guarantees.
  • "Russia's always rejected a NATO presence in Ukraine and that's really one of the main reasons Putin launched this war." – Greg Myri [09:09]
• Stalemate:
  No signs of flexibility from either Ukraine or Russia; diplomatic momentum is shadowed by skepticism on the Ukrainian side.
  • "At present moment, interests and positions, stances of Ukraine and Russia diametrically opposed and they cannot be reconciled." – Alexander Morezhko [09:35]

Notable Quotes

• "They just don't see Russia or Ukraine for that matter, hinting at any major concessions." – Greg Myri [09:45]

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3. Hurricane Erin Slams North Carolina’s Outer Banks

Segment Start: 10:10

Key Points

• Storm Impact:
  Hurricane Erin, though still offshore as a Category 2, has flooded the Outer Banks, closing roads and triggering evacuations of Ocracoke and Hatteras Islands.
  • "The storm surge breached protective sand dunes last night. And the road is underwater." – Will Michaels [10:48]
• Preparedness and Resilience:
  North Carolina is now experiencing more frequent flooding due to climate-change-driven beach erosion and remains in recovery from last year’s Hurricane Helene and this year’s deadly Chantal.
  • "When we have exceptionally high tides, low lying areas that were once protected are now more likely to flood." – Will Michaels [11:45]
• Economic Impact:
  The hurricane disrupts peak tourism season, with thousands of visitors evacuated and local businesses facing substantial revenue losses ahead of Labor Day.
  • "That's a lot of lost revenue for hotels and vacation rentals in a popular destination in the two weeks before Labor Day." – Will Michaels [12:55]
• Looking Ahead:
  High surf advisories extend up the Atlantic coast. Although impacts will diminish northward, rip current risks remain severe.
  • “Maybe just stay out of the ocean for the next few days.” – Will Michaels [13:47]

Notable Moment

• Governor Josh Stein’s warning:
  "No one should be in the ocean." – Josh Stein, North Carolina Governor [10:24]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Israel/Gaza:

  • Update and context: [02:23–06:16]

• Ukraine Security Guarantees:

  • Diplomatic talks & perspectives: [06:24–10:02]

• Hurricane Erin Coverage:

  • Local impact & state response: [10:10–13:54]

---

Conclusion

This episode underscores how crises—military, diplomatic, and environmental—are converging in ways that demand swift yet careful navigation. Whether it’s Israel’s balancing act between military escalation and potential ceasefire, Ukraine’s quest for genuine Western security, or North Carolina communities bracing for climate-fueled storms, the underlying theme is uncertainty and the urgent need for pragmatic solutions.

Transcript

[Layla Falden]

Israel is calling up 60,000 reservists as the military moves forward with plans to take over the largest city in Gaza.

[Michelle Martin]

But there's a ceasefire proposal on the table. Hamas says it has agreed will Israel.

[Layla Falden]

I'm Layla Falden. That's Michelle Martin. And this is up first from NPR News. The U.S. is working with Europe on new security guarantees for Ukraine.

[Alexander Morezhko]

I strongly continue to believe that the only solution is NATO membership for Ukraine. This would stop the war. This would stop Putin's aggression because Putin is afraid of only one thing, NATO.

[Layla Falden]

But Moscow won't accept any NATO presence there. So what do these guarantees actually look like for Ukraine?

[Michelle Martin]

And Hurricane Erin has pushed water over roads in North Carolina's Outer Banks, forcing evacuations. We're tracking the storm, so stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day.

[Layla Falden]

Foreign.

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[Michelle Martin]

With a new mission to take control of Gaza City.

[Layla Falden]

The Israeli military is calling up tens of thousands of soldiers and the prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered military officials to speed up preparations to seize Gaza's biggest city. At the very same time, Israel is considering a new offer for a two month ceasefire with Hamas.

[Michelle Martin]

NPR's Daniel Estrin is on the line from Tel Aviv to tell us more about this. Good morning, Daniel.

[Daniel Estrin]

Good morning, Michelle.

[Michelle Martin]

So can you just help us make sense of this? What direction is Israel heading in here? A ceasefire or expanding the war and taking territory?

[Daniel Estrin]

Israel is giving off contradictory signals. On the one hand, the military Yesterday called up 60,000 new reservist soldiers there to report for duty beginning in September. And that will bring the total number to 120,000 mobilized reservists. That's a huge number. The plan is to encircle Gaza City, send soldiers in, and then later on send soldiers to central Gaza. These are the last major areas Israel has not yet taken over because it's where hostages are believed to be held. At the same time, there is a ceasefire offer on the table. Since Monday, Egypt and Qatar finally got Hamas to accept that offer without any changes. And now the ball is in Israel's court, and Israel has not yet replied. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has put out statements that suggest Israel does not like the offer. Hostage families, people who have loved ones held in Gaza, are calling on Israel to accept the deal on the table, not to carry out the Gaza City operation that could endanger their loved ones in Gaza. There were major protests earlier this week calling for a deal with Hamas. And so Israel finds itself at a major crossroads in the war, and it has not decided what strategic direction to take.

