Gaza News Highlights, 01 September 2025: Diplomats meet in Cairo to discuss Gaza hunger crisis and global food security

Diplomats met in Cairo on Monday to address the severe hunger crisis in Gaza and wider global food security challenges, AP says in a report. The discussions focused on the dire humanitarian situation and food shortages in the Palestinian territory, while also addressing the issue of food security for millions of people on a global scale.

The spiraling humanitarian crisis and famine in Gaza are now affecting aid workers themselves, threatening their ability to carry out life-saving missions in the besieged strip, France 24 says in a report. Tommaso Della Longa, a spokesperson for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), warned that the conditions have deteriorated to the point where aid providers are personally experiencing the effects of the famine, jeopardizing the continuation of critical humanitarian operations.

New Israeli families are moving to communities along the Gaza border to help repopulate the area following displacement from the October 7, 2023 attacks, according to a report in The Times of Israel. The influx of new residents is boosting the recovery of these communities, with some families moving to places like Kibbutz Kerem Shalom, a secular-religious community. One new resident, Uriel Raisch, described the move as an "answer to Hamas" and a way to "hold on harder to the land," expressing a sentiment of national unity.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has expressed shock after a relative of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh purchased a home in the southern Israeli town of Omer, according to a report in The Jerusalem Post. The purchase was made in the affluent town located near Beersheba. The minister's reaction follows the public revelation of the property acquisition by a family member of the leader of Hamas, an organization currently in conflict with Israel.

In a response to US President Donald Trump, a senior Hamas official stated that 'Gaza is not for sale,' Israel National News said in a report. The official emphasized that Gaza is not merely a geographical area but is considered an inseparable part of the 'greater Palestinian homeland,' rejecting any notion of trading the territory for economic or political incentives.

Israel's security cabinet convened on Sunday to review plans for a military offensive to seize control of Gaza City, with ceasefire negotiations reportedly not on the agenda, Yahoo says in a report. The discussion proceeded amid mounting international pressure and significant domestic opposition, including from within Israel's own security establishment. Senior security leaders have reportedly warned that an offensive in Gaza City would endanger remaining hostages, risk the lives of soldiers, and deepen the humanitarian crisis in the enclave. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not intend to formally raise the topic of negotiations during the meeting.

An aid flotilla comprised of dozens of boats that set sail for Gaza on Sunday has returned to its port of departure in Barcelona due to stormy weather, according to a report in Reuters. Organizers announced on Monday that the flotilla, which is carrying aid and pro-Palestinian activists including climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, conducted a sea trial before deciding to return to port to wait for the storm to pass. The move is intended to avoid risk and has delayed the flotilla's departure.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have destroyed an antitank structure in Gaza that was reportedly used to fire at its forces, as per a report in Israel National News. This action is part of what the IDF describes as ongoing, targeted attacks against terror infrastructure throughout the Gaza Strip.

The Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) Kfir Brigade has concluded a three-month operational deployment in Gaza, according to a report in Israel National News. The IDF stated that during the brigade's operations, its forces eliminated dozens of militants. The military also reported the dismantling of approximately eight kilometers of underground tunnel infrastructure in the area of operations.

The Israeli movement Habithonistim has called on the Israeli government to permit the 'Barcelona flotilla' to reach Gaza, according to a report in Israel National News. The group's proposal is conditional, stipulating that the flotilla will only be allowed entry if it agrees to evacuate some Gazan residents upon its departure from the territory.

Kibbutz Nir Oz, a community on the Gaza border, held a ceremony on Sunday to begin demolishing homes damaged during the October 7, 2023 attacks, marking the start of its rebuilding process, according to a report in Israel National News. The event signifies the beginning of the physical reconstruction of the kibbutz, with the demolition of the damaged structures being the first step to clear the area for new construction.

A Hamas operative involved in holding hostage Emily Damari has reportedly been killed in an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) strike, as per a report in The Times of Israel. The strike targeted the individual who was part of the October 7th invasion of Israel and held Damari in his home. This follows a previous IDF operation in July that killed a different Hamas member who was also involved in Damari's captivity.

Streaming service Mubi is facing criticism, including from director Jim Jarmusch, over an investor's portfolio which includes an Israeli defense company, prompting its founder to deny complicity in the Gaza war, as per a report in The Times of Israel. Jarmusch stated he was ‘disconcerted’ after Mubi accepted a $100 million investment from a Silicon Valley firm that also has an Israeli defense company as one of its investments. In response to the backlash, Mubi's founder has publicly denied that the company is 'complicit' in the conflict in Gaza, highlighting that the financial link is indirect.

An Israeli-owned, Liberian-flagged vessel has been targeted in the Red Sea, with an explosion reported near the Saudi Arabian port city of Yanbu, as per a report in Israel National News. All crew members are confirmed to be safe following the incident. The attack comes two days after a reported Israeli strike eliminated senior Houthi officials in Sanaa, Yemen, and is part of ongoing Houthi maritime actions against shipping in response to the war in Gaza.

The school year in Israel began on September 1, facing major disruptions from the ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza, persistent anti-government protests, and a chronic teacher shortage, Haaretz said in a report. The conflict, which began after the October 7, 2023 attacks, has exacerbated the educational crisis through the call-up of reservists, including teachers, and the internal displacement of thousands of students from communities near Gaza and the northern border. These factors have placed immense strain on the education system, which must now accommodate relocated students while dealing with pre-existing and war-worsened staff shortages.

The United States has temporarily suspended the processing of new non-immigrant visas for individuals holding Palestinian Authority passports, according to a report in The New York Times. The policy change, confirmed by officials, will halt travel for purposes such as receiving medical treatment, attending university, visiting family, or conducting business. While the suspension is described as temporary, it applies to all Palestinian passport holders, including those in the West Bank and Gaza. The decision comes amid heightened security concerns related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.