Overnight, a series of Israeli strikes claimed the lives of at least 14 individuals in Gaza City, according to health officials. These intensified attacks are part of a broader Israeli offensive, with residents being urged to evacuate the area.
This renewed violence coincides with growing frustration among Western nations regarding the escalating conflict in Gaza. Several countries are now indicating a move to formally recognize Palestinian statehood, a significant development expected to be discussed at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly. Portugal’s Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed on Friday, September 19, 2025, that it would officially recognize a Palestinian state on Sunday, September 21, 2025, setting a concrete date after earlier announcements.
Portugal joins a growing list of Western countries, including the U.K., Canada, Australia, Malta, Belgium, and Luxembourg, which are expected to grant recognition to Palestinian statehood in the near future.
A satellite image from September 16, 2025, tragically reveals the obliterated remains of the 15-story Mushtaha Tower in Gaza City, utterly destroyed by an Israeli airstrike.
This recent Israeli military operation, initiated earlier this week, has dramatically intensified the ongoing conflict across West Asia, potentially making a ceasefire even more elusive. While the Israeli military states its objective is to dismantle Hamas’s military infrastructure, it has not provided a clear timeline for the offensive, though some estimates suggest it could last for several months.
Over the past 23 months, continuous Israeli bombardments have resulted in over 65,000 deaths in Gaza. These actions have obliterated large sections of the strip, displaced approximately 90% of its inhabitants, and triggered a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Experts warn that Gaza City is currently grappling with widespread famine.
A recent video report highlights the devastating impact on civilians and infrastructure, further underscoring the urgent need for humanitarian intervention.
Evacuation Orders and Mounting Civilian Crisis in Gaza City
Dr. Rami Mhanna, managing director of Shifa Hospital, reported that among the casualties brought to their facility were six members of a single family, killed when an early Saturday morning strike hit their home. These victims were also relatives of the hospital’s director, Dr. Mohamed Abu Selmiya.
Separately, the Palestinian Red Crescent confirmed that five additional individuals died in another strike near Shawa Square.
The Israeli military has yet to comment on these specific strikes.
For several days, Israel has been instructing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians sheltering in Gaza City to relocate southward to designated ‘humanitarian zones’.
While many Palestinians have been streaming out of the city, some by car and others on foot, the mass exodus presents immense challenges. Israel recently established another two-day evacuation corridor south of Gaza City. However, numerous residents in the famine-stricken area are reluctant to relocate again, often due to severe weakness or the inability to bear the financial burden of moving.
Aid organizations have voiced serious concerns that compelling thousands more people to evacuate will only worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian crisis. They continue to call for an immediate ceasefire to ensure essential aid can reach those desperately in need.
On Friday, September 19, 2025, UNICEF reported a distressing incident where life-saving therapeutic food, intended for thousands of children in Gaza, was stolen from four of its trucks. The agency stated that armed individuals accosted the trucks outside their Gaza City compound, holding drivers at gunpoint before seizing the vital supplies.
A UNICEF spokesperson, Ammar Ammar, emphasized the critical nature of the stolen supplies, stating, ‘They were intended to treat malnourished children in Gaza City, where famine has been declared. It was a life-saving shipment amidst severe restrictions on aid delivery to the city.’
In response, the Israeli army released a statement on Friday, accusing Hamas of being responsible for the theft of the food aid.
Israel frequently alleges that Hamas diverts humanitarian aid to fund its military operations, although it has not provided supporting evidence. The U.N. maintains that robust mechanisms are in place to prevent any significant diversion of aid.
Since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which initiated the current conflict, the death toll in Gaza has tragically surpassed 65,000, as reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry, part of the Hamas-led government. While the ministry’s figures do not differentiate between civilian and militant casualties, its overall estimates are widely considered reliable by the U.N. and numerous independent experts.
During the 2023 attack, Hamas-led militants breached southern Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths, predominantly civilians, and the abduction of 251 individuals. Currently, 48 hostages are believed to remain in Gaza, with less than half thought to still be alive.