Gaza: 54 dead since dawn. EU to Israel: Stop the E1 settlement plan

An Idf spokesman confirmed to Ynet that the Israeli Air Force attacked Hezbollah terrorist targets in southern Lebanon. "The Idf recently attacked several underground communication routes of the Hezbollah terrorist organisation in southern Lebanon," he pointed out.

"The Israeli authorities' decision to go ahead with the E1 settlement plan further weakens the two-state solution and violates international law. If implemented, settlement construction in this area will permanently break the geographical and territorial contiguity between occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank and sever the connection between the northern and southern West Bank". This was stated in a note by EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, urging "Israel to desist from pursuing this decision".

Donald Trump said he was 'absolutely in favour of journalists entering Gaza'. The US president, speaking at the White House, emphasised that it is 'a very dangerous place but I would like them to enter,' he added.

Large quantities of humanitarian aid end up scattered along the roads in Gaza because the IDF does not allow organisations to properly secure the loads on the trucks. This is reported by Haaretz, according to which at the crossings, particularly at Kerem Shalom, Israeli soldiers are forcing operators to hastily load the trucks, which are already subject to long hours of waiting. The lack of securing, combined with the damage to the roads and the possibility for civilians to know the route of the convoys, would encourage looting and the loss of large quantities of goods, including foodstuffs. According to the Israeli newspaper, satellite images also show long trails of flour from the crossing into the interior of Gaza. Inadequate securing of cargoes is just one of the problems reported by Haaretz regarding Israeli restrictions on aid distribution.

Aircraft from Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, Belgium, France and Italy launched 119 pallets of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip today. This was stated by the Israeli Defence Forces, the IDF.

Each pallet contains about one tonne of food. Israel again adopted a policy of allowing the airdrop of aid on 26 July, amid growing international criticism of the food crisis in Gaza.

Pacchi di aiuti vengono paracadutati vicino a Jabalia, nella Striscia di Gaza settentrionale, il 14 agosto 2025. (Photo by Bashar TALEB / AFP)

Israel has reportedly rejected a 48-hour humanitarian pause proposed by the mediators as part of the ceasefire talks in Gaza. This was reported by the Saudi broadcaster Al Arabiya, pointing out that Hamas would instead accept the proposal.

n the Gaza Strip, 'the situation continues to be very serious, there is bombing everywhere, which means death and destruction. The danger for the whole population puts a lot of fear in the civilians, who are the majority of the citizens of the Gaza Strip, I am talking about more than a million people in the city of Gaza alone'. So says Father Gabriel Romanelli, parish priest of the Holy Family in Gaza, in a video message to the 'Neverland' Foundation calling for the Nobel Peace Prize to be awarded to the children of Gaza. "Everything is lacking in Gaza, there is a shortage of food, water, medicines, energy," the parish priest scolds in a rehearsed tone.

The main purpose of the trip to Doha by Mossad director David Barnea was not to discuss the hostages or a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. This was assured by a senior Israeli official quoted by the Times of Israel, pointing out that in the meeting between Barnea and the Qatar prime minister, Abdulrahman al-Thani, they mainly discussed Mossad-related issues.

The official added that Barnea told the prime minister that any partial agreement on the hostages "is out of the question", while mediators' work to revive the prospects of ceasefire negotiations has intensified in recent days. "The Mossad chief went to Qatar for Mossad-related issues, and not for negotiations on a hostage deal," the official said, "However, the Mossad chief made it clear during the meeting that a partial deal is off the table.

US President Donald Trump may visit Israel next month before making a stop in the UK. This was reported by White House officials, as reported by Ynet. The visit is reportedly linked to developments in the ceasefire negotiations and the end of the war in Gaza. An Israeli source reported that contacts are ongoing for a possible visit by Trump, but 'nothing is definite at the moment'.

Un uomo indossa una kipa con la foto di Donald Trump mentre la gente partecipa a una manifestazione “Rise Up for Gaza” per chiedere aiuti umanitari e la fine dell’assedio di Gaza a Columbus Circle, New York, l’8 agosto 2025. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP)

On 13 August, Italy received 31 Palestinian children who were seriously injured or suffering from urgent medical conditions, together with 83 accompanying persons for a total of 114 people transferred from the Gaza Strip to Italian hospitals. The initiative, in the pipeline for several weeks, had been authorised by Minister Tajani during an operational meeting on the situation in the Middle East and the emergency in Gaza on 30 July. This is the 14th medical evacuation conducted by our country since January 2024, the largest ever. With this mission, the total number rises to 181 patients and 396 accompanying persons who arrived in Italy, for a total of 577 people evacuated with medical missions. Italy is now the country that, between bilateral evacuations and collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) started in May 2024, has carried out more operations than the entire EU combined, and ranks fourth in the world.

