Wednesday, September 17th's news on the Middle East conflict. Netanyahu: Trump invited me to the White House. The UN: It's genocide.

• After the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, in which 1,194 Israelis were killed and 250 kidnapped, Israel responded by decimating Hamas's leadership and structures in the Strip, killing over 65,000 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly civilians. According to Gaza authorities, over 19,000 children have been killed by the IDF since the beginning of the war.
• During the night between Monday, September 15th and Tuesday, September 16th, the Israeli army launched a massive invasion of Gaza City with planes, drones, missiles, and helicopters. This operation is just the beginning, Israeli military officials explain. Tanks and special forces have advanced right into the city center, where many of the hostages are believed to be hiding. US President Trump threatens Hamas: Don't use the hostages as human shields or anything will be possible. Netanyahu thanks them for their unwavering support. The hostages' families try to stop the invasion by protesting outside Netanyahu's house: This could be their last night
• Netanyahu at a press conference: The Israeli economy is very strong. We will build a war industry that will resist international constraints
• Gaza City, the march of desperation: This is the fourth time I've left my home. A thousand dollars to escape and eight hours to travel 15 kilometers, we're like ghosts
• The director of Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City: Everything is lacking here. Patients are dying in line. Without antibiotics, we have to amputate. We are inundated with patients, there are no more beds available
• The mother of one of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza: How does Netanyahu sleep? I have been sleepless for 710 nights. We all understand that he is the problem, the army must disobey
• Q&A: Gaza City, how many men are involved in the operation? How long will it last? What are robot bombs? Questions and answers on the Israeli operation in the largest city in the Strip

7:53 PM | September 17

Meloni: Italy disagrees with the decision to occupy Gaza

Israel's reaction is decidedly disproportionate, a situation that can only worsen with the occupation of Gaza City, a choice Italy cannot support. This was stated by Prime Minister and leader of the Brothers of Italy party, Giorgia Meloni, from the stage in Ancona to support Francesco Acquaroli's bid for the presidency of the Marche region."Hamas terrorists are still refusing to release the hostages," she added."We are trying to build peace with answers, not just slogans."

18:55 | 17 September

Hamas: We are not afraid of Trump's gates of hell.

We are not afraid of Trump when he says he will open the gates of hell for us. We do not receive instructions from him on how to treat enemy hostages. We treat them according to our values and our religion. A senior Hamas official, Razi Hamed, stated this in an interview with Al Jazeera after being targeted by the IDF in Qatar. Anyone who wants to free the hostages must order Netanyahu to conclude a prisoner exchange agreement and stop the war, he said.

Doctors Without Borders worker killed, the thirteenth since the beginning of the conflict: hundreds of victims among medical personnel

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has announced the death of its colleague Hussein Alnajjar, wounded in an Israeli airstrike five days ago and who died yesterday in Gaza. According to the organization, the man, a nurse at the Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis clinics since January 2024, was hit by shrapnel near his tent. His sister-in-law and nephew were also injured in the same incident. This is not a tragic accident, but yet another demonstration that there is no safe place in Gaza, according to the MSF statement, which called Alnajjar the thirteenth Palestinian colleague killed since the beginning of the war. Before working as a nurse, Alnajjar had been a sterilization technician at Al Awda hospital on a limb reconstruction project. He was the eldest of four brothers and supported one of them in his studies in Egypt. MSF expressed outrage that military violence continues to kill our Palestinian colleagues and called for the immediate restoration of the ceasefire and the protection of civilians. Since the beginning of Israel's attack on Gaza, hundreds of medical personnel working in the Strip have been killed, hospitals, clinics, and aid centers have been destroyed, and access to medicines and medical supplies has been blocked.

18:36 | 17 September

Al Jazeera: Gaza, 13 dead in attack outside al-Shifa hospital

Thirteen people were killed and others injured in an attack outside the entrance to al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Al-Jazeera satellite TV reported, citing a hospital source who accused Israel of continuing its military operations in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported reports from Palestinian media in the Strip that the victims were leaving the hospital and heading towards the humanitarian zone.

5.32pm | September 17th

Smotrich shocks: Gaza is a real estate goldmine to be shared with the US. Now that we've destroyed it, let's see how to divide it.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the Gaza Strip is a real estate goldmine and that he is negotiating with the Americans how to divide it after the war."There is a self-financing real estate bonanza in Gaza, and I have already started negotiations with the Americans," the far-right figure stated at a real estate conference in Tel Aviv, as reported by Israeli media."We have invested a lot of money in this war. We need to see how we will distribute the land," Smotrich continued, adding that the demolition, the first phase of the city's renewal, has already been completed. Now we just need to rebuild.

5.11pm | September 17th

Erdogan: Jerusalem will not be desecrated by wicked hands

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated Turkey's solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza and promised that Muslims will not give up their rights to East Jerusalem."We will not allow Jerusalem to be desecrated by unholy hands," he declared during the inauguration ceremony of the new Turkish Foreign Ministry building in Ankara. Erdogan also emphasized his country's support for Gaza, stating:"No one can prevent us from standing with the oppressed people of Gaza who are struggling to survive under Israel's brutal attacks. We will resist today and tomorrow against those who seek to turn our region into a sea of blood and against those who fuel instability in our region."

4.59pm | September 17th

Kos, I support the Commission's measures to address unacceptable suffering in Gaza

The measures proposed today by the European Commission regarding Israel will help address the ongoing and unacceptable suffering of the people of Gaza, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said in an interview with X. Today, at the College of Commissioners, I supported the Commission's proposal to partially suspend trade concessions and introduce sanctions against extremist ministers and violent settlers, Kos added.

4.33pm | September 17th

EU: Tariffs on Israel will have an estimated impact on exports of €574 million.

The suspension of preferential trade access with Israel could expose EU exports to tariffs worth up to €574 million, while Israeli imports to Europe would be hit with surcharges of up to €227 million. This was indicated by European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, providing some preliminary estimates. The European sectors most exposed include machinery, aircraft goods, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals. As you well know, we are not in favor of tariffs, but, Sefcovic emphasized, these measures were necessary in response to the dramatic and urgent humanitarian disaster unfolding in Gaza.

4.32pm | September 17th

Smotrich reveals negotiations with Americans over"Eldorado Gaza"

Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called the Gaza Strip a "real estate Eldorado," referring to the debate on the day after the war. Speaking at the urban regeneration summit organized by the Real Estate Center and the Madlan 2025 portal, he declared that the reconstruction of the Strip could become a profitable investment, revealing that he has already begun negotiations with the Americans. Smotrich spoke of a utopian vision also circulating in the Trump administration, describing it as a business plan crafted by the most professional people around. He added that the project is now on the US president's desk and that it is becoming a real estate Eldorado—I kid you not—and that it will pay for itself.

16:22 | 17 September

Sefcovic: We are disappointed, but the measures are fair and proportionate.

The restrictions on trade with Israel proposed today by the European Commission to EU member states consist of imports from Israel to the EU losing preferential access to the European market and imposing tariffs on these goods at the same level as those imposed on any other third country with which the EU does not have a free trade agreement. European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic explained:"We regret having to adopt this measure. However," Sefcovic emphasized,"we believe it is appropriate and proportionate, given the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza." Sefcovic stated that total trade in goods between the EU and Israel amounts to €42.6 billion, making the EU Israel's largest trading partner."In light of these figures and the principles at stake, the proposed partial suspension is a carefully considered response to an increasingly serious situation," he added. European Union member states, Sefcovic added, will decide on this measure by qualified majority.

16:14 | 17 September

Israel: Brussels sanctions will receive an appropriate response.

The European Commission's recommendations [...] are morally and politically perverse, and hopefully they won't be adopted. Any action against Israel will receive an appropriate response, and hopefully it won't come to that. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar wrote this in X, after the European Commission proposed increasing taxes on Israeli products entering the EU and sanctioning two Israeli ministers.

