Gaza News Highlights, 08 August 2025: US Jewish groups voice concerns over IDF plans for Gaza takeover

Prominent US Jewish organizations, including the American Jewish Committee (AJC) and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), have expressed concerns regarding the Israeli Defense Forces' (IDF) plans for a takeover of the Gaza Strip, according to a report in Haaretz. In a notable departure from their typical stance of avoiding criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, the groups warned about the potential for significant loss of life, domestic strife, and other negative repercussions stemming from the military operation.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has officially condemned an Israeli plan for the takeover of Gaza City, describing the potential move as an unhelpful escalation that would worsen the ongoing humanitarian crisis, Israel National News says in a report. The condemnation from a key European ally adds to the international diplomatic pressure on Israel concerning its long-term plans for the governance and security of the Gaza Strip.

An Israeli activist group created a large anti-war message in the sand on a Tel Aviv beach, urging US President Donald Trump to "end BB’s war," according to a report in Al Jazeera. The protest, staged near a US diplomatic building, directly targets the policies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, often called 'Bibi' or 'BB', regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This demonstration is part of a wider trend of domestic dissent within Israel calling for an end to the hostilities and a change in government leadership.

The chief of the Israel Defense Forces has stated the army will carry out a plan to occupy Gaza City in what was described as the "best possible way," The Times of Israel said in a report. This development comes as at least 17 people were reportedly killed across the Gaza Strip from bombings, starvation, or being struck by airdropped aid packages. In parallel with the military developments, officials report that Egypt and Qatar are actively working to broker a comprehensive truce and hostage-release agreement.

Saudi Arabia condemned the Israeli government's decision to authorize a military occupation of Gaza City on Friday, calling on the international community to help stop what it termed Israeli military "aggressions," The Hill said in a report. A statement from the kingdom said it “condemns in the strongest possible terms the decision of the Israeli occupation authorities to occupy the Gaza Strip,” and categorically condemned the move.

Families of hostages and captivity survivors held a Kabbalat Shabbat service as a protest in front of the home of Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Friday, according to a report in Israel National News. The protestors stated that they would not have a "real Shabbat meal" until all the remaining hostages are returned from Gaza. A captivity survivor recalled making kiddush over water while in captivity, underscoring the group's message that normal life and religious observance are impossible while the crisis continues.

US conservative figure Mike Huckabee has criticized UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s call for a Gaza ceasefire amid the ongoing conflict, according to a report in The Guardian. In a social media post, Huckabee compared the Israeli military assault in Gaza to the WWII bombing of Dresden and questioned if Israel should be expected to "surrender to Hamas & feed them." Starmer's statement, which prompted the response, had called for an immediate ceasefire, citing the humanitarian crisis and the fate of Israeli hostages following a decision by Israel's security cabinet to expand its military operations.

Mediators Qatar and Egypt have put forward a new proposal aimed at resolving the Gaza conflict, which centers on the release of all hostages in a single phase, Israel National News says in a report. The deal would also require that Hamas no longer retain governing control over the Gaza Strip. The proposal reportedly includes a controversial clause, a point of contention that has been a sticking point in previous negotiation attempts.

Over 300 Israeli architects and urban planners have signed a petition titled "Stop the Destruction," urging an end to the widespread destruction of infrastructure and housing in Gaza, as per a report in Haaretz. The petition, which emerged on August 7, 2025, represents a call from within the Israeli professional community to halt the ongoing devastation resulting from the military conflict. The signatories, whose expertise lies in construction and urban development, are expressing professional and moral concern over the scale of the damage in the Gaza Strip.

A heated confrontation over a potential Hamas hostage deal erupted in an Israeli cabinet meeting between Minister of National Missions Orit Strock and Shas party leader MK Aryeh Deri, Israel National News said in a report. The dispute reportedly involved a shouting match regarding the terms for releasing hostages held in Gaza. During the argument, Deri also reportedly walked back his previous support for the historical Oslo Accords.

Hamas has stated that any future governing body in Gaza will be treated as an "Israeli occupying force," a direct response to comments by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a report in The Jerusalem Post. The statement from the group came after Netanyahu indicated that Israel intends to maintain "full control" over the Gaza Strip for security reasons, even if it does not plan to exercise permanent civilian control over the territory. Hamas's declaration rejects this distinction and signals its opposition to any post-war governance structure that operates under Israeli security oversight.

A protester, Laura Murton, is pursuing legal action for damages and an apology from Kent police after she was threatened with arrest during a demonstration in Canterbury, according to a report in The Guardian. Armed police confronted Murton, stating that her protest, which included a Palestinian flag and signs reading "Free Gaza" and "Israel is committing genocide," expressed support for Palestine Action. The police justified their actions by noting that Palestine Action had been banned under UK terrorism legislation earlier in July.

The UK Foreign Office has failed to release an internal assessment from June 2024 which reportedly found no serious risk of Israel committing genocide in Gaza, according to a report in The Guardian. The department has also declined to disclose whether an updated assessment has been conducted since. After the Foreign Office missed the statutory one-month deadline to respond to a Freedom of Information request for the document, the rights group Amnesty International lodged a formal complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office. Amnesty had also inquired if there was any updated government assessment regarding Israel's compliance with international law.

The Palestinian Presidency, headed by Mahmoud Abbas, has officially condemned recent decisions by the Israeli Cabinet regarding the future governance of Gaza, according to a report in Israel National News. The statement from the Palestinian Authority (PA) denounces Israel's stated goals of defeating Hamas, demilitarizing the Strip, and establishing an alternative local administration. The PA characterized these unilateral plans as a "serious crime" and a violation of international law, while simultaneously asserting its own demand to assume control over the Gaza Strip.

