Gaza News Live: Sister of Gaza hostage urges parents of IDF soldiers to press for an end to the war

The sister of an Israeli hostage held in Gaza has made a public appeal to the parents of active IDF soldiers, urging them to press for an end to the war, Haaretz says in a report. The call comes as 50 hostages remain in captivity after 665 days. The sister expressed understanding for the difficulty parents of soldiers might face in taking action but emphasized the need for a resolution to bring the hostages home.

Protesters from the group Jewish Voice For Peace held a demonstration in New York City on August 1 against the war in Gaza, according to a report in Reuters. The protest took place at a Manhattan building that houses the offices of Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand. The group was protesting the senators' votes against a bill intended to prevent arms sales related to the conflict. The advisory noted that arrests began during the event.

A Mideast envoy for the U.S. President visited a food distribution site in Gaza on Friday that is operated by a heavily criticized, Israeli-backed American contractor, AP says in a report. The visit occurs as international experts warn that a famine is unfolding in the hunger-stricken territory, where hundreds of people have reportedly been killed while seeking food. The aid system, which includes the contractor visited by the envoy, has been strongly criticized by groups like Human Rights Watch, and the contractor's own efforts have been described as marred by violence and controversy.

The Arab League, in a declaration endorsed by all 22 of its member nations, has formally called for Hamas to disarm and relinquish its control over Gaza, according to a report in The New York Times. The statement explicitly reads, “Hamas must end its rule in Gaza,” linking the disarmament of the group to a broader regional push for the establishment of a Palestinian state. This move represents a significant collective stance from Arab nations, conditioning their long-standing support for Palestinian statehood on the removal of Hamas's military and governing power in the territory.

A High Court judge in London has ruled that the pro-Palestinian group Palestine Action has the right to challenge the British government's decision to ban it as a terrorist organization, The New York Times said in a report. The ruling does not overturn the government's ban but grants the group the procedural right to appeal the designation on free speech grounds. Palestine Action is known for engaging in direct action campaigns, including property damage and disruption, targeting companies it claims are involved in the arms trade with Israel.

Despite Israel easing its blockade on Gaza, significant challenges are preventing sufficient humanitarian aid from reaching civilians, according to a report in AP. While the Israeli military's aid coordination unit, COGAT, suggests the issue lies with inconsistent collection by U.N. agencies, U.N. officials counter that their missions are constrained by delays in military approvals and are restricted to a single road. These limitations reportedly make aid convoys idle for long periods and their routes predictable, complicating distribution efforts amidst the ongoing crisis, which has led to methods like airdrops being used.

Israeli soldiers operating in the heavily damaged city of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza are reporting feelings of exhaustion and burnout amid the prolonged military campaign, according to a report in Haaretz. The accounts from the soldiers highlight the human and psychological toll of the extended ground operations. The report focuses on troops in Beit Hanoun, a city in the northern Strip that has been subjected to intense combat and widespread destruction. The soldiers' expressions of fatigue come amid increasing debate within Israel over the war's objectives and the sustainability of the current military strategy.

US Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has become the first Republican lawmaker to label Israel's military operations in Gaza as 'genocide', according to a report in Haaretz. Her statement marks a significant and rare break from the Republican party's traditionally strong and unified support for Israel. The comment positions her as an outlier within the GOP on this foreign policy issue and introduces a controversial term, previously used primarily by progressive critics and in international legal forums, into the Republican discourse.

A retired U.S. Army officer, who worked as a subcontractor for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, has come forward with allegations of atrocities he claims to have witnessed in Gaza, according to a report in HuffPost. The whistleblower alleges that Israeli soldiers and American mercenaries carried out attacks against starving Palestinians as they were trying to access humanitarian aid. The report surfaces as President Donald Trump acknowledged "real starvation" in the region and as some Senate Democrats are demanding the U.S. halt funding for what they term "deadly aid sites."

Families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, along with freed captive Emily Damari, have publicly criticized the governments of the United Kingdom and France, according to a report in Fox News. The criticism stems from recent diplomatic moves by both European nations indicating they are considering the recognition of a Palestinian state. The families contend that such a step is inappropriate while approximately 50 hostages are still being held by Hamas in Gaza, expressing frustration that these diplomatic actions are being pursued before the safe return of all captives has been secured.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he will proceed with his plan to recognise a Palestinian state at the UN in September unless Israel commits to a ceasefire and a two-state solution, according to a report in The Guardian. The statement came after Emily Damari, a British-Israeli hostage freed after being held by Hamas for 471 days, accused the prime minister of a "moral failure" over the proposed policy. Starmer confirmed that he has spoken with Damari and is listening to the hostages' perspectives but intends to maintain his government's position on the conditional recognition of Palestine.

Hamas has stated its willingness to resume cease-fire negotiations on the condition that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is resolved first, according to a report in Haaretz. The statement comes on the 664th day of the conflict, amid a deteriorating humanitarian situation with severe shortages of food, water, and medicine. This new condition adds a layer of complexity to the protracted negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, which have previously stalled over issues such as the duration of a truce and the terms of hostage-prisoner exchanges.