16:12 | 17 September

IDF: Over 150 attacks in Gaza City in recent days

The Israeli military (IDF) said its air force and artillery struck Gaza City more than 150 times in recent days, before the arrival of ground troops. The strikes destroyed skyscrapers in areas densely populated by tent camps where thousands of Palestinians have sought refuge. Israel claims the skyscrapers are being used by Hamas to monitor its troops.

16:10 | 17 September

Wafa: 45 killed in Israeli raids in Gaza

At least 45 Palestinians, including 23 from Gaza City, have been killed and others injured in Israeli shelling of the Strip, local sources told the Palestinian news agency Wafa.

16:09 | 17 September

Courageous Commission on Israel; it is not about the people

I congratulate the European Commission on presenting this proposal. I know that for many commissioners, and especially for the Commission President, this has been a painful challenge. But I believe that Europe must live up to its values and preserve its credibility. This was stated by the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, at a press conference with the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Luc Frieden, in response to a question on the European Commission's proposal to suspend the EU-Israel agreement."To defend one's credibility, one must first be able to make the right decisions. I therefore trust in the foreign ministers, who will meet to analyze the Commission's proposal and, at the same time, will continue to work to ensure the only solution for lasting peace and stability in the Middle East, namely the two-state solution, can be achieved," he added."Unfortunately, our Israeli friends have not listened to us, and I mean, the Israeli government has not listened to us. We cannot ignore reality." This has nothing to do with the Jews, it has nothing to do with the Israeli people, and it has nothing to do with Israel. It only has to do with what this Israeli government is doing. And we cannot add to the responsibilities accumulated over centuries of anti-Semitism the responsibility of passivity in the face of the tragedy unfolding in Palestine, so we must act, he concluded.

3.53pm | September 17th

Gaza Authority: Deaths since the start of the war surpass 65,000

Over 65,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war between Israel and Hamas, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The ministry said the death toll has risen to 65,062 and 165,697 wounded since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. The Israeli offensive has destroyed vast swathes of Gaza, displaced approximately 90% of the population, and caused a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, with experts predicting famine in Gaza City.

3.48pm | September 17th

Saudi Arabia strongly condemns Gaza City offensive

Saudi Arabia condemns in the strongest terms the Israeli ground operation in Gaza City launched yesterday by the Israeli army. The kingdom also urges members of the United Nations Security Council to act to end Israel's killing, starvation, and forced displacement of Palestinians, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

3.30pm | 17 September

Tel Aviv Industrialists: Brussels Takes Disproportionate Step

The president of the Israeli Industrialists' Association warns that the European Commission's proposal to limit free trade agreements on Israeli products due to the war against Hamas in Gaza is a"serious and disproportionate step" for Israeli industry, which is trying to continue operating at full capacity despite the effects of the war. This is a political decision disguised as a moral one, undermining the foundations of economic cooperation between Israel and Europe, a partnership built over decades on the values of innovation, free trade, and dialogue, says Ron Tomer, as reported by the Times of Israel. Tomer called on the Israeli government to take action against countries that support terrorism and to strengthen economic alliances with other countries around the world, emphasizing that Israeli exports are suffering because of the war:"Israeli exports are being hit day after day, sometimes at home and sometimes from abroad, especially in the pharmaceutical and defense technology sectors, so what Brussels is proposing to EU member states is a blow that will hit not only Israel, but also our European partners who benefit from our products and services. If the European Union decides to implement"economic sanctions," it will also harm itself," Tomer warned, echoing the words of Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar.

3.28pm | September 17th

Sa'ar: Consequences if Brussels measures are adopted

The European Commission's proposed measures against Israel, in the form of sanctions and trade restrictions, are morally and politically distorted and it is to be hoped they will not be adopted. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar wrote this in X, adding that the actions against Israel will harm Europe's own interests. Israel, Sa'ar continued, will continue to fight, with the help of its friends in Europe, against attempts to harm it while it is in the midst of an existential war. Actions against Israel will be responded to accordingly, and we hope we will not be forced to take them.

3.08pm | September 17th

Berlin: We expect Iran to allow IAEA inspections

The German government expects Iran to build trust and finally allow comprehensive inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency on Iranian soil to verify the absence of any further enrichment programs. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated this during his address to the Bundestag, recalling today's telephone conversation between the British, French, and German ministers and Iran. Wadephul also emphasized that it is absolutely clear that if Iran acquires a nuclear weapon, it will trigger a new arms spiral in the Gulf region. This must be prevented. The minister also reiterated that this position is also necessary in the interests of the State of Israel, which is threatened by Iran.

3.07pm | September 17th

Lebanon remembers Israeli pager attacks

Today in Lebanon marks the first anniversary of the Israeli terrorist attacks using pagers and walkie-talkies against the community of Hezbollah, the armed anti-Israeli party. In those attacks, between September 17 and 18, 2024, approximately thirty people, including a 10-year-old girl, were killed and 2,931 others were injured, many of them disfigured and maimed for life, with serious injuries to their eyes, face, and stomach. The victims include Hezbollah members, but also many civilians, women, and individuals not directly connected to the Lebanese party. Following the attacks, carried out with pagers and walkie-talkies issued to Hezbollah but tampered with by Israeli security services, last February, during a visit to the White House, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented US President Donald Trump with a gold model of a pager in recognition of America's support for Israel. Quoted today by the Lebanese newspaper L'Orient-Le Jour, Lebanese doctor Elie Warrak said that such a high concentration of eye injuries was unprecedented in history."We had to perform 550 operations in the three hospitals we managed alone. I couldn't distinguish the patients because they all had burned faces." The attack left profound consequences: at least 30% of the victims went blind, according to Lebanese health sources.

2.54pm | September 17th

Philip VI in Cairo defends the existence of a peaceful Palestinian state.

King Felipe VI of Spain supported the creation of a sustainable Palestinian state, including Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, living in peace and security with Israel, following his meeting today in Cairo with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on the second day of his state visit. Spain supports initiatives such as the plan you are promoting for the reconstruction of Gaza, which is so necessary for the population to recover their lives and dignity in this territory. Together with the West Bank and Israel, the territory must be part of a sustainable Palestinian state, living in peace and security with Israel, the Spanish head of state said, as reported by TVE. In his speech before President al-Sisi, Felipe VI praised Egypt's mediation role in the search for a ceasefire in the Middle East, the release of hostages, and humanitarian access to Gaza. And he once again denounced the unacceptable suffering of hundreds of thousands of people in the Gaza Strip.

2.53pm | September 17th

Netanyahu meets with Fiji's prime minister before opening the embassy.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received his Fijian counterpart, Sitiveni Rabuka, in his office ahead of the inauguration of the new Fijian embassy in Jerusalem, scheduled for later today, according to a statement from the prime minister's office. Netanyahu thanked his Fijian counterpart for her support and her firm stance on Israel, according to the prime minister's office.

Rabuka, who is also foreign minister, has headed a tripartite government since late 2022 that includes the right-wing Christian party Sodelpa, one of whose leaders' demands was for Fiji to open an embassy in Jerusalem. The opening of the Fijian embassy follows a decade-long campaign by the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem preaching support for Israel in churches across the South Pacific.

Currently, six countries have embassies in Jerusalem: the United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Papua New Guinea, and Paraguay.

2.31pm | September 17th

Sa'ar: We will react in kind to EU measures against Israel

Actions against Israel will harm Europe's own interests, as any action against Israel will be met with a similar response. Let's hope they aren't necessary. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said this on X, calling the European Commission's proposed measures against Israel morally and politically distorted.

Sa'ar then promised that Israel will continue to fight, with the help of its friends in Europe, against attempts to harm it while it is engaged in an existential war.