[Michelle Martin]

If Israel does go ahead with plan to capture Gaza City, what would that look like? And what's the military objective?

[Daniel Estrin]

Well, Israel sees Gaza City as a major stronghold of Hamas. Soldiers are already beginning to carry out strikes on the outskirts of the city as kind of initial steps of beginning this new operation. It would be a major offensive and it would be very complex. It would entail Israel ordering the displacement of many hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to southern Gaza near the Egyptian border. And aid groups are warning that would only exacerbate the humanitarian crisis. It also makes Egypt very nervous about Palestinians streaming potentially across the border into Egypt. It would also be a very tough fight. And there was a rare incident in southern Gaza yesterday that provided a preview of what may come. There were more than 15 Hamas militants who stormed an Israeli military outpost in southern Gaza. One soldier was severely wounded, according to Israel, and Israel estimates it was an attempt to take a soldier hostage. So that just shows that Hamas does have guerrilla units and does have battlefield motivation. But, Michelle, this might not be an either or. Either a Gaza City offensive or a ceasefire deal. Israeli media are quoting the defense minister as saying in a closed forum that just starting the ground operation in Gaza City and entering the city could force Hamas to agree to a more comprehensive ceasefire and hostage deal.

[Michelle Martin]

So Diana, before we let you go, what is the ceasefire deal on the table and why would Israel not accept?

[Daniel Estrin]

They are the same terms that the US had actually proposed weeks ago. It would be a 60 day ceasefire. Hamas would release half of the hostages. There'd be a surge of humanitarian aid to Gaza, where the world's experts on hunger and famine say famine is unfolding. But Israel is now publicly demanding all the hostages in Gaza be released, not half. And so Netanyahu is under the same political pressure. If he agrees to kind of a ceasefire deal now, his far right political partners could topple his government.

[Michelle Martin]

That is NPR's Daniel Estrin in Tel Aviv. Daniel, thank you.

[Daniel Estrin]

You're welcome.

[Michelle Martin]

Senior Pentagon officials have been meeting their counterparts in Europe this week.

[Layla Falden]

The mission is to work out security guarantees for Ukraine to help end the current war with Russia and prevent a future one. This effort comes as Russia unleashed one of its largest ever airstrikes overnight.

[Michelle Martin]

For more, we're joined by NPR's Greg Myers in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv. Greg, good morning to you.

[Greg Myers]

Hi, Michelle.

[Michelle Martin]

To start, tell us what ideas the US And European countries are kicking around.

[Greg Myers]

Yeah. President Trump asked the chairman of the Pentagon's Joint Chiefs, Air Force General Dan Kaine, to develop plans for security guarantees for Ukraine. But any US Role would likely be limited to some form of air support. Trump is clear he doesn't want U.S. troops on the ground in Ukraine even as peacekeepers after the war ends. Now General Kaine is talking to European defense officials. Officials, some European countries say they could send troops at some future point. But I really want to stress this is all very preliminary. Right now the war is still raging. Russia carried out one of its largest ever airstrikes overnight, more than 600 drones and missiles. And President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this includes a Russian cruise missile that hit an American electronics factory. More than a dozen people were wounded. This plant, which makes civilian electronics, is in isolated part of far western Ukraine. We're trying to get more details.

[Michelle Martin]

What's the view in Ukraine on possible security guarantees?

[Greg Myers]

Yeah, Ukrainians just aren't holding their breath. They think Russian leader Vladimir Putin wants to keep fighting. They say that any Western security promises really need to be ironclad. I spoke with Alexander Morezhko, a member of Parliament who heads the Foreign Affairs Committee.

[Alexander Morezhko]

I strongly continue to believe that the only solution is NATO membership for Ukraine. This would stop the war. This would stop Putin's aggression because Putin is afraid of only one thing, NATO.

[Greg Myers]

So many Ukrainians do feel this way. Ukraine was promised a path to NATO membership way back in 2008. It hasn't gone anywhere and Trump says it's not going to happen. Now. Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff has talked about a guarantee that could be something like NATO's Article 5, which says an attack on one is an attack on all. But Ukraine has had these limited security promises in the past and that hasn't stopped Russia from invading. It wants something much stronger this time.

[Michelle Martin]

Any sign Russia would accept any type of Western troop presence or NATO guarantee.

[Greg Myers]

For Ukraine, Russia is really a hard no on this. Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov repeated the country's position that Russia should have veto power over security guarantees for Ukraine, which would make any guarantees essentially worthless. Russia's always rejected a NATO presence in Ukraine and that's really one of the main reasons Putin launched this war, to make sure Western troops didn't move closer to Russia's borders.

[Michelle Martin]

So given that Ukraine and Russia have these polar opposite positions, is there any way forward?