A balcony has collapsed in Gaza as a crowd of Palestinians scrambled to get to a pallet of airdropped humanitarian assistance, according to a report in Al Jazeera. Video of the incident shows the structure giving way as people tried to access the aid, highlighting the dangerous conditions surrounding aid distribution amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.

Turkey's foreign minister will travel to Egypt on Saturday for discussions with senior officials regarding Israel's new plan to take control of Gaza City and the worsening humanitarian situation there, according to a report in Reuters. The diplomatic visit follows the approval of the plan by Israel's political-security cabinet early Friday, which comes as Israel expands its military operations in the region.

The German government announced it will not authorize any exports of military equipment that could be used in Gaza until further notice, a move described as a response to a decision by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Cabinet, AP says in a report. This policy change marks a departure from Germany's previous position as a strong international backer of Israel.

The mother of Mia Schem, a hostage who was released from Gaza in November 2023, has stated that the recovery for freed hostages is hampered by the ongoing plight of those still held captive, Haaretz said in a report. Her comments come as an estimated 50 hostages remain in captivity in Gaza, 672 days after they were abducted during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks. The statement highlights the continuing psychological toll on the families and the returned hostages amid efforts to secure the release of those still held.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday described Israel's decision to take control of Gaza City as wrong and called on the Israeli government to reconsider its actions immediately, according to a report in Reuters. In a statement, Starmer said the Israeli government's decision represents a further escalation of its offensive in Gaza.

United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Turk stated on Friday that the Israeli government's plan for a full-scale military takeover of Gaza must be halted immediately to prevent further death and suffering, according to a report in Reuters. Turk asserted that the plan runs contrary to a ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which he said requires Israel to bring its occupation to an end as soon as possible.

The Israeli military dismantled a rocket launcher in Gaza that was used to fire towards the Israeli community of Nir Am, Israel National News says in a report. During the operation, forces also reported uncovering multiple rockets. In separate operations in the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis, troops dismantled what the military described as terror infrastructure and eliminated a terror cell.

A recent phone call between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding humanitarian aid to Gaza reportedly escalated into a shouting match, Israel National News said in a report. Following the intense conversation, the US has sent Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to the region. Witkoff's stated mission is to coordinate the positions between the two allied nations on the aid issue.

Australia has publicly called on Israel "not to go down this path" after Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated an intention to take military control of Gaza, according to a report in Reuters. In a statement on Friday, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said such a move would "only worsen the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza." Wong also noted that permanent forced displacement constitutes a violation of international law.

Indonesia will provide medical assistance to about 2,000 wounded residents of Gaza by converting a facility on the uninhabited Galang island for their treatment, according to a report in The Guardian. A presidential spokesperson, Hasan Nasbi, confirmed the plan in Jakarta, stating that the aid is for victims of the war, including those wounded or buried under debris. The Indonesian government has emphasized that this is a temporary measure and the patients will be returned to Gaza after receiving care.

Kibbutz Nir Oz has suspended a cornerstone-laying event in protest of a government cabinet meeting concerning its plan for Gaza, according to a report in The Times of Israel. The chairman of the kibbutz urged the government to prioritize the return of hostages held in Gaza, stating a deal should be made even if the price is high. The chairman added that the residents of Nir Oz understand the dangers posed by Hamas better than government cabinet members.

Palestinian footballer Suleiman al-Obeid was killed on Wednesday in an Israeli air strike while waiting for humanitarian aid in Gaza, Al Jazeera said in a report. The death occurred in the context of ongoing Israeli military operations and a severe humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

Tensions within the New South Wales Labor party have become public after MP Anthony D’Adam accused his own party of trying to suppress debate on Gaza, according to a report in The Guardian. During a speech in the NSW parliament, D'Adam, a member of the party's left faction and convener of Labor Friends of Palestine, claimed he was bullied in a caucus meeting when he tried to discuss a recent protest over killings in Gaza. He accused Premier Chris Minns and the party leadership of "stultifying the internal culture of the party" in their handling of the issue.

Gaza photographer Anas Zayed Fteiha has refuted allegations that he staged images depicting hunger or is affiliated with Hamas, according to a report in The Times of Israel. The accusations, which reportedly originated in a German tabloid, claimed Fteiha was creating "Hamas propaganda." Adding to the denial, an Israeli investigative group has also expressed doubt about the validity of the report's claims against the photographer.

The government of the Netherlands will not recognize a Palestinian state for now, despite increasing international pressure related to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Israel National News said in a report. The position was stated by Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Caspar Veldkamp. This decision places the Netherlands in contrast with other European nations like Spain and Ireland, which have recently moved to formally recognize a Palestinian state.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel will not annex the Gaza Strip, according to a report in The Jerusalem Post. The declaration was made to reporters during a meeting with an Indian envoy, where discussions also covered the expansion of bilateral cooperation on security and economic matters. This statement comes amid the ongoing conflict and international diplomatic focus on long-term plans for the governance and security of Gaza after the war.

Satellite images reportedly show the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) amassing military forces in preparation for a possible ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, according to a report in Haaretz. The buildup is occurring on what the report marks as 'Day 672' of the ongoing war, suggesting a potential escalation of the conflict. The evidence for the military preparations is based on the analysis of satellite imagery showing concentrations of troops and equipment near the territory.