2.24pm | September 17th

Al Jazeera: At least 51 dead in Israeli attacks since dawn

At least 51 people have been killed in Israeli strikes launched since dawn this morning in the Gaza Strip, including 38 in Gaza City, where the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a ground operation with tens of thousands of troops late on Monday, September 15. This was reported by local sources in the Strip—controlled by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas—quoted by the Qatari-owned pan-Arab satellite broadcaster Al Jazeera. Qatar is considered one of Hamas's main political and financial backers and hosts some members of the Palestinian Islamist movement's leadership. According to figures released by Hamas, approximately 65,000 people have been killed since October 7, 2023, the day the war in the Gaza Strip began. The toll, which cannot be independently verified, does not distinguish between civilians and militants.

2.19pm | September 17th

Sa'ar, EU Commission recommendation morally distorted

The recommendation from the EU Commission, led by President Ursula von der Leyen, is morally and politically flawed, and it is hoped that—as in the past—it will not be adopted. Any measures against Israel will receive an appropriate response, although we hope it doesn't come to that. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar wrote this in X after the announcement of the recommendation to suspend bilateral support for the Israeli government. Actions against Israel would harm Europe's own interests. Israel will continue to fight, with the help of its friends in Europe, he added.

2.04pm | September 17th

Al Jazeera: At least 33 dead since dawn in Israeli attacks

At least 33 people have been killed in Israeli strikes launched since dawn this morning in the Gaza Strip, including 21 in Gaza City, where the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a ground operation with tens of thousands of troops late on Monday, September 15. This was reported by local sources in the Strip—controlled by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas—quoted by the Qatari-owned pan-Arab satellite broadcaster Al Jazeera. Qatar is considered one of Hamas's main political and financial backers and hosts some members of the Palestinian Islamist movement's leadership. According to figures released by Hamas, approximately 65,000 people have been killed since October 7, 2023, the day the war in the Gaza Strip began. The toll, which cannot be independently verified, does not distinguish between civilians and militants.

1.53pm | September 17th

Kallas: We will discuss this now, but the 27 remain divided on Israel.

Public opinion is shifting within member states because people want the suffering in Gaza to stop. We will now have a discussion at the Foreign Affairs Council, but at the same time, political positions remain unchanged, said EU High Representative Kaja Kallas.

1.51pm | September 17th

Kallas: Boycotting Eurovision? Punishing Israelis is wrong.

I believe all steps aimed at punishing the Israeli people are wrong. High Representative Kaja Kallas said this during a press conference on the measures regarding Israel adopted today by the College of European Commissioners, specifically regarding the announcements by some states that they are preparing to boycott Eurovision if Israel is present."I want to emphasize, and we always emphasize," Kallas said,"that we are proposing these measures not to punish Israel or the Israeli people, but to pressure the Israeli government to change course and put an end to the human suffering in Gaza."

1.50pm | September 17th

King Felipe calls for a viable Palestinian state that coexists in peace with Israel.

King Felipe VI of Spain defended the need for a viable Palestinian state that can coexist in peace with Israel and that includes Gaza. He made this statement during his speech at the lunch hosted in his honor by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, denouncing the brutal suffering faced by Palestinians while urging them to remain committed to achieving this goal. The king acknowledged and thanked Egypt for its mediating role since October 7, 2023, the date of the Hamas terrorist attack against Israel and the subsequent Israeli military offensive in the Strip, in reaching a ceasefire agreement, the release of hostages, and the full restoration of humanitarian aid. Spain supports initiatives such as the one promoted by Egypt for the reconstruction of Gaza, a territory that, together with the West Bank and Jerusalem, must be part of a viable Palestinian state that coexists in peace and security with Israel, he concluded.

1.45pm | September 17th

The EU proposes measures against Israel: tariffs on €5.8 billion in goods and sanctions against two ministers. Von der Leyen: The horror must end.

(Francesca Basso, from Brussels) The European Commission proposed on Wednesday that member states partially suspend the trade provisions of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which provide for preferential tariff treatment, and sanction two extremist ministers—Smotrich for Finance and Ben-Gvir for National Security—three violent settlers and six organizations linked to them, as well as ten members of the Hamas leadership group. The Commission also decided to suspend bilateral support to Israel, without compromising cooperation with Israeli civil society and aid to the Yad Vashem center. Member states will decide by qualified majority on the partial suspension of the trade provisions and by unanimity on sanctions.

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1.31pm | September 17th

Israel: 230 trucks of humanitarian aid entered yesterday

Yesterday, Tuesday, September 16, 230 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid entered the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom and Zikim crossings. This was reported by the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the Israeli Ministry of Defense body responsible for overseeing civilian policy in the West Bank and facilitating logistical coordination between Israel and Gaza. According to COGAT, approximately 250 trucks were collected and distributed by the United Nations and international organizations, while the contents of hundreds of trucks are still awaiting pickup on the Strip side. UN fuel tankers also entered the Gaza Strip for the operation of essential humanitarian systems, and the rotation of humanitarian personnel has been coordinated.

1.19pm | September 17th

Von der Leyen: Horrific events in Gaza must stop

The horrific events unfolding daily in Gaza must stop. An immediate ceasefire, unrestricted access to all humanitarian aid, and the release of all hostages held by Hamas are essential, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement. The European Union remains the largest humanitarian aid donor and a staunch supporter of the two-state solution. Reflecting these principled commitments and taking into account the recent grave developments in the West Bank, we propose suspending trade concessions with Israel, sanctioning extremist ministers and violent settlers, and suspending bilateral support for Israel, without compromising our work with Israeli civil society or Yad Vashem, she added.

1.19pm | September 17th

Kallas: Everyone agrees that Gaza is going in the wrong direction.

We all agree that the situation in Gaza continues to go in the wrong direction. We must use the tools at our disposal to pressure the Israeli government to change course, said EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Kaja Kallas. Among the options on the table, suspending trade concessions and imposing sanctions on extremist ministers, violent settlers, and Hamas operatives would send a strong message from the European Union: this war must end, the suffering must end, and the hostages must be released. The next crucial step is to gain the support of our member states to implement this proposal, she added.

1.18pm | September 17th

Media: Japan will not recognize Palestinian state to safeguard relations with US

For now, Japan will not recognize a Palestinian state, likely to maintain relations with the United States and avoid a hardening of Israel's stance, the Asahi newspaper reported, citing government sources. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will skip the September 22 meeting on the two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians during the United Nations meeting in New York, the Japanese newspaper stated. The United States had pushed Japan to renounce recognition of a Palestinian state through various diplomatic channels, while French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot had strongly urged his Japanese counterpart to recognize it, the Kyodo news agency reported last week. Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya stated at a press conference yesterday that Japan is conducting a comprehensive assessment, including the appropriate timing and modalities, of the issue of recognizing Palestinian statehood.

1.17pm | September 17th

IDF hits Hamas weapons and bomb site in Gaza City

The IDF announced that its troops, as part of Operation Gideon's Tanks 2, are eliminating militants and dismantling military facilities used by terrorist organizations in the Strip. On Monday, a weapons production site at the Hamas headquarters in Gaza City was hit. During the attack, Hamas fighters were present at the site manufacturing explosives intended to target Israeli troops. Secondary explosions were subsequently recorded, confirming the presence of explosives at the facility. Over the past two days, the air force and artillery units have struck over 150 Hamas-linked targets across the city, in support of forces maneuvering on the ground. The army also released video footage showing the attack on a Hamas weapons depot and the subsequent secondary explosions.

1.16pm | September 17th

UN Commission President: We have evidence of genocide

To accuse Israel of genocide in Gaza, we gathered evidence. Our commission conducted its investigation over a two-year period. We verified all the facts using United Nations resources: satellite images, digital evidence. We interviewed witnesses, doctors, for example. This was explained by Navi Pillay, the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights who now chairs the UN International Commission of Inquiry responsible for the report against the Jewish state. In an interview with RTS, she sought to refute Tel Aviv's arguments used to discredit the report's findings:"We have listened to statements by Israeli political leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with genocidal intent. Combining the evidence with the criteria established in the Convention for the Prevention of Genocide, we can reasonably determine that genocide has occurred and continues to occur in the Palestinian enclave," Pillay reiterated. The Israeli president called the Palestinians"animals," Netanyahu called for the destruction of Gaza."We have studied these statements and what can be deduced from them. I can assure you that we are very confident in the facts and the responsibility of the State of Israel, because these people acted as agents of the state," she emphasized."Finally, asked about Israel's argument that the fact that the war was provoked by Hamas was not taken into account, Pillay emphasized that the UN International Commission of Inquiry on the region was the first UN body to condemn the Hamas attacks of October 7. If Israel claims it acted in defense of Hamas attacks, it obviously has the opportunity to defend itself in court. We have asked the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to conduct an investigation into these acts of genocide against Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Herzog, and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant," she concluded.