THE VICTIMS

In the Gaza Strip at least 54 people have died, including 22 people who were seeking humanitarian aid, and 831 have been wounded in the toll of Israeli attacks in the last 24 hours. This is according to data released daily by the Gaza Health Ministry, which specifies that also in the last 24 hours at least 4 people have died of starvation in the Strip, which brings the total number of starvation deaths to 239, including 106 children. The total death toll since the beginning of the war in Gaza thus worsens to 61,776 Palestinians dead and 154,906 injured.

POLITICS

The head of Mossad, David Barnea, met in Doha with the Qatari premier and foreign minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahma n Al Thani. This was reported by the Israeli news site Ynet and the Jerusalem Post after reports on the mission were advanced by the newspaper Haaretz.

THE OTHER FRONTS

At least two people were killed in an explosion on the outskirts of Idlib in north-west Syria. This was reported by Syrian media for whom the nature of the explosion is unclear. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, with sources in the Arab country, reported at least two dead and four wounded, all 'non-Syrian fighters'.

AIDS

"We are seeing some improvement but the access situation for the delivery of humanitarian aid remains insufficient.

In defence of press freedom. In Tel Aviv, a protest was organised by Israeli and international journalists outside the House of the Press. Reporters displayed placards and photos in solidarity with journalists in the Gaza Strip and to condemn the killing of Al Jazeera journalists days before.

"The Israeli army, according to its obligation under international law, should protect journalists," explains Meron Rapoport, a journalist at +972 Magazine. "Over 240 journalists have been killed so far," adds Dana Mills, a colleague at +972 Magazine.

DEHYDRATION

"In Gaza, temperatures are rising above 40 degrees, further worsening an already desperate situation". This is the alarm sounded this morning via X by Unrwa, which denounces how with very limited quantities of water, dehydration is increasing" among the population of the Palestinian enclave battered by Israeli military operations against Hamas and other groups launched in response to the 7 October 2023 attack on Israel. "Shelling and forced displacement continue," the post continues, highlighting an "extreme heat" situation with "limited electricity and fuel". "A ceasefire is needed," Unrwa reiterates.

Stop using "humanitarian aid as a weapon" while in the Gaza Strip "the famine deepens". More than one hundred international NGOs (from Oxfam to Médecins Sans Frontières to the American Near East Refugee Aid) write this in an appeal-denunciation to Israel circulated in Jerusalem and prominently reported by the BBC. The NGOs deplore the fact that the Israeli authorities have not authorised any of their shipments of vital aid since 2 March, despite more than "60 requests"; while distribution was entrusted to the controversial Gaza humanitarian foundation (Ghf) as a monopoly (to an insufficient extent and with threats to Palestinian lives).

The Palestinian Interior Ministry formally authorised the activities of the Misericordie d'Italia at the Palestinian National Authority, paving the way for stable programmes to support the health of the most vulnerable in the West Bank and Gaza. "The Misericordie d'Italia are and will continue to be present, to offer help, build bridges and accompany those who suffer, beyond any religious distinction or affiliation. Our mission is to testify, through the concreteness and witness of service, that mercy can become an instrument of reconciliation and hope," the Misericordie emphasise.

Hamas reportedly submitted proposals to Egypt yesterday for a possible cease-fire that include a demand for written guarantees on Israel's renunciation of its seizure of Gaza. According to reports - citing Al Arabyia - in the Times of Israel, Hamas demands that Israel agree in writing to end the war permanently and renounce any plans to occupy Gaza, with international guarantees. Hamas would offer to withdraw its fighters by converging on previously agreed positions and "affirm its commitment to keep the hostages alive" in exchange for the withdrawal of Israeli troops.

JERUSALEM - There are many. Too many. And soon there could be even more. The image of a divided country, dangerously poised, can also be grasped by looking at the phone numbers scrolling on Ishai Menuchin's smartphone. They are the reservist soldiers who turn to this 67-year-old former infantry lieutenant and his staff for advice on how to become refuseniks: that is, those who defy the authority of one of the most powerful armies in the world and refuse to fight in the Gaza Strip, but also in the West Bank, for ideological reasons.

Their disobedience makes a clamour, cries out injustice and gives voice to the suffering of Palestinians. That of those who do not answer the call for personal reasons is instead quieter, but much more numerous. It is a haemorrhage that risks compromising future military operations.