Middle East

Gaza, Herzog to Mattarella: 'Israel does not kill indiscriminately'. Grossman: "Yes, it is genocide".

US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee will be in Gaza today to monitor the distribution of aid as negotiations appear to be increasingly stalled

1 August 2025

Gaza, Trump: "È genocidio? La situazione lì è orribile. La gente muore di fame"

8' min read

At least 10 Palestinians have been killed since dawn today in Israeli Army (IDF) attacks on Gaza, hospital sources in the Strip tell Al Jazeera. Two of the victims were waiting for humanitarian aid near the Morag Corridor, south of Khan Younis. More than 70 people were injured in this attack, the broadcaster reports. The UN says that since May, 1,373 people have been killed while waiting for aid in Gaza.

In the late afternoon, the Israel Defence Forces intercepted the ballistic missile launched by the Houthis in Yemen. This was announced by the IDF after air raid warning sirens sounded in central Israel and the Jerusalem area. Since 18 March, when Israel resumed its offensive against Hamas in Gaza, the Houthis have launched 67 ballistic missiles at least 17 drones against Israel.

Herzog to Mattarella, Israel does not kill indiscriminately

"Israel does not have 'the intention to kill indiscriminately'. This was written by Israel's President Isaac Herzog in a lengthy post on X after President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella's statements on Gaza. 'I have great respect for the president of Italy, my friend Sergio Mattarella. Precisely because of this, I was saddened by some aspects of his recent statements on the situation in Gaza, and felt the need to clarify the facts,' Herzog explains. 'He was right to say that Israel was brutally attacked on 7 October. Of the hundreds of innocent people taken hostage by Hamas on that dark day, 50 are still in captivity, held in inhuman conditions in Hamas tunnels. Their intolerable suffering, the anguish of their families, as well as the suffering of Gaza's civilians - which we do not wish - could end today if all the hostages were freed. Israel has accepted numerous ceasefire proposals brokered by third parties. Hamas has repeatedly rejected these agreements and refused to release the hostages,' he adds. "Israel has no 'intention to kill indiscriminately'. We only want to live in peace and security."

Grossman: 'In Gaza genocide, it breaks my heart but I say it'

"For years I refused to use this word: 'genocide'. But now I cannot refrain from using it, after what I read in the newspapers, after the pictures I saw, and after talking to people who were there'. Israeli writer David Grossman explains in an interview with Repubblica. "Even just uttering this word, 'genocide', in reference to Israel, to the Jewish people: that's enough, the fact that there is this juxtaposition, to say that something very bad is happening to us - he continues -. I want to speak as someone who has done everything he could not to get to the point of calling Israel a genocidal state. And now, with immense pain and a broken heart, I have to see that it is happening in front of my eyes. "Genocide". It is an avalanche word: once you say it, it only grows, like an avalanche. And it brings even more destruction and more suffering.''I remain desperately faithful to the idea of the two states, mainly because I see no alternative,' the writer remarks. It will be complex and both we and the Palestinians will have to behave in a politically mature way in the face of the attacks that are sure to come. But there is no other plan'.

Hrw: killing Palestinians for food is war crime

Israeli forces present at the sites of the aid distribution system in Gaza "have regularly opened fire on starving Palestinian civilians, committing acts that constitute serious violations of international law and war crimes," the NGO Human Rights Watch (Hrw) says today. "Incidents with multiple victims have occurred almost daily near the four sites managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which operates in coordination with the Israeli army. According to the United Nations, at least 859 Palestinians were killed while attempting to obtain aid at GHF sites between 27 May and 31 July 2025, most of them by the Israeli army, a statement said.

The grave humanitarian situation is a direct result of Israel's use of the starvation of civilians as a weapon of war, a war crime, as well as Israel's continued intentional deprivation of aid and basic services, actions that constitute a crime of extermination against humanity and acts of genocide. "US-backed Israeli forces and private contractors have implemented a flawed and militarised aid distribution system that has turned aid distribution into regular bloodbaths," he added.

On the other hand, Israeli media report that Hamas has published a video of a hostage: he is Evyatar David, 24, from Kfar Sava, reconstructs the Haaretz newspaper. David, was kidnapped during the 7 October 2023 attack in Israel.

Largest aid airdrop operation in Gaza kicks off

The largest humanitarian aid airdrop operation in Gaza, involving Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, France and Spain, has begun. This was reported by the Israeli public TV channel Kan.

Gaza, paracaduti altri aiuti umanitari a Deir al-Balah

Macron: 'In Gaza absolute urgency, air strikes not enough'

"In the face of the absolute emergency, we have just conducted a food distribution operation in Gaza. We thank our Jordanian, Emirati and German partners for their support, as well as our military personnel for their commitment. Airdrops are not enough. Israel must guarantee full humanitarian access to respond to the risk of famine,' wrote the French president, Emmanuel Macron, in a message posted on X. To the message, the Paris leader attached a video of French airdrops over the Strip.

Witkoff visiting food delivery site south of Gaza

White House envoy Steve Witkoff arrived at the Gaza Foundation's humanitarian aid distribution centre in Rafah, in the south of the Strip. Israeli TV published a photo of the convoy of cars and in the background a crowd of Palestinians waiting for the distribution of food parcels. Witkoff is accompanied by US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. Washington is preparing to launch a new plan to deliver aid to the Strip.

