Gaza News Live: Israel says it will not attend UN Security Council meeting on Gaza, citing Rosh Hashana

Israel will not attend a scheduled United Nations Security Council meeting focused on the situation in Gaza, according to a report in The New York Times. The Israeli government cited the observance of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, as the reason for its non-attendance at the international diplomatic session.

The UN Security Council will hold a high-level meeting on September 23, 2025, to address "The Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question," with a focus on Gaza, according to a report in Reuters. The session is scheduled to begin at 1700 GMT, with planned speakers including the UN Secretary-General and a representative from the Republic of Korea.

An Israeli Defense Forces officer was killed during combat in Gaza City, marking the first military fatality in what is being described as the army's new offensive, as per a report in The Times of Israel. The Israeli military also assesses that approximately 640,000 Palestinians have heeded its calls to evacuate southward. In a separate statement, Hamas reported that 38 Gazans were killed within the last 24 hours.

A US judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore over $500 million in federal funding to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), which had been frozen in response to campus protests concerning the war in Gaza, as per a report in The Times of Israel. The ruling stated that the suspension of the grants was likely "arbitrary and capricious." The development comes as President Donald Trump, in a Rosh Hashanah message, vowed to end the "scourge of antisemitism."

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares stated that a Palestinian state will eventually be established, dismissing the Israeli leadership's vow that it will never happen, according to a report in AP. Speaking in an interview on Monday, Albares said there has been a "real wave" of countries recognizing Palestine since Spain, Ireland, and Norway did so in May 2024. He added that an overwhelming number of nations support a two-state solution and that Israelis will one day want to live in peace alongside Palestinians.

US President Donald Trump is scheduled to address the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday after France announced its recognition of a Palestinian state, as per a report in BBC. The French policy change follows similar moves by other European nations and comes amid heightened international pressure for a two-state solution, driven by the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The report notes that more European countries are considering following France's lead in recognizing Palestinian statehood.

The Israel Defense Forces announced that an Israeli soldier has been killed in fighting in northern Gaza, according to a report in Haaretz. The event, occurring on what is noted as the 718th day of the conflict, indicates continued military operations in the northern part of the Strip, an area previously targeted in extensive operations by the IDF.

Hamas has reportedly drafted a letter addressed to US President Donald Trump proposing a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza in exchange for the release of half of a group of 48 hostages, Israel National News says in a report. The letter is described as a draft that has not yet been signed or given final approval by Hamas leadership.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is warning his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, that expanding settlements in the West Bank or annexing parts of Palestine risks putting a two-state solution permanently "beyond reach," according to a report in The Guardian. In a statement to be delivered at a conference in New York, Albanese will express that the current trajectory of the Gaza conflict is deeply concerning to the international community. The warning comes as far-right members of Netanyahu's government advocate for Israel to annex territory that would be part of a future Palestinian state.

Hamas has released a second video showing Israeli hostage Alon Ohel, who is being held in Gaza, according to a report in Haaretz. The video is the latest communication from the group regarding the hostages captured during the October 7th attacks. The release is part of the ongoing hostage crisis and occurs amid intermittent negotiations for a ceasefire and the return of captives.

Distinguished epidemiologist Fiona Stanley stated she was "deeply sad" and "ashamed" after the Fiona Stanley hospital in Fremantle, Australia, abruptly cancelled an event featuring Palestinian-Australian doctors, according to a report in The Guardian. The event, scheduled for September 2024, was set to feature Dr. Lama Al Ramahi and Dr. Mohammed Mustafa speaking on the challenges of delivering healthcare in Gaza. Following the cancellation, which was reportedly due to concerns the event could be seen as "political," Stanley said she considered asking the institution to remove her name from the building.

Canada, France, Germany, and other Western and European nations have offered assistance to treat patients from Gaza in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Reuters said in a report. The offer, made on Monday, includes financial contributions, medical staff, and equipment. The countries also issued a strong appeal for Israel to restore the medical corridor to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, to facilitate medical evacuations from Gaza.

An Australian medic, Dr. Saya Aziz, described the situation at Gaza's al-Shifa Hospital as a 'bloodbath,' Al Jazeera says in a report. Dr. Aziz, who is working at the facility, stated that she has lost count of the number of amputations she has been required to perform. The testimony highlights the severe medical crisis at the hospital amid the ongoing conflict and overwhelming number of casualties.