61 Killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza despite Trump claiming Bombing has Stopped

Far-Right minister Smotrich slams Netanyahu for pausing offensive to discuss Trump’s Peace Plan

GAZA-Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip have killed at least 61 Palestinians even as US President Donald Trump said Israel has “temporarily stopped the bombing” to give his Gaza plan “a chance.”

The escalation came shortly after Hamas submitted its response to Trump’s Gaza proposal. In its reply, Hamas agreed to hand over the administration of Gaza to a team of Palestinian technocrats and to release all Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

However, the group’s statement did not address the issue of disarmament but said it was ready to “immediately enter” mediated negotiations.

Since Israel’s war on Gaza began in October 2023, at least 67,074 people have been killed and 169,430 injured, with thousands more feared trapped beneath the rubble.

Meanwhile, Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for agreeing to pause the Gaza offensive to allow talks on the US president’s proposal.

In his comments posted on X, Smotrich condemned the temporary halt, marking his first response since Hamas announced it had accepted parts of Trump’s 20-point peace plan.

Smotrich, a leading figure in Netanyahu’s coalition government and a resident of an illegal settlement in the occupied West Bank, has repeatedly called for Israel to annex the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Assault on Gaza Leaves 63 Dead as UN Declares Famine

GAZA-At least 63 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza on Saturday. The deaths came as Israeli forces pushed deeper into Gaza City in their effort to capture the area and displace nearly one million residents.

Footage showed Israeli tanks advancing into the Sabra neighborhood, near the heavily bombarded Zeitoun district. A child was reportedly killed in the latest Israeli bombardment of Sabra, Gaza City’s al-Ahli Hospital confirmed.

In southern Gaza, Israeli artillery shelled tents sheltering displaced families in the Asdaa area northwest of Khan Younis, killing 16 people, including six children. Later, at least 22 more Palestinians were killed while trying to obtain humanitarian aid, including two civilians shot dead by Israeli forces near aid distribution points in Khan Younis and along the Netzarim Corridor.

Palestinian health officials also reported that eight people, including two children, died from malnutrition in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of famine-related deaths to 281 since the war began nearly two years ago. Munir al-Bursh, director-general of Gaza’s Health Ministry, said 114 of the victims were children, warning that “the famine is silently ravaging the bodies of civilians” and turning tents and hospitals into “daily scenes of tragedy.”

On Friday, the United Nations officially declared a famine in Gaza – the first time such a designation has ever been made in the Middle East. The UN accused Israel of systematically blocking aid deliveries and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the famine a “man-made disaster.”

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said 514,000 people, nearly a quarter of Gaza’s population, are currently facing famine, with the number expected to rise to 641,000 by the end of September.

UN Condemns Israeli Strike That Killed Six Journalists in Gaza

The UN Human Rights Office has denounced an Israeli airstrike in Gaza that killed six journalists, describing it as a serious violation of international law and urging immediate, unhindered access for media in the region.

The targeted strike on Sunday killed five Al Jazeera journalists — including well-known correspondent Anas al-Sharif, Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa — as well as freelance journalist Mohammad al-Khaldi. Funerals drew large crowds in Gaza City on Monday.

Media watchdogs, Qatar, and the UK government condemned the attack. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesman called for an independent investigation and stressed that journalists must be able to work without fear.

Reporters Without Borders labelled Sharif’s killing an assassination, while the Foreign Press Association accused the Israeli military of repeatedly branding Palestinian journalists as militants without credible proof. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) echoed this, citing a “documented pattern” of unsubstantiated accusations.

The Israeli military claims it found documents linking Sharif to Hamas, including rosters, training lists, and salary records, but has released only limited screenshots. No official explanation has been given for the deaths of the entire Al Jazeera crew.

According to CPJ, more than 200 journalists have been killed since Israel began its Gaza offensive in October 2023 — the deadliest period for journalists since CPJ began record-keeping in 1992.

International media access to Gaza remains restricted, forcing outlets to rely on local reporters for coverage.