The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that its staff residence and main warehouse in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, were attacked by the Israeli military, causing extensive damage and endangering staff. These attacks, coupled with tank shelling and airstrikes, led to numerous Palestinian casualties and the detention of WHO staff members. The WHO warehouse was damaged on Sunday by an attack, while the health sector is already struggling with limited supplies. Despite the attacks, the WHO has stated it will remain in Deir al-Balah and expand its operations.
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On Sunday, Gaza’s civil defense agency reported that at least 93 Palestinians were killed when Israeli forces opened fire on a crowd seeking humanitarian aid. The incident occurred near Gaza City, marking yet another instance of casualties among civilians attempting to access food supplies. Pope Leo XIV condemned the “barbarity” of the war in his Angelus prayer, following an Israeli strike on a Catholic church sheltering displaced people, and urged for an end to the conflict. The pope also called on the international community to uphold humanitarian law, protect civilians, and respect the prohibition of collective punishment.
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Following a ban, over 100 arrests have been made across the UK at events related to Palestine Action. Demonstrations took place in multiple cities, including London, Manchester, and Bristol, with arrests primarily made under the Terrorism Act 2000. Police confiscated signs and made arrests for supporting the group, while Defend Our Juries criticized the government’s actions. A high court hearing is scheduled to challenge the ban, which has been widely condemned by UN experts and civil liberties groups, while the home secretary announced the ban following Palestine Action activists breaking into RAF Brize Norton.
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Israeli troops opened fire on Gazans seeking food aid, resulting in the deaths of at least 32 people near Rafah. Witnesses reported the shooting occurring kilometers from an aid distribution point, while the Israeli military stated troops identified suspects near the aid site, and was investigating the reports of casualties. Despite this, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation denied any incidents “at or near” its distribution sites. Tragically, a doctor at Nasser hospital stated that many of the victims had “severe” gunshot wounds, and a UNRWA official described the aid distribution system as a “death trap.”
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On Saturday, at least 32 Palestinians were killed near aid distribution hubs in southern Gaza, as Israeli troops opened fire on crowds seeking food from the U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). The shooting occurred near sites operated by the GHF, which aims to replace the U.N.-led aid system, where local witnesses reported indiscriminate fire, while Israel’s army claimed only to fire warning shots. Witnesses described the chaos, with victims being shot in the head and chest, and local hospitals reported a significant number of casualties. Additionally, further airstrikes throughout the region resulted in even more casualties, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
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The Israeli military announced it struck the entrance of the Syrian army’s headquarters in Damascus, citing actions against Druze civilians in southern Syria, particularly in Sweida. This action followed intensified clashes in Sweida after a ceasefire between government forces and Druze fighters collapsed. The IDF stated the strike was carried out under the direction of Israel’s political leadership and that they are monitoring developments. The Druze, a religious minority, have a significant population in Syria and have expressed concerns over the direction of the new government.
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President Emmanuel Macron of France has withdrawn from a United Nations conference focused on the future of the Gaza Strip and the recognition of a Palestinian state. The conference’s purpose was to deliberate on post-war plans for Gaza and to facilitate the phased recognition of a Palestinian state. The event aimed to address the aftermath of the ongoing Israel-Hamas War. This decision by Macron reflects a shift in the French position.
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An Israeli air strike in central Gaza resulted in the deaths of ten people, including six children, while they were waiting to fill water containers. The Israeli military acknowledged a “technical error” caused a munition to fall short of its intended target, initiating a review of the incident. Eyewitnesses reported a drone fired a missile at the crowd near a water tanker. This tragic event occurred amid an escalation of Israeli aerial attacks across the Gaza Strip, with the ICRC reporting a surge in weapon-related injuries and deaths, particularly near aid distribution sites.
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United Torah Judaism (UTJ), an ultra-Orthodox party, has resigned from Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling coalition due to the failure to pass a bill exempting yeshiva students from military service. Six of UTJ’s seven remaining members submitted their resignations, leaving Netanyahu with a very narrow parliamentary majority. The departure stems from a long-standing dispute regarding mandatory military service, an issue that has intensified due to the ongoing war in Gaza and a Supreme Court ruling ending the exemption. The ultra-Orthodox parties had viewed the exemption as a critical commitment for their coalition membership.
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Next week, over 20 countries will gather in Bogota for an emergency summit, co-hosted by Colombia and South Africa, to address Israel’s violations of international law. The Hague Group, initially comprised of eight nations, aims to coordinate diplomatic and legal actions to counter what they see as a climate of impunity. The summit will focus on devising specific legal, diplomatic, and economic measures to halt Israel’s actions against Palestinians, with a focus on the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has resulted in significant casualties and displacement. Key figures and participating countries have been named. The Hague Group hopes to strengthen the impact of international law and hold Israel accountable, particularly due to the non-compliance of certain states with existing international legal obligations.
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John Q. Hosedrinker