Smoke rises following an explosion in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025.
Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City and a refugee camp have killed more than 40 people, health officials reported Sunday. Among the dead are at least 19 women and children. The strikes came just before a key United Nations meeting where world leaders are expected to discuss Palestinian statehood.
Residential Areas Hit in Gaza
Health officials at Shifa Hospital confirmed that 14 people were killed late Saturday when a strike hit a residential block in southern Gaza City. Victims included a hospital nurse, his wife, and their three children.
Another attack near a clinic in the Bureij refugee camp left at least eight Palestinians dead, according to Al-Awda Hospital. Among them were four children and two women. The hospital reported 22 others wounded in the strike.
Israel has not issued an official comment on the bombings.
Growing Anti-War Protests in Israel
The latest Israeli operation has escalated tensions across the Middle East. The military has urged Palestinians to evacuate but has not provided a clear timeline for the offensive. Officials say the campaign is aimed at pressuring Hamas to release hostages.
Inside Israel, opposition is mounting. On Saturday night, tens of thousands protested against the war and demanded a hostage deal. A coalition of more than 60 Jewish and Arab organizations, known as the It’s Time Coalition, urged leaders to end the conflict.
“We refuse to live forever by the sword,” the coalition said in a video message, calling the UN’s recognition move a “historic opportunity” for peace.
Recognition of Palestinian Statehood
Momentum for Palestinian statehood is growing internationally. On Sunday, Australia, Canada, and the UK officially recognized a Palestinian state. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the step was intended “to revive the hope of peace.”
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the announcement.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly rejected the move. “It will not happen,” he declared, accusing foreign leaders of rewarding Hamas. Netanyahu plans to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House next week before announcing Israel’s response.
France is also expected to recognize Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly. French President Emmanuel Macron criticized Israel’s strategy, warning that it fuels instability across the region.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
Israel’s military said it killed Hamas sniper Majed Abu Selmiya in Gaza, though his family denied the claims. His brother, Dr. Mohamed Abu Selmiya, director of Shifa Hospital, said Israel was using false accusations to justify civilian deaths.
Meanwhile, Israel has ordered mass evacuations from Gaza City toward designated “humanitarian zones.” Thousands of Palestinians are fleeing on foot and by car, many too weak or poor to continue the journey. Aid groups warn that forced evacuations will worsen the already dire humanitarian crisis.
Experts say nearly 90% of Gaza’s population has been displaced, with famine threatening large parts of the strip.
Pope Condemns Forced Exile
Pope Leo XIV condemned what he described as the “forced exile” of Palestinians. During his Sunday address, he said Gaza cannot build a future on “violence and vendetta.” Catholic organizations assisting Palestinians received his public appreciation in St. Peter’s Square.
Families of hostages still held by Hamas accuse Netanyahu of risking their loved ones’ lives by refusing negotiations.
Israel-Syria Talks Underway
Despite ongoing conflict in Gaza, Netanyahu confirmed that Israel is holding talks with Syria. He said recent military gains against Hezbollah in Lebanon have opened “a window of opportunity” for peace.
Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa confirmed negotiations are ongoing. He expressed hope that Israeli troops will withdraw to pre-1974 positions, in line with a disengagement agreement signed decades ago.