[Greg Myers]

Well, right now it's hard to see any middle ground. Again, here's Alexander Morezhko, the member of.

[Alexander Morezhko]

Parliament at present moment. Interests and positions, stances of Ukraine and Russia diametrically opposed and they cannot be reconciled.

[Greg Myers]

And really, just one final note, Michel. This flurry of diplomacy is seen a little bit differently from this end. There is high interest but just lots of skepticism. They just don't see Russia or Ukraine for that matter, hinting at any major concessions.

[Michelle Martin]

That is NPR's Greg Myri and Keef. Greg, thank you.

[Greg Myers]

Sure thing, Michelle.

[Layla Falden]

Hurricane Erin remains well offshore as a Category 2 storm, but its massive size and strength means it's already disrupting life on the Atlantic coast.

[Michelle Martin]

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein gave his own brief but very clear warning.

[Alexander Morezhko]

No one should be in the ocean.

[Michelle Martin]

Forecasters continue to warn of potential coastal flooding, high winds and life threatening rip currents from the Carolinas to New Jersey.

[Layla Falden]

Will Michaels has been monitoring the storm's impact from member station WUNC in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and joins us now. Good morning.

[Will Michaels]

Good morning.

[Layla Falden]

So what are you seeing in North Carolina? Where is Hurricane Erin having its greatest impacts?

[Will Michaels]

This storm has been hitting the famous Outer Banks. So if you look at a map of the east coast, of course, you'll see these islands kind of bulge out into the Atlantic and so they're often subject to the impacts of these storms even if they don't make landfall. There's only one main road on the Outer Banks and a huge Portion of it is closed. The storm surge breached protective sand dunes last night. And the road is underwater. Most buildings there, oceanfront buildings, are on stilts. And so we're seeing photos and videos from business owners of water coming up the shore and under underneath those buildings. Two islands, Ocracoke and Hatteras, were under mandatory evacuations. We know most people listen to those warnings and left. But the National Weather Service expects ongoing storm surge as high as four feet through tonight. And they call this a prolonged event. So that means even after the storm leaves, it could be a few days before the water level returns to normal.

[Layla Falden]

Will, how prepared is North Carolina for this type of storm?

[Will Michaels]

The Costas has plenty of experience with flooding but has to deal with it more often. We know that climate change has accelerated beach erosion and washed away dunes in many areas. So when we have exceptionally high tides, low lying areas that were once protected are now more likely to flood. And it's also worth pointing out that it's not just happening on the coast. North Carolina is still recovering from Helene, which tore through the western part of the state almost a year ago. Then Chantal flooded parts of central North Carolina this year over the Fourth of July weekend. And both of those were deadly storms. And Governor Josh Stein said the state is still waiting on $100 million in reimbursements from the federal government.

[Alexander Morezhko]

And it creates real financial strain, especially for the local governments, but also the state. And so we will continue to work with our federal partners to make sure that the reimbursements are processed as quickly as possible. And then we'll have to wait and see what the impacts are for Hurricane Aaron to see whether we need federal assistance.

[Will Michaels]

And of course, we'll know more in the coming days.

[Layla Falden]

I mean, you just described all this stuff that the state has already been through. Now this storm hit when summer tourism is still going strong along the Outer Banks. What impact will that have on this industry there?

[Will Michaels]

Yeah, well, we know that there were more than 2,000 people who had to be evacuated by ferry from Ocracoke. And thousands more tourists left the Outer Banks before the storm hit. So that's a lot of lost revenue for hotels and vacation rentals in a popular destination in the two weeks before Labor Day. Cape Hatteras National Seashore and its famous spiral lighthouse are closed. Most of the homes on the Outer Banks, as I mentioned, are on stilts, so they can avoid flooding, but cars that were left behind could likely be flooded.

[Layla Falden]

So what do forecasters expect from Erin in the coming days?

[Will Michaels]

Yeah, the rest of the Mid Atlantic and Northeastern states are next. There are high surf advisories now all the way up the east coast, and the farther north it goes, the less likely it will be to produce tropical storm force winds or flooding. But strong rip currents are likely, which brings us back to that warning to maybe just stay out of the ocean for the next few days.

[Layla Falden]

Will Michaels with member station wunc. Thank you, Wilton. Stay out of the ocean.

[Will Michaels]

Thanks. You're welcome.

[Michelle Martin]

And that's up for us for Thursday, August 21st. I'm Michelle Martin.

[Layla Falden]

And I'm Layla Falden. NPR brings you stories from across the country. Thanks to NPR station reporters on the ground in your community and many others. Keep that network strong. Visit donate.NPR.org UpFirst to contribute Today's episode.

[Michelle Martin]

Of Up first was edited by Rylan Barton, Andrew Sussman, Susanna Capilouto, Adriana Gallardo and Mohamed El Bardisi. It was produced by Ziad Butch, Destiny Adams and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Stacy Abbott and our technical directors, Carly Strange. We hope you'll join us again tomorrow.

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