Gaza News Highlights, 23 September 2025: Palestinians rally in the West Bank to celebrate statehood recognitions and demand action

Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid has publicly stated that the move toward international recognition of a Palestinian state serves as a reward for the Palestinian people, according to a report in BBC. Rashid's comments were made to directly counter the argument from Washington, which posits that recognizing Palestinian statehood would be a reward for Hamas.

An investigation by BBC Panorama and BBC Eye examines the shooting death of a Palestinian man named Abdullah, who was killed while trying to get food amid widespread hunger in Gaza, according to a report in BBC. The report explores the circumstances of his death as an example of what it terms a "lethal aid system," referring to the dangerous environment created by severe shortages, the breakdown of civil order, and military actions during aid distribution. The investigation connects the specific incident to the broader humanitarian crisis of catastrophic food insecurity in the region, which forces desperate civilians to risk their lives for essential supplies.

Palestinians gathered in the West Bank to celebrate a recent wave of statehood recognitions by several Western countries, according to a report in The Times of Israel. During the rallies, participants also demanded unspecified 'action' to follow the diplomatic victories. The report quotes a loyalist of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who hailed the recognitions as a product of 'more than a century of resistance and determination by our people.' These events are taking place in the context of increased international diplomatic activity related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which has been intensified by the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

The Palestinian Medical Relief Society stated on Tuesday that an Israeli strike destroyed its main health center in Gaza City after it had been ordered to evacuate, according to a report in AP. The charity said the six-story building in the Samer area, which provided services including blood donation, trauma care, and chronic disease treatment, was reduced to rubble. The Israeli military had not provided an immediate comment on the incident.

Israeli police used stun grenades to disperse a protest against the war in Gaza held within an Arab-Israeli city, leading to the arrest of four individuals, according to a report in Haaretz. Police officials stated that the action was taken because protesters were chanting slogans and displaying signs that they claimed constituted incitement.

US President Donald Trump criticized several countries for their recent decisions to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state during his address at the UN General Assembly, according to a report in Al Jazeera. His remarks follow moves by European nations like Spain, Ireland, Norway, and Slovenia earlier in 2024 to grant recognition, a trend that gained momentum in response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Trump's statement signals a reaffirmation of the US position that statehood should result from direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, not through unilateral international actions.

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.