Two resolutions that would have blocked U.S. arms sales to Israel over civilian casualties in Gaza failed in the Senate on Wednesday, as per a report in Reuters. The measures, introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders, were defeated with 73 votes against them. The resolutions reportedly garnered more support than similar legislative efforts attempted earlier in the year.

Food prices in Gaza have reached extraordinarily high levels, making essentials unaffordable for many residents who also face significant difficulty and danger in obtaining humanitarian aid, according to a report in The New York Times. This economic crisis is a result of the ongoing Israeli siege that severely limits the entry of goods, combined with the widespread destruction of Gaza's infrastructure, agricultural land, and markets from military operations. The collapse of the local economy has led to mass unemployment, leaving most of the population without income to purchase even the limited food that is available. Challenges in distributing the aid that does enter the Strip, due to damaged roads and security risks, further worsen the scarcity and contribute to the inflated prices.

Senior officials in the Trump administration informed Congress that Israel has agreed to match a $30 million US donation to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, according to a report in The Jerusalem Post. The previously unreported contribution is for a controversial armed private aid operation that Israel is promoting amid intensifying international pressure over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The foundation has been criticized as "dangerous and ineffective" by the United Nations and other aid groups, claims the group denies, and currently has distribution sites only in southern Gaza.

Freed Israeli hostage Arbel Yehoud has publicly questioned the objectives of the ongoing war in Gaza, stating, "I don't understand what we're fighting for," Haaretz says in a report. Her statement adds a significant voice to the internal Israeli debate regarding the war's long-term goals, which began after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks. Yehoud's comments reflect ongoing public pressure on the government concerning the remaining hostages and the strategic direction of the conflict.

France's foreign minister stated on Thursday that the U.S. and Israel-backed aid distribution system in Gaza is a 'scandal' and 'shameful', and its activities must cease, Reuters said in a report. He asserted that the militarized distribution of humanitarian aid has resulted in a 'bloodbath' in distribution lines. The minister specifically called for the cessation of the activities of what he termed the 'Gaza Humanitarian Foundation', referring to the aid mechanism.

A hospital in Gaza has reported that 48 people were killed in an incident near a border crossing, according to a report in Haaretz. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have countered this claim, stating that an initial inquiry shows there were no casualties resulting from Israeli fire in the area. The conflicting accounts from Palestinian and Israeli sources pertain to an event that occurred on July 31, 2025.

Hamas officials have stated the organization is on high alert for its leaders residing in countries outside of Gaza, such as Qatar and Turkey, as per a report in Haaretz. This heightened security posture stems from fears that Israel may attempt to conduct targeted assassinations of its leadership abroad. The development is reported within the context of the ongoing conflict and historically stalled diplomatic negotiations.

A mother in Gaza City, Nasma Ayad, is watching over her emaciated eight-year-old daughter in a hospital, fearing time is running out for a medical evacuation, according to a report in Reuters. Ayad expressed fear she is "slowly losing" her daughter, whose health is deteriorating daily due to malnutrition and a lack of medical supplies. The family has already lost another daughter last month to similar circumstances.

Medics in Gaza are working to increase the screening of young children for severe malnutrition amid growing fears that hunger is spreading as people continue to flee to new areas, Reuters said in a report. The aid group International Medical Corps (IMC), along with its partners, is planning to expand these screening efforts to reach more children affected by the ongoing crisis and displacement.

France and Germany have joined international efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza via airdrops amid what is described as a worsening crisis in the region, according to a report in Haaretz. This action follows similar operations by other nations and comes in response to international calls for more aid to reach the Palestinian population. The use of airdrops highlights the significant difficulties in delivering sufficient supplies through land routes.

The United Nations human rights office stated that 1,373 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip while waiting for humanitarian aid since May 27, with most deaths attributed to the Israeli military, according to a report in The Guardian. The UN specified that 859 people were killed near sites of the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and another 514 were killed along food convoy routes. The report comes as US envoy Steve Witkoff is set to visit aid distribution sites in the region amid growing pressure on the Israeli government over the humanitarian crisis.

Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers operating in the Gaza Strip have directly raised concerns with their battalion commander regarding a breach of a defensive line established by the brigade, as per a report in Israel National News. The soldiers reported that hundreds of individuals had crossed the perimeter. They also noted a lack of a concrete defensive line or warning system, with troops at times positioned just 50 meters from what was described as a "frenzied crowd."

On the 665th day of the Israel-Hamas war, rocket alert sirens were activated in Israeli communities adjacent to the Gaza Strip, signaling incoming fire from the territory, according to a report in Haaretz. The security incident occurred as U.S. Envoy Witkoff was touring humanitarian aid sites operated by the GHF in the region.