Katz: If Hamas does not release the hostages and disarm, Gaza will be destroyed.

If Hamas does not free the hostages and disarm, the Gaza Strip will be destroyed, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said during a visit to the headquarters of the 162nd Division, whose forces are currently operating in Gaza City, as reported by the Times of Israel. We demand only two things from Hamas, which they will not voluntarily grant: release all the hostages and disarm, the minister said, emphasizing that the great force of this attack serves to directly defeat Hamas while also creating broader leverage for the release of the hostages. Katz explained that the Israeli government wants to take control of Gaza City because it is the main symbol of Hamas's rule, emphasizing that if Gaza falls, they will fall. The Israeli minister then accused the murderous Sinwar brothers, who led the Palestinian Islamist movement before being killed by Israel, of ruining Gaza, warning that if Hamas's new military chief, Izz al-Din Haddad, continues on this path, Gaza will be destroyed.

1.11pm | September 17th

Yemen: Israeli forces hit Houthi military infrastructure in the port of Hodeidah.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) struck military infrastructure belonging to the pro-Iranian group Ansar Allah, better known as the Houthis, in the port of Hudaydah, western Yemen. The IDF announced the news on Telegram, explaining that the targeted port—which had previously been targeted in the context of the regional conflict that erupted following the start of the war in Gaza—is used by the Houthis to transfer weapons supplied by the Iranian regime, in order to carry out attacks against the State of Israel and its allies. The strike was carried out in response to repeated attacks by the Houthi terrorist regime against the State of Israel, including the launch of drones and surface-to-surface missiles, the statement reads. According to the IDF, the Houthis continue to operate under the direction and funding of Iran to harm Israel and its allies. The terrorist regime is exploiting its maritime dominance to project force and carry out terrorist activities against global trade and shipping routes. The IDF will continue to act forcefully against repeated Houthi attacks against the State of Israel and remains determined to continue removing any threat to civilians, at whatever distance necessary, the statement from the Israeli forces concludes.

12.55pm | September 17th

Israel bans two UK MPs from entering the West Bank

Israel has blocked two British MPs, Peter Prinsley and Simon Opher, from entering the West Bank, sparking London's ire."I find the Israeli government's treatment of two respected doctors and MPs shameful, but it no longer surprises me," wrote British Health Secretary Wes Streeting in X. The Labour MPs had announced their intention to assess the humanitarian situation in the West Bank.

12.45pm | September 17th

Türkiye Presidency: The World Has a Problem Called Israel

Today, the world has a problem called Israel. Burhanettin Duran, head of the Turkish Presidency's Communications Directorate, said this while speaking in Ankara at a panel focused on the situation in the Gaza Strip."Israel has transformed into a destructive regime that shamelessly tramples international law, thrives on chaos, and has become the true source of chaos, disorder, and instability in our region," he stated. He emphasized that Turkey's top priorities include establishing a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, rapidly distributing humanitarian aid, and establishing a unified and independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. After Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Tunisia, and Iran, Duran emphasized, Israel attacked Qatar last week, targeting the negotiating delegation in Doha. The international community must now act against Israel, which poses a threat to global and regional peace due to its genocide and expansionism, the Presidential Communications Director added. Since October 7, 2023, Netanyahu and his network have killed more than 64,000 Palestinians, injured 150,000, and displaced nearly 2 million people. They have repeatedly opened fire on innocent people at aid distribution points and used starvation as a tool of genocide, Duran further stated.

12.32pm | September 17th

Hirsch Hostage Envoy: Hamas Obstacle, Ask US

Hamas and its leadership are sabotaging negotiations for the release of the hostages. Regrettably, I see distrust in this simple truth: anyone seeking support for my words should listen to our American friends in this and the previous administration. This was stated by the government's hostage envoy, Gal Hirsch, at the annual International Counterterrorism Conference at Reichman University. Acknowledging the failure to deal with the 48 hostages held by the enemy in the Gaza Strip, Hirsch stated that the responsibility to do everything possible to return them falls on us."This is what we are doing with all our resources and at all times," he assured."The vast majority of the families of the kidnapped are clamoring for an end to the war and an agreement to bring them home. The launch of the ground operation to capture Gaza City was greeted with horror by the Forum that brings them together, believing it to be a death sentence for the hostages.

12.28pm | September 17th

Pope Leo XIV: Closeness to Gaza, a ceasefire is needed

(Gian Guido Vecchi) The full text of the appeal read by Leo XIV at the general audience: I express my profound closeness to the Palestinian people in Gaza, who continue to live in fear and survive in unacceptable conditions, forced by force to move once again from their lands. Before the Almighty Lord who commanded:"You shall not kill" (Ex 20:13) and in the light of all human history, every person always has an inviolable dignity, to be respected and protected. I renew my appeal for a ceasefire, for the release of hostages, for a negotiated diplomatic solution, and for full respect for international humanitarian law. I invite everyone to join in my heartfelt prayer that a dawn of peace and justice may soon arise.

12.17pm | September 17th

Emir of Qatar in Jordan, talks with Abdullah II on cooperation

Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, traveled to Jordan to discuss cooperation with King Abdullah II following Israel's September 9 attack on Doha, targeting the Hamas leadership. Al-Jazeera reported that al-Thani was received in Amman by the Jordanian king, Crown Prince Hussein Abdullah, and other senior Jordanian officials. On Monday, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) decided to activate a joint defense mechanism to address the threats.

12.17pm | September 17th

Hamas, Qassam Brigades moved hostages to avoid being hit

A source from the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas revealed to the Saudi-run pan-Arab satellite broadcaster Al Arabiya that the group's armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, moved the Israeli hostages to various locations in Gaza City to avoid being targeted. The source explained that there are fears for their lives due to the intense bombardment by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), which launched a ground operation late on Monday evening, September 15, involving tens of thousands of soldiers. Meanwhile, the Forum of the Families of the Israeli Hostages accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of deciding to sacrifice the detainees for political reasons, ignoring the assessments of military and security officials.

12.10pm | September 17th

Students to Bernini: You must stop Israel, no more agreements.

You are complicit, you must stop Israel, we are breaking the agreements. Shame. These are the words that some students from the University Left and the University Union of Sapienza addressed to the Minister of Universities and Research, Anna Maria Bernini, at the beginning of her speech during the inauguration of the monumental staircase, on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the university city, last night. The students, both from the audience set up near the statue of Minerva and from the stage during the throwing of the cap during the ceremony, then held up the flags of Palestine. Free Palestine, they repeated several times. We cannot accept catwalks in our university from "part of those who continue to send weapons and maintain agreements and relations with Israel," reads the Instagram post published by Sinistra Universitaria Sapienza."We have reiterated it once again: humanitarian actions and regret alone are not enough; we need to isolate the Netanyahu government politically and economically. What do the Italian government and La Sapienza intend to do?" they ask. During the ceremony, a large Palestinian flag was lowered from the Faculty of Letters building, amid red smoke bombs lit on the terrace, while the march for Gaza was underway through the streets of the city.