The visit of US envoy Steve Witkoff to the Gaza Foundation's aid distribution centre in Rafah, in the south of the Strip, is also attended by the Israeli minister closest to the premier, Ron Dermer, and several staff officers. This was reported by the Israeli public TV channel Kan.

The White House let it be known last night that Witkoff and Huckabee "will inspect distribution sites to devise a plan to deliver more food and will meet with local people in Gaza to hear first-hand about the dire situation on the ground". After the visit, Witkoff and Huckabee will brief US President Donald Trump on the situation before the new plan is approved.

Meanwhile, negotiations seem to be increasingly stalled. Hamas has declared that there will be no resumption of negotiations until the situation in Gaza improves and people continue to starve.

Gaza, l'Idf spara sui palestinesi che aspettano gli aiuti: il video dell'Onu

Flotilla activist: 'Lawsuit against Israel for kidnapping'

"I have decided to try to take criminal action against the State of Israel for the illegal and illegitimate kidnapping of the crew" of the Freedom Flotilla ship Handala. So says Tony La Piccirella from Bari, one of the two Italians stranded, with other crew members, off the Gaza Strip and repatriated a few days ago. The activist retraced the days following the attack by the Israeli military. "From that moment on," he claims, "there was talk of a kidnapping There was an intervention by twenty armed soldiers who took possession of the boat, hijacking it in Israel. During those eight hours they made us lie on the deck at gunpoint'.

Slovenia bans arms trade with Israel: 'First in the EU'

As the front of countries announcing the recognition of the Palestinian state widens, Slovenia becomes the first European country to ban the import, export and transit of weapons to and from Israel'. This was announced by the government of Slovenia in a statement. "The decision," it reads, "follows statements by Prime Minister Robert Golob, who has repeatedly announced, most recently on the sidelines of the June European Council summit, that Slovenia will act independently if the European Union is unable to take concrete measures by mid-July. Due to internal disagreements and disunity, the European Union is currently unable to fulfil this task'.

The result, the statement goes on to say, 'is shameful: people in Gaza are dying because humanitarian aid is systematically denied. They die under rubble, without access to clean water, food and basic health care. This is a total denial of humanitarian access and a deliberate violation of the basic conditions for survival. In such circumstances, it is the duty of every responsible country to act, even if it means going one step ahead of others. Slovenia consistently and principledly upholds respect for international law and the protection of human rights. Therefore, in the coming weeks, the government will prepare national measures against the current Israeli government, whose actions constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law'.

Tg3 correspondent Lucia Goracci intimidated by settlers in the West Bank

Tg3 correspondent Lucia Goracci was targeted by settlers in the West Bank while she was doing a report with her cameraman Ivo Bonato a short distance from the settlement of Carmel, in the hills south of Hebron. "There are settlers who are trying to prevent us from doing this live broadcast, for now only using their horns," Lucia Goracci explained in a report shot on 29 July. Then,' the journalist explained to La Repubblica, 'one of them closed the way out for us with his pick-up truck. He started to drive off. He had a gun in his holster'. The man," she recounted, "took a picture of us, verified who we were and started to tell me: you have just been in the Palestinian village. He kept repeating the name of the village, Umm al Khair, and telling me: 'Liar, friend of filastin'. Translated into Italian: 'Liar, friend of Palestinians'".

Solidarity comes from Usigrai. 'We stand by Lucia Goracci and cameraman Ivo Bonato who were attacked while they were working on the ground in the West Bank,' reads a note. 'What happened on 29 July demonstrates, if there was still a need, how important the role of the correspondent in the field is in a crisis context such as the Middle East. Being there to tell the story, provided that the safety of journalists is protected. An aspect, the latter, which is also at risk in the West Bank by now. It is still impossible for foreign journalists to enter Gaza. Increasingly, however, we also have to see contributions on the public service that are not journalistic but propaganda. As Usigrai we cannot accept this. And as Usigrai we denounce the massacre of Palestinian colleagues who died in Gaza. This is why we have supported and we invite you to support the initiative 'Let's raise our voice for Gaza'. You can contribute using this link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/alziamolavocepergaza'.

"Attacks and intimidation of those who attempt to provide free and independent information cannot be tolerated," adds the cdr of Tg3, which "expresses its solidarity with our colleague Lucia Goracci, a correspondent in Israel and the West Bank who was threatened with a gun during a live broadcast. Attempting to interrupt Goracci's work was an armed Israeli settler, which our colleague resisted in an exemplary manner. Such incidents with even more tragic consequences happen every day in these territories under Israeli authority, where, including Gaza, more than 200 journalists have been killed since 7 October 2023. The journalists of Tg3 renew their urgent request to the Israeli government to protect the work of those who try to report on what is happening in those territories and to allow access to the Gaza Strip, to document the humanitarian catastrophe and the daily massacres taking place there".

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Crosetto announces aid. "In accordance with the government's indications, I have given the go-ahead for a mission that will involve assets of the Army and Air Force to transport and airlift basic necessities for the civilians of Gaza, who have been hard hit by the continuing conflict. The operational start is expected in the coming hours, with the dispatch of an 'advance party', which will take care of preparatory activities and coordination with the local authorities. Our first airdrops are scheduled and could take place as early as 9 August, to allow Maeci to complete the procurement of foodstuffs and their transport to Jordan".