A pro-Palestine fundraising event scheduled for Friday night at the Hamilton Station hotel in Newcastle was cancelled after police informed the venue of a 'credible threat', The Guardian says in a report. The 'Make Some Noise' charity event, organized by the Palestine Action Group Muloobinba (PAGM), was intended to raise funds for aid in Gaza. PAGM has accused the police of 'bullying tactics' and claims they have been 'left in the dark' about the nature of the threat. The cancellation marks the second such incident involving a pro-Palestine event in the region in the past week.

A figure identified as Witkoff has reportedly arrived in Gaza to inspect a GHF aid site and meet with local residents, according to a report in Times of Israel. Concurrently, US President Donald Trump has described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as "competent" and asserted that proper management of aid to Gaza is necessary to prevent its theft by Hamas. In a separate development, France announced it is sending four planes carrying humanitarian aid, describing the situation in Gaza as "revolting."

The Israeli military launched an interceptor missile near the Gaza Strip on Friday following a false alarm that triggered sirens in nearby communities, according to a report in Reuters. The military initially responded to what it described as a suspected threat. However, it later confirmed that the launch was a false alarm and that no actual threat had been detected in the area. The report also noted that U.S. Middle East peace envoy Steve Witkoff was visiting the region.

Israel and the United States have strongly criticized Canada's reported plan to formally recognize a Palestinian state in September, according to a report in Haaretz. The move by the Canadian government under Prime Minister Mark Carney has drawn condemnation from both the Israeli government and the U.S. administration of President Donald Trump. Both allies argue that statehood should be the result of direct negotiations, not unilateral declarations. This development follows a trend from 2024 when several European countries, including Spain, Norway, and Ireland, also recognized Palestinian statehood.

The Israel Antiquities Authority has inaugurated a new exhibit titled 'Rising From the Ashes' to commemorate the October 7, 2023, attacks that preceded the ongoing war in Gaza, according to a report in Haaretz. The exhibit, which opened on July 31, 2025, focuses on the events of the Hamas-led attacks from the Gaza Strip. The involvement of the Antiquities Authority, a body typically focused on archaeological heritage, marks a move into contemporary historical memorialization related to the conflict.

An investigation is examining the deaths of two girls, Layan and Mira, who were shot and killed in Gaza in proximity to Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers, according to a report in BBC. The report also looks into dozens of other child shooting incidents in the region. In response to the deaths of Layan and Mira, the Israeli military stated that intentional harm to civilians is prohibited and that the cases will be examined by the authorities.

An Israeli military official has detailed the country's humanitarian operations in Gaza during a briefing for journalists, according to a report in The Jerusalem Post. The official laid out Israel's humanitarian infrastructure and detailed the activities of COGAT, the military body responsible for coordinating civilian issues. The briefing aimed to explain Israel's role and processes for facilitating aid into the Gaza Strip.

A 15-year-old Gazan boy named Majid, who was severely injured by an Israeli tank shell, has arrived in the United Kingdom for medical treatment, according to a report in BBC. The arrival marks the first time a child injured in the conflict has been brought to the UK for care. Majid is scheduled to undergo reconstructive surgery for injuries sustained in February 2023.

Hamas has reportedly cut off contact for ongoing ceasefire and hostage negotiations and has also partially severed ties with mediators Qatar and Egypt, as per a report in The Jerusalem Post. The development prompted an unnamed Israeli official to state that a military escalation in Gaza is now considered "likely unavoidable." An official familiar with the talks confirmed to the publication that Hamas had downgraded its communication channels with the two mediating countries.

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group has released a new video showing hostage Rom Braslavski, according to a report in The Times of Israel. The group claimed the footage was filmed before it lost contact with the cell holding him. In response, Braslavski's family said, "They broke him," and approved only the publication of a still image from the video. The family is now demanding an urgent meeting with security chiefs and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israel's National Security Council (NSC) has tightened its travel warning for the United Arab Emirates, citing escalating concerns over terrorist organizations intensifying their efforts to target Israelis and Jews, according to a report in The Jerusalem Post. The advisory specifically names Iranian groups, Hamas, Hezbollah, and global jihadist organizations as sources of the heightened threat. This measure is a direct response to the increased regional tensions stemming from the ongoing war in Gaza, which has led to a more volatile security environment for Israeli and Jewish individuals globally, even in countries with normalized diplomatic relations like the UAE.

Responding to reports that the US and Israel are considering a new hostage agreement, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters has asserted there is "no justification for a partial, selective deal," Israel National News said in a report. The group emphasized that the only acceptable outcome is a comprehensive agreement that ensures the freedom of all 50 hostages who are still being held in Gaza. Underscoring the critical nature of the situation, the forum added, "Time is running out."

Slovenia has imposed an arms embargo on Israel, citing its frustration with the European Union's response to the ongoing war in Gaza, according to a report in Haaretz. The move is positioned as a reaction to the conflict and what Slovenia perceives as a lack of unified, decisive action from the EU. This decision follows recent announcements by several other Western nations, including Spain, Ireland, and Norway, that they plan to formally recognize a Palestinian state, signaling a diplomatic shift among some European countries.