12.05pm | September 17th

Madrid nears approval of arms embargo decree on Israel

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares has assured that the Council of Ministers will approve the decree that will legally consolidate the arms embargo on Israel in a matter of days. The decree was announced on September 8 by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez as part of a package of nine measures aimed at halting the genocide in Gaza. The overall plan was adopted by the Council of Ministers the following day, September 9, and the decree is now being drafted for individual approval. Pedro Sánchez's PSOE government partners, namely Sumar, as well as the left-wing parties that supported the prime minister's investiture in Parliament, have complained about delays in approving the decree. Speaking to the media from Cairo, where he is accompanying the Spanish royal family during their state visit, Albares reassured his allies, explaining that it is a complex decree and that it is therefore taking days to draft. However, he confirmed his willingness to approve it and said that it is a matter of days.

11.57 | September 17th

Film about Palestinian boy to represent Israel at the Oscars

Israeli Culture Minister Miki Zohar announced funding cuts for the Ophir Awards, Israel's version of the Oscars, after the Best Picture award went to a film about a Palestinian teenager."The Sea," written and directed by Shai Carmeli Pollak and chosen to represent Israel at the Oscars, tells the story of a Palestinian boy from Ramallah who tries to reach the beach for the first time but is stopped by Israeli forces. The film features a cast composed primarily of Palestinian actors, born and living within Israel's borders. The film's young protagonist, thirteen-year-old Muhammad Gazawi, won the Best Actor award and, in his acceptance speech, made a plea for all children to be able to live and dream without war. The film won five awards overall, and Carmeli Pollak attended yesterday's ceremony wearing a T-shirt that read"A Child Is a Child."

In a statement released by the ministry today, Zohar called"The Sea's" win shameful, noting that the film portrays Israeli soldiers in a negative light."There is no greater slap in the face to Israeli citizens than the embarrassing and distant annual Ophir Awards ceremony," the minister said in a statement reported by the Times of Israel."Starting with the 2026 budget, this pathetic ceremony will no longer be funded by taxpayers' money." Under my watch, Israeli citizens will not pay out of their own pockets for a ceremony that spits in the face of our heroic soldiers.

For his part, the director of the Israel Film and Television Academy, Asaf Amir, expressed his appreciation for the selection of"The Sea": In the face of the Israeli government's attacks on Israeli cinema and culture, and calls from some parts of the international film community to boycott us, the selection of"The Sea" represents a powerful and resonant response. I am proud that an Arabic-language film, born of a collaboration between Israelis and Palestinians, is representing Israel in the Oscar competition.

Chevron announces agreement to build new gas pipeline from Israel to Egypt

The US oil company Chevron has signed an agreement with Israeli state-owned operator Israel Natural Gas to begin construction of a new pipeline that will transport gas supplies from the Leviathan field to Egypt. The announcement was made by Chevron itself. In approximately three years, once construction is completed, the pipeline—called Nitzana—will transport approximately 600 million cubic feet of natural gas per day. According to Chevron, this should bring Israel's total export capacity to Egypt to over 2.2 billion cubic feet per day. Last month, Israel's offshore Leviathan field signed the Jewish state's largest-ever gas export deal, selling 130 billion cubic meters of gas to Egypt for $35 billion. This follows a 2019 agreement, which sold approximately 19 billion cubic meters of gas. The Leviathan field, owned by NewMed, Chevron, and Ratio Energies, contains estimated reserves of 600 billion cubic meters of gas.

11.38 | September 17th

Palestinian Authority telecommunications, internet, and telephone lines down after Israeli raid

The West Bank-based Palestinian Telecommunications Authority said Israeli bombings of key power lines in northern Gaza had disrupted internet and telephone services, isolating residents of the territory.

11.27am | September 17th

Qatar: Gaza City offensive is an extension of genocidal war

The government of Qatar condemned the large-scale offensive launched by the Israeli army against Gaza City, calling it an extension of the genocidal war in the Strip and a flagrant violation of international law. In a statement released on social media, the Qatari Foreign Ministry warned that the Israeli occupation is attempting to undermine the prospects for peace in the region through systematic plans that pose a threat to regional and international peace and security. This includes its brutal genocidal war in Gaza, as well as its colonial, racist, and settler policies based on a logic of arrogance, aggression, and betrayal, the emirate's diplomacy emphasized. The government in Doha also reiterated its firm and permanent position in support of the Palestinian cause, based on international resolutions and the two-state solution. Relations between Israel and Qatar, a mediator in talks for a possible ceasefire in Gaza, have become tense after last week's Israeli army bombing of Hamas headquarters in Doha, killing five members of the Palestinian group and a Qatari officer.

11.14 | 17 September

Gaza, Health Ministry: Israel blocks fuel supplies to WHO

The Gaza Strip's Health Ministry today accused Israel of deliberately obstructing attempts by the World Health Organization (WHO) to bring fuel to hospitals in the Palestinian enclave.

Preventing the supply of fuel needed to run generators in Gaza's hospitals means a complete blockade of health services, it stressed in a statement, specifying that without fuel, the Al-Sahaba medical complex, the Public Hospital, and the central oxygen station could close within a few days, and ambulances could be halted.

11.12am | September 17th

IOC: Israel respects the Olympic Charter, as does Palestine

In recent weeks, there has been considerable pressure on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to exclude Israel from all international sporting events, including the Olympic Games. In rejecting Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's request to exclude Israel from sport, the IOC stated that both the Israeli and Palestinian NOCs are recognized by the IOC and have equal rights, specifying that both abide by the Olympic Charter. In its statement, the Lausanne-based world sports body noted that Israeli and Palestinian athletes coexisted peacefully under the same roof at the Olympic Village during the last Olympic Games in Paris. The IOC noted that Palestine has participated in the Olympics since Atlanta in 1996. For the time being, the IOC is maintaining the suspension of the National Olympic Committees of Russia and Belarus following Moscow's military invasion of Ukraine. The presence of Russian and Belarusian athletes is possible, but only subject to a limited number of participants, but under the acronym"Ain," meaning neutral individual athletes.

11:04 | September 17th

Media: 21 victims since dawn in Gaza City out of 33 in the Strip

Since dawn, Israeli strikes in Gaza have killed at least 33 people, according to medical sources quoted by Al Jazeera. Of the total, 21 were killed in Gaza City, where Israel's massive ground assault to capture the Strip's main urban center is underway.

10.56am | September 17th

Madrid: No Ministerial Disagreement on Arms Embargo on Israel

Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles has ruled out any disagreements within the government regarding the approval of the bill to legally consolidate the arms embargo on Israel, whose consideration by the Council of Ministers has been postponed until next week, sparking discontent among the left-wing Sumar party, an ally of the PSOE in the progressive coalition government. In statements to reporters in the corridors of the Spanish Congress, Robles attributed the delay to the complexity of the text."It must be done properly," the Defense Minister said. According to sources in her ministry, cited by the Europa Press agency, work has been underway for months to make military detachment from Israel a reality, but always with responsibility.

10:54 | September 17th

Sanchez to Feijóo, listen to the UN that certified genocide

The situation in Gaza marked the confrontation between Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and the leader of the opposition Popular Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, in the Congress of Deputies. Sánchez urged his opponent to listen to the independent UN commission that concluded that what is happening in Gaza is genocide. Feijóo condemned the massacre of civilians in Gaza, though he did not use the term genocide."Don't listen to me, Mr. Feijóo, listen to the UN working group that has determined that a genocide committed by Israel is taking place in Gaza," Sánchez said, emphasizing that 82% of Spaniards believe what is happening in Gaza is genocide. His voters also support this, he added, addressing the opposition leader.

10.53 | September 17th

Türkiye: The world has a problem called Israel

The international community must intervene against Israel; it is already a global problem, Burhanettin Duran, communications director for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office, said today.

On September 9, Israel launched attacks against key negotiators for the Palestinian Hamas movement in Doha. The Palestinian group said six people were killed in the attack, including Humam al-Hayya, son of the Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip. Israel attacked a negotiating delegation in Qatar. All this shows us that Israel's genocidal and occupation policy is becoming a threat to regional and global security. The international community is already obliged to act.

