Gaza News Highlights, 04 September 2025: US sanctions Palestinian rights groups over support for ICC probe

A Palestinian mediator has presented Hamas with a new proposal aimed at ending the ongoing war in Gaza and securing the release of all remaining hostages, according to a report in Haaretz. This development marks a new diplomatic effort to resolve the conflict and address the critical hostage situation.

The United States government has imposed sanctions on three Palestinian human rights groups: Al-Haq, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), and Al-Mezan, Al Jazeera said in a report. According to the US State Department, the action was taken because the organizations were engaging with and supporting the International Criminal Court's (ICC) probe into alleged war crimes in the Palestinian territories. The targeted groups' work involves providing documentation and evidence to the ICC for its investigation, which covers events in the West Bank and Gaza.

Pro-Palestinian protesters have demonstrated at the Venice Film Festival to draw attention to the ongoing war in Gaza, as per a report in The New York Times. In the days leading up to the event, hundreds of film professionals also signed an open letter demanding that the festival's organizers take an official position against the crisis.

An envoy for President Donald Trump is working behind the scenes to renew hostage talks related to the conflict in Gaza, according to a report in The Jerusalem Post. The current efforts are reportedly focused on establishing an efficient mechanism for negotiations and finding solutions to bridge the existing gaps between the involved parties.

A group of petitioners advocating for stricter limits on humanitarian aid to Gaza have withdrawn their legal appeal from Israel's Supreme Court, according to a report in Haaretz. The move is a symbolic act of protest against the high court's handling of their case concerning Israel's Gaza aid policy. The petitioners, representing factions that believe current aid levels undermine Israel's military objectives, chose to abandon their legal challenge to express their lack of confidence in the judicial body's decisions on the matter.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) now control 40% of Gaza City, according to a report in Israel National News. IDF Spokesperson Effie Defrin provided the update, stating the progress was part of Israel’s intensified military operations against the Hamas organization within the city.

A new poll indicates that a majority of Israelis, including those who identify as right-wing, are in favor of a hostage-release agreement that would also bring an end to the war in Gaza, according to a report in Haaretz. The findings suggest a broad consensus across the political spectrum for a deal that secures the return of hostages, even if it entails concluding the military conflict. The support from right-wing voters is noted as a significant indicator of public sentiment regarding the protracted war.

The Israeli fashion brand Comme Il Faut has initiated a campaign titled ‘resist starvation’ in Gaza, featuring chefs and restaurateurs holding empty pots to draw attention to the humanitarian situation. The campaign has sparked a significant backlash online, with many commenters arguing that Hamas is responsible for any food shortages. These critics also contend that the focus should be on the Israeli hostages, suggesting they are the ones truly facing starvation.

An eight-year-old Gazan boy, who was previously reported to be deceased, has been found alive and safe, according to a report in Israel National News. An organization identified as GHF confirmed the boy's safety following a weeks-long search. The initial false report originated from an ex-contractor, leading to the spread of unverified information.

Israel's State Comptroller is demanding that officials from the National Security Council (NSC) receive the preliminary findings of its investigation into the failures surrounding the October 7 Hamas attack, but the NSC staff have refused, as per a report in Israel National News. The refusal is reportedly due to concerns that the sensitive information could be leaked to the public. An unnamed NSC official stated that the investigation's eventual findings are expected to be so significant that they will "shake up" the Israeli public.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sharply criticized a State Comptroller's report concerning the government's management of the home front during the Gaza war, labeling it "absurd and irrelevant," Haaretz said in a report. The state watchdog's report identified significant failures and stated that Netanyahu must take action to correct them. Netanyahu's dismissal rejects the findings of the independent oversight body, which was examining the civilian aspects of the war effort that began after the October 7th attacks.

The Trump administration has condemned Norway's $2 trillion sovereign wealth fund for divesting from Caterpillar Inc., Israel National News said in a report. The divestment decision was made due to the alleged use of Caterpillar equipment by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) during operations in Gaza. Officials from the Trump administration reportedly characterized the claims that prompted the divestment as “illegitimate.”

Cosmetics retailer Lush has closed its UK shops, factories, and website for the day on Wednesday in protest over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, according to a report in The Guardian. Posters on shop windows and a statement on the company's website read, "Stop starving Gaza, we are closed in solidarity." The one-day shutdown, which included its flagship London spa, is estimated to result in losses of approximately £300,000 for the company.

The 11th stage of the Spanish Vuelta cycling race in Bilbao, Spain, was halted and concluded without a winner due to a disruption by pro-Palestinian protesters on Wednesday, as per a report in AP. The demonstration, which occurred near the finish line, appeared to specifically target the Israel Premier Tech team. Organizers and security personnel were prompted to intervene when some protesters attempted to move onto the road as the Israeli team's riders approached.

A judge has ordered the University of Pittsburgh to reinstate its campus chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) as the new school year begins, as per a report in The Times of Israel. The university had suspended the pro-Palestinian student group in March, citing the chapter's alleged role in "disrupting [the] disciplinary process." The ruling occurs in the context of ongoing campus activism and legal challenges across the U.S. related to the conflict in Gaza.

Members of Gaza City's Christian community are refusing to abandon two local churches, despite being located in areas where Israel has ordered civilian evacuations, as per a report in Al Jazeera. The churches fall within the northern Gaza zones that the Israeli military has instructed residents to leave ahead of a planned attack. This decision by some members of the small Christian population highlights the dilemma faced by civilians who have been ordered to leave their homes and religious sites amid the ongoing conflict.

Israel has officially rejected the most recent response from Hamas concerning a proposed cease-fire and hostage release deal in Gaza, as per a report in Haaretz. The Israeli government characterized the reply as "more spin that contains nothing new," indicating that Hamas's demands remain fundamentally unchanged from previous positions that Israel deems unacceptable. This rejection signals a continuing impasse in the internationally mediated negotiations aimed at ending the prolonged conflict and securing the release of remaining hostages.

Some Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers serving in southern Gaza have alleged that the deaths of fellow troops were a direct result of negligence from their commanders, according to a report in Haaretz. The soldiers' claims point to failures in leadership and operational decisions on the ground. This incident brings focus to the internal challenges and accountability within the IDF's command structure during its ongoing military operations in the region.