Let's be honest, the world already has a problem called Israel, Duran said, speaking at a panel in Ankara on the situation in Gaza.

10.52 | September 17th

Madrid: No Ministerial Disagreement on Arms Embargo on Israel

Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles has ruled out any disagreements within the government regarding the approval of the bill to legally consolidate the arms embargo on Israel, whose consideration by the Council of Ministers has been postponed until next week, sparking discontent among the left-wing Sumar party, an ally of the PSOE in the progressive coalition government. In statements to reporters in the corridors of the Spanish Congress, Robles attributed the delay to the complexity of the text."It must be done properly," the Defense Minister said. According to sources in her ministry, cited by the Europa Press agency, work has been underway for months to make military detachment from Israel a reality, but always with responsibility.

10.50am | September 17th

Lavrov: Russia is not attacking civilian targets in Ukraine

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated today that Russia never strikes civilians or civilian infrastructure, in response to the United Nations Secretariat's statement regarding Kiev's accusations against Moscow."Every time Ukraine and its European masters start throwing tantrums, accusing Russia of destroying civilian targets, we see the United Nations Secretariat back up these statements and, along with the West and Ukraine, demand that Russia be punished in some way," Lavrov stated."The Russian military does not strike civilian targets," the diplomat added.

10.43am | September 17th

New wave of civilian ships from Catania to Gaza

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) and Thousand Madleens to Gaza (TMTG), according to a statement, are joining forces in a single flotilla to challenge Israel's illegal and deadly siege of Gaza. This alliance brings together two global, citizen-led initiatives with a shared commitment to justice and solidarity with the Palestinian people. On September 24, the statement from the two organizations continues,"we will launch a new wave of civilian vessels to Gaza from Catania, following the first vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla now en route to the shores of Palestine. This continues a legacy of resistance that began with the Free Gaza Movement in 2008 and with the FFC's missions since 2010. We sail because world powers enable Israel's illegal siege. We sail to break it, to challenge complicity, and to affirm the rights of Palestinians in Gaza." This collaboration, the statement emphasizes, is rooted in years of experience and grassroots organizing. By uniting maritime security, legal advocacy, and communications, we strengthen coordination, security, messaging, and global impact to address what governments, corporations, and institutions have abandoned: stopping genocide, resisting apartheid, and demanding accountability under international law. We sail because silence is betrayal. We sail because Gaza must live. We sail because Palestine must be free! Israel's illegal siege on Gaza is both a humanitarian emergency and a political crime, the statement concludes. Gaza is being annihilated, its people deliberately starved, bombed, and obliterated by Israel and its allies. Children are dying of hunger and disease, deprived of food, clean water, medicine, and the fundamental right to live with dignity. Since October 7, 2023, Israel's genocidal assault has transformed an already suffocating blockade into a catastrophe. Yet our governments continue to arm, finance, and profit from this horror. We cannot wait for permission. We cannot wait for leaders who have chosen complicity over humanity. Urgency requires not one ship, but waves of ships. Israel's recent armed attacks on the FFC vessels Conscience, Madleen, and Handala have sparked a global response. Dozens of boats from around the globe have joined the Global Sumud Flotilla, demonstrating that the call to lift Israel's illegal siege of Gaza cannot be silenced or stopped.

10.38am | September 17th

Four former Shin Bet leaders oppose the messianic appointment of Zini

Four former Shin Bet directors have submitted their objections to David Zini's appointment as Shin Bet chief. Israeli press reports emphasize that Ami Ayalon, Carmi Gillon, Nadav Argaman, and Yoram Cohen have all stated that the man chosen by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the ouster of Ronen Bar is not a suitable candidate. Last week, Netanyahu asked the commission to advance the appointment of Zini—known for his messianic positions and his affiliation with Rabbi Zvi Yisrael Thau, the most extremist figure in the current Religious Zionist camp and the spiritual leader of the homophobic Noam party—to September 21, calling him the most suitable candidate due to his critical thinking.

10.12am | September 17th

China: Firmly Opposes Israeli Escalation in Gaza

China firmly opposes the escalation of Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip and urges the Jewish state to heed calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the Palestinian territory, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said. China condemns all actions that harm civilians, spokesperson Lin Jian said, commenting on the major ground offensive launched Tuesday in Gaza City. We urge Israel to heed the international community's strong appeals, immediately cease its military operations in Gaza, and implement a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire as soon as possible to prevent an even greater humanitarian crisis, he said at a press conference.

10:04 | September 17th

China condemns Israeli attack on Qatar at UN headquarters

China condemned Israel's attack on Qatar at the UN, calling the action a blatant violation of Qatar's territorial sovereignty and national security."Israel's attack on Qatar constitutes a blatant violation of Qatar's territorial sovereignty and national security, violates international law and the United Nations Charter, and undermines peace efforts," said Chen Xu, China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva, according to the Global Times today. China strongly opposes and condemns these actions. Respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states is a fundamental norm of international relations, yet Israel has ignored this principle, repeatedly launching military operations against neighboring countries. Qatar has been a key mediator in the ceasefire negotiations in Gaza and has made significant efforts to promote a ceasefire and restore peace, efforts that have been highly praised by the international community, Chen Xu added.

9:59 AM | September 17

Iran deplores US statements on the anniversary of Amini's death

Iran deplored the U.S. State Department's statement marking the anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini, who was killed in police custody in 2022. Washington vowed to continue pressuring Iran to hold it accountable for its actions against its people. The statement is a clear example of the United States' hostile and criminal interference in Iran's internal affairs and is full of hypocrisy, deceit, and insolence, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said, cited by Mehr. Iranians will never forget or forgive the United States' vicious crimes, illegal interventions, and continued hostility and sanctions against our country, it added.

9:53 AM | September 17

Al Jazeera: At least 12 dead in Gaza since dawn due to IDF raids

Hospital sources in the Gaza Strip report that at least twelve people have been killed in the past few hours, seven of them in Gaza City. Al-Jazeera reports, noting that the victims include a child and his mother, killed in an attack on a residential apartment in the Shati refugee camp, west of the city. According to the same sources, the Israeli army has destroyed at least 17 residential buildings in Gaza City, intensifying its offensive aimed at capturing and occupying the Palestinian territory's main urban center. The military campaign, which has maintained a steady bombardment for weeks, has already left thousands of people homeless, forcing them to flee south.

9:53 AM | September 17

Thousands of students on the beach demand a hostage deal

Teenagers from dozens of schools across Israel demanded a deal to free the hostages, demonstrating across the country. Naomi, a relative of hostage Dror Or, told Haaretz:"Today, on the 712th day of the war and shortly before Rosh Hashanah, thousands of young people took to the streets with a clear appeal. We will not forget the hostages."

9:33 AM | September 17

IDF announces: New humanitarian corridor open for 48 hours

Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee announced to Gaza City residents the opening of a temporary transit route to the southern Gaza Strip in response to the Israeli forces' advance. In a post on X, the Arabic-language spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that transit through Salah al-Din Street will be possible from 12:00 p.m. today until 12:00 p.m. on Friday, September 19. Until now, Gaza City residents have left the city via the coastal road, while Salah al-Din Street is an internal artery within the Strip.

9:26 AM | September 17

ID: 50 targets hit overnight, mostly in Gaza City

The Israeli military says its air force struck around 50 targets in the Gaza Strip overnight, most of them in Gaza City, the Times of Israel reports. According to the army, a total of 140 targets have been hit in recent days. The IDF says the targets include tunnels, buildings used by terrorist groups, operative cells, and other infrastructure, but provides few other details about its intensified offensive against Gaza's largest urban area, which began yesterday.

9:25 AM | September 17

The IOC rejects Spain's request to exclude Israel from international sports competitions.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has rejected Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's request to exclude Israel from international sporting competitions. Sanchez declared on Monday that until the barbarity ceases, neither Russia nor Israel should be in any international competition, following the protests that marked the Vuelta a España cycling race, which was interrupted on the final stage in Madrid by demonstrators challenging the Israeli team's participation. In a statement reported by Efe news agency, the IOC stated that both the Israeli and Palestinian International Olympic Committees are recognized by the IOC and have equal rights. Both respect the Olympic Charter. The organization also emphasized that Israeli and Palestinian athletes coexisted peacefully during the past Olympic Games in Paris, in the Olympic Village. The IOC also recalls that it recognized Palestine, whose athletes have participated in the Games since 1996 in Atlanta, and have not missed any edition since, albeit without winning medals. The organization is currently maintaining sanctions against athletes from Russia and Belarus, who were unable to participate in the Paris Olympics representing their respective countries and who did so under the acronym AIN (Neutral Individual Athletes) due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and doping scandals.

9:17 AM | September 17

Iran executes alleged Mossad spy

Iranian prosecutors have announced the execution of Babak Shahbazi, an alleged Israeli spy accused of collaborating with the Mossad in intelligence, espionage, and security activities. The Iranian news agency Mehr reported that Shahbazi, with experience designing industrial cooling systems for sensitive civilian and military centers, allegedly provided information to Israeli officials in exchange for money and the promise of residence abroad. According to authorities, he had established direct contact with multiple Mossad officials, sharing details on infrastructure projects and receiving training in secure communications and covert measures. Arrested after an accomplice was arrested, Shahbazi was sentenced to death for land corruption, a sentence upheld by the Supreme Court. The hanging took place this morning.

9:16 AM | September 17

Spanish Jewish community opposes Eurovision boycott

The Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain (FCJE) deplores Spain's withdrawal from the Eurovision Song Contest, decided yesterday by public broadcaster RTVE, if Israel participates. It believes it is inappropriate to mix culture with politics. Mixing culture, sports, science, research—in this case, music—is neither appropriate nor right, the federation states in statements reported by Europa Press.

9:10 AM | September 17

Bedouin home demolition operation: Clashes in the Negev

Clashes erupted in the Negev between protesters and police, who deployed force to demolish a series of homes built without permits in the unrecognized village of As-Sir, south of Be'er Sheva. Dozens of residents began protesting when riot police arrived, setting fire to tires. Police used stun grenades and tear gas against the protesters in an attempt to disperse them. Law enforcement officials emphasized in a statement that the operation was launched after multiple attempts to carry out the demolition through dialogue. The demolition of homes without permits in unrecognized Bedouin villages is one of the flagship campaigns of National Security Minister and far-right leader Itamar Ben-Gvir. Joining the protesters, Arab-Israeli parliamentarian Waleed Alhwashla denounced the police's use of excessive force upon entering the village, escalating tensions."This is the government's policy, this is Ben-Gvir's policy." There was a directive from the Southern District to enter and use force against the protesters. This is unacceptable. Hence, the call to the authorities to engage with the public respectfully, offering options to residents of homes at risk of demolition.

8:34 AM | September 17

Hamas: Al-Rantisi Children's Hospital Attacked, No Casualties

Gaza's Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health has denounced Israel's attack on al-Rantisi Children's Hospital in Gaza City and condemned the raid. Al Jazeera reports. According to the ministry, the medical facility was hit three times in a row, but no casualties were reported. At least 40 patients are believed to have fled the hospital, while another 40 remained with some of the staff. The Palestinian ministry called on all stakeholders to provide protection to healthcare facilities, medical staff, and patients in the Gaza governorate.

8:12 AM | September 17

Hamas: Over a million Gazans reject evacuation

Over a million Palestinians remain in Gaza City and the northern Strip and refuse forced displacement to the south. The Hamas government's press office in the Strip reported this, specifying that it has recorded a reverse movement, with more than 15,000 people returning to Gaza City due to the impoverished living conditions in the south.

8:10 AM | September 17

Wafa: 17 dead since dawn in the Strip, 7 in Gaza City

Seventeen people, seven of them in Gaza City, have been killed and others injured since dawn in ongoing Israeli bombardments of the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported, citing medical sources. Three members of a family were reportedly killed in a raid on a tent for displaced people in the Mawasi area of Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip. A man, his pregnant wife, and their daughter were killed in a bombing of a home in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, Wafa added. Two more people were killed in an attack on a home in the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood, southern Gaza City.

7:49 AM | September 17

Alarm sirens in southern Israel

Alarm sirens have gone off in southern Israel, near Ramon Airport, following a suspected drone attack, the Israeli military reported. Last week, a drone launched by the Yemeni Houthi group struck Ramon Airport, injuring one person.

7:37 AM | September 17

IDF: About 400,000 people evacuated from Gaza City

According to a new estimate by the Israeli military, approximately 400,000 Palestinians have so far evacuated Gaza City to other areas of the Strip, the Times of Israel reports. An estimated 1 million Palestinians lived in Gaza City before the IDF began its offensive against Hamas in the area. In recent days, the pace of evacuations has increased to tens of thousands of people per day, according to the Israeli military.

7:32 AM | September 17

Iran executes man accused of spying for Israel

Iranian authorities today executed a man accused of spying for Israel. The MERS news agency reported that the man, identified as Babak Shahbazi, was executed after being found guilty of exchanging intelligence with agents linked to the Mossad. Iran Human Rights had recently warned of the risk of his imminent execution, stating that a message the man sent to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in which he offered to help Kiev against Russia, was used as an example of espionage for Israel, which allegedly taught Babak how to use Microsoft Word.

7:30 AM | September 17

Hamas's response: ambushes with homemade rockets and stolen bombs. The IDF is risky in stopping.

by Guido Olimpio

​

​Israel has launched the assault on Gaza City. Massive bombardments, the tallest buildings leveled to their foundations, buildings pulverized by armored vehicles filled with explosives and controlled remotely. Thousands of people are fleeing south, but many are still trapped. Many do not know where to go. And so the list of victims, civilians and fighters, grows. The hostages, the prey of October 7th, are at risk.

Hamas must wait for the wave and try to inflict losses with ambushes. There was a precise order given by the leaders, an appeal that combines a propaganda message with instructions for the mujahideen. Local sources claim that, after the elimination of the Sinwar brothers, the resistance is led by four leaders: Ezzedine al Haddad, the current number one, considered more pragmatic than his predecessors; Raed Saad, formerly responsible for armaments and the operational area; Mohammed Odeh, the intelligence man; and Mohand Rajab, commander of the units in Gaza City. Beneath this center of gravity are individual, autonomous units, tasked with waiting for the enemy to strike with what they have. Mines, magnetic grenades, locally produced double-charge rocket launchers, rudimentary ordnance, and then the tunnels. The months of war have taught us a lot in terms of techniques. When the IDF maintained a certain mobility, it was difficult for the mujahideen to operate. But every time the units occupied fixed positions, the guerrillas resurfaced and managed to inflict damage. Even a few days ago.​

​Read the article here

7:23 AM | September 17

Gaza is on fire: Israel's invasion has sent thousands of Palestinians fleeing.

by Francesco Battistini, correspondent in Tel Aviv

For a roof, the sky. For a destination, nothingness. Escaping Gaza City costs $250 a kilometer, if you want to jump in a battered, overcrowded van heading south. The other night, Hosni Hawa took his children in his arms and left. Only with his clothes on, on foot. It was raining fire everywhere, he told the Arabic channel Radio Alshams, from where a journalist, his cousin, called him. His battery was low: We walked in the dark, the explosions behind us. We went where the leaflets told us to. They are the leaflets that the Tsahal, the Israeli army, throws at all those who decide to leave. They twirl in the air, climb over the barbed wire walls, and reach the Ashkelon waterfront: Citizens of Gaza—it says in Arabic—staying in this area is very dangerous! If you go south to Mawasi, you'll find tents, water, and food! Read the article here.

7:21 AM | September 17

Gaza City, the director of Al Shifa Hospital:"Everything is missing here. Patients are dying in line. Without antibiotics, we'll have to amputate."

by Greta Privitera

​

​On the floor, bodies next to bodies next to other bodies. Children's faces covered in dust and blood. Wide eyes. Women's bloodied veils. Stretchers whizzing by, deafening sirens, cries, chaos. In the background, the sound of artillery. And those white sheets covering the atrocities of bombs on men. War is always the same, and sometimes it repeats itself. Here it feels like we're back in October and November 2023, says Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of Al Shifa hospital in Gaza City, the largest in the Strip, over the phone. Except that in 2023 this place was functioning: we had more medicine, more staff, more food, and therefore more strength. It comes a few hours after the night of nights, as Palestinian journalist Samar Abu Elouf defined it. The night that marked the beginning of the Israeli army's ground offensive in Gaza City. Read the article here.

7:20 AM | September 17

Father Faltas: I've never seen anything like this. Everything in Gaza City is burning; it's hell.

by Gian Guido Vecchi

​

​Everything is destroyed. Everything razed to the ground. Uninhabitable. Father Ibrahim Faltas struggles to speak. A Franciscan, he was born in Egypt sixty-one years ago and has lived in the Holy Land, between Israel and Palestine, for thirty-six. He was parish priest of Bethlehem before becoming vicar of the Custody and head of the eighteen Franciscan schools. He has seen so much. But now his voice on the phone is hoarse with emotion, it's incredible….

In what sense, Father?

You see, I lived through the first and second intifadas, I was in the basilica when the siege of the Nativity took place in Bethlehem. But I've never seen anything like this, ever. Everyone's fear, everyone's suffering...

​​Read the interview here

7:19 AM | September 17

A thousand dollars to escape and 8 hours to travel 15 kilometers, we are like ghosts

by Greta Privitera 

Mohammed Aiamarin isn't leaving. Even though he says my heart almost stopped because of the sound of the bombs that exploded a few hundred meters from his tent pitched on the beach. He's not leaving Gaza City because there are no safe zones, and the occupation lies. The Israeli army bombs everywhere, so what difference does it make? If his voice and certainties don't waver, Aiamarin hesitates when talking about his children: But maybe, if I find a way, I'll organize the evacuation of my family to the Al-Mawasi refugee camp, in the south. I have four small children, and he sends photos of Amal, Janie, Maria, and Lynn. I've never seen them as scared as the other night, they were inconsolable. There was a moment when I thought they had dropped the nuclear bomb, it wouldn't surprise me, they want to eliminate us anyway.

​

​Read the article here

7:17 AM | September 17

IDF to Gaza City residents: New transit route to the South

Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee announced to Gaza City residents the opening of a temporary transit route to the southern Gaza Strip in response to the Israeli forces' advance. In a post on X, the Arabic-language spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that transit through Salah al-Din Street will be possible from 12:00 p.m. today until 12:00 p.m. on Friday, September 19. Until now, Gaza City residents have left the city via the coastal road, while Salah al-Din Street is an internal artery within the Strip.

7:01 AM | September 17

Israel opens new temporary crossing point for Gaza escapees

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) informed residents of the Strip this morning that it has opened a second evacuation route for those wishing to flee Gaza City, as the Israeli army advances on the Palestinian enclave's main city. The route, along Sala-al-Din Street in the southern Strip, will be open from noon today until noon Friday, Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee announced in Arabic on X. Media sources in Gaza meanwhile reported that Israeli forces continued shelling the city and other parts of the Strip overnight, injuring or killing several people.

6:50 AM | September 17

Human Rights Watch accuses Israel of war crimes in Syria

A report by the NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) accuses Israel of forcibly displacing people in areas of southern Syria where the Jewish state's army has taken control, demolishing homes and preventing people from accessing agricultural land in areas where military installations are being built. Rather than responding to an immediate threat, Israeli forces appear to have cleared and destroyed homes as part of a broader strategy to consolidate their military presence, the NGO states regarding the actions in the village of Hamadiya, accusing the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) of war crimes. The report states that the IDF defended its actions by arguing that they complied with international law, as the demolitions were an operational necessity. HRW also accuses Israel of arresting Syrians and transferring them across the border—actions the IDF has admitted to, though it defends them as intelligence-based and subject to judicial review.

6:48 AM | September 17

Japan will not recognize Palestinian statehood at UN General Assembly

Japan currently has no intention of recognizing a Palestinian state and will not do so during the United Nations General Assembly scheduled for later this month, the Asahi newspaper reports, citing anonymous government sources. Japan's position contrasts with initiatives to recognize a Palestinian state undertaken by France, Great Britain, Canada, and Australia, and aligns Tokyo with the United States, Israel's closest ally.

6:14 AM | September 17

Canada condemns Israeli ground offensive in Gaza City

Canada's Foreign Ministry condemned Israel's horrific ground offensive in Gaza City. This exacerbates the humanitarian crisis and jeopardizes the release of hostages, the Canadian diplomat said on X, adding that the Israeli government must respect international law.

0:58|September 17

Pope: We must find another solution for Gaza

Many have nowhere to go. We must find another solution. Pope Leo XIV said this as he left his residence at Villa Barberini in Castel Gandolfo, answering journalists' questions about the exodus from Gaza.

0:49 | September 17

Netanyahu: Qatar is funding Hamas, the attack was justified.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at a press conference that Qatar finances Hamas and that the attack on Doha was justified.

0:44|September 17

IDF: Powerful attack on Gaza City, troops enter

We are launching a powerful attack against the Hamas stronghold in Gaza City. Over the past 24 hours, troops from the 98th Division have begun ground operations in central Gaza City. Troops operating on the ground have entered the area with fire support from the air and sea. Dozens of terrorist sites have been hit, including military facilities, observation posts, and booby-trapped buildings intended to harm troops operating in the area. The IDF stated.

0:41|September 17

Guterres: Genocide? What's happening in Gaza is intolerable.

It's not the Secretary-General's role to legally describe genocide, but that doesn't mean I don't consider what's happening in Gaza horrendous. We're seeing massive destruction, and now the systematic destruction of Gaza City, the massive killing of civilians, and dramatic obstacles to aid distribution. Regardless of the name, the truth is that this is morally, politically, and legally intolerable. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said this after a UN Commission of Inquiry found that Israel committed genocide in Gaza.

0:24|September 17

Netanyahu: Anyone who condemns Israel is a"hypocrite."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during this evening's press conference, declared that anyone who blames Israel for its actions is a hypocrite. The United States bombed Afghanistan because that's where Al-Qaeda was located. Then Pakistan because that's where Bin Laden was located,' he represented the Israeli leader, adding that no one said, 'My God, something terrible has happened. America has violated the sovereignty of Afghanistan or Pakistan. Don't harbor terrorists; no one will act on your soil. It's our right to act against terrorists who attack from other states,' Netanyahu clarified.

0:16|September 17

Netanyahu: We will form an independent war industry that can withstand international constraints.

I don't deny attempts to limit us economically, but the world wants the products Israel produces. (...) In all fields, Israel is a driving force, and the market economy will function here as it has so far. There is one area I was referring to, where there can certainly be restrictions that are not economic, but political in nature, and that is what is happening in the defense industry, the Israeli prime minister explained.

0:08|September 17

Al Jazeera: 106 Palestinians killed by Israel in Gaza yesterday

At least 106 Palestinians were killed yesterday by Israel in the Gaza Strip, Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera reported, citing medical sources at local hospitals. At least 91 of those killed in today's Israeli strikes died in Gaza City, the sources added.

0:03|September 16

The UN condemns the offensive on Gaza City: A carnage that must end.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, condemned Israel's ground offensive against Gaza City and called for an end to the carnage, highlighting mounting evidence of the ongoing genocide in the Palestinian enclave."The entire world is crying out for peace. Palestinians and Israelis are crying out for peace. Everyone wants this to end, and what we are witnessing is a continued escalation that is totally and completely unacceptable," Turk told AFP."It is absolutely clear that this carnage must end," he added.

September 17, 12:03 AM - Updated September 17, 7:53 PM