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Here’s where things stand on Saturday 19 July 2025:
- At least 50 Palestinians, including 32 people near food aid sites in Rafah, killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza today.
- World Food Programme (WFP) said thousands of Palestinians in Gaza are on the “verge of catastrophic hunger” with one in three people in the enclave not eating for days at a time.
- Syria president announces “immediate ceasefire” in Suwayda province.
- Hamas said Israel rejected a ceasefire proposal that would have seen the release of all remaining captives held in Gaza, and pledged it was prepared for a lengthy war if there is no deal.
- Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 58,667 people and wounded 139,974. An estimated 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the October 7 attacks, and more than 200 were taken captive.
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Here’s a recap of the latest developments:
- At least 50 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli force across Gaza since dawn, including 32 aid seekers killed near a GHF food aid site north of Rafah.
- Syria’s President al-Sharaa announced an “immediate and comprehensive” ceasefire, and that government forces are being deployed to the Druze-majority city of Suwayda to quell sectarian fighting there.
- He has also given a televised speech to the nation, calling on warring factions to put aside their differences in the name of national unity.
- Syria’s Health Ministry said 260 people have been killed in the fighting in Suwayda.
- Israeli army says there were violent clashes at demonstration by a group of Druze in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights overnight, with some of the demonstrators crossing into Syrian territory.
- President Trump said 10 Israeli captives will be released from Gaza shortly, but did not provide any details.
- Germany’s Chancellor Merz voiced a rare criticism of Israel for its actions in Gaza, calling them “no longer acceptable”.
Turkiye’s Fidan tells Rubio Syria conflict needs to end now
Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a phone call that the conflict in Syria needs to end immediately, Reuters news agency reported citing a Turkish foreign ministry source.
Fidan said that he supports the constructive role the US is playing in Syria and Turkiye, and is ready to work with it to achieve a lasting end to the conflict.
On Friday, the US ambassador to Turkiye Tom Barrack said Israel and Syria have agreed to a ceasefire after days of bloodshed in the predominantly Druze area that has killed more than 300 people.
Protests planned across UK to challenge ban on Palestine Action
Demonstrations are scheduled to take place across the UK calling for the ban on Palestine Action to be reversed, amid police warnings that those showing support for the proscribed group face arrest.
Demonstrations will be held in Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol, Truro and London today, as part of a campaign coordinated by Defend Our Juries, which has already seen dozens arrested.
The Met said 70 people were arrested at similar demonstrations in Parliament Square over the past two weekends, while Defend Our Juries said a total of 120 had so far been arrested across the UK.
It comes before a High Court hearing on Monday in which the cofounder of Palestine Action, Huda Ammori, will ask for the green light to challenge the home secretary’s decision to ban the group under anti-terror laws.
More from al-Sharaa’s speech addressing Suwayda fighting
As we reported earlier, Syria’s President al-Sharaa addressed recent sectarian clashes in Suwayda and Israeli attacks:
- Conflicts have developed between outlaw groups and Bedouins, leading to an unprecedented deterioration in the situation in Suwayda governorate.
- Violent clashes between groups were close to spiraling out of control if not for the intervention of the Syrian state.
- Suwayda province has always been and still is part and parcel of the state of Syria.
- The Druze are a main component of the social fabric of the country, and the community must not be judged by the actions of a few.
- Any attempt to undermine the unity of the Syrian people or sideline any commitment constitutes a direct threat to our stability.
Syria’s president calls for national unity in speech
We’ve just seen Syria’s President al-Sharaa deliver a televised speech, calling on Syrians to shun division and act in a spirit of reconciliation.
The speech followed his announcement of an “immediate and comprehensive” ceasefire in response to sectarian violence around Druze-majority Suwayda, and the deployment of government troops to the southern city.
Al-Sharaa said national unity was a priority for his government and that part of the role of the government was to be a neutral referee between all parties. He praised the people of Suwayda, other than the few elements that wanted to sow trouble, saying that both Druze and Arab communities in the city were noble people.
It was a message of reassurance, to remind the people of Syria that the government is there for stability, for national unity, and that it would be better for people to listen to the voice of reason.
Syria says Israeli intervention reignited tensions in Suwayda
We can bring you more from the Syrian presidency statement that announced a ceasefire in Suwayda.
Syria’s president added that:
- The Israeli intervention reignited tensions in Suwayda following the blatant bombing of the south and Damascus.
- We appreciate the role of the US in affirming its support for Syria and its unity.
Gaza Health Ministry says 32 killed at aid distribution site
Gaza’s Health Ministry said Nasser Hospital has received 32 bodies since dawn, after the latest shooting at a GHF food aid site in Rafah.
It added that while “massacres” continue to take place at food distribution centres, medical teams observed a significant increase in death rates resulting from starvation and malnutrition.
The ministry warned of an “unprecedented health and humanitarian disaster if this international silence continues” and called on the international community to “take urgent and effective action”.
Two killed in Israeli shelling of Jabalia
Medical sources have told Al Jazeera that two people were killed in Israeli shelling in Jabalia an-Nazla neighbourhood, in northern Gaza.
Fighting in Suwayda killed at least 260 people
The Syrian government has released a new death toll from the fighting around Suwayda in recent days, saying 260 people have been killed.
Fierce fighting has broken out between armed Druze groups, Bedouin tribes and government forces over the past week.
On Friday, Syria’s minister of disaster management and emergency response said the government had recovered 87 bodies and treated more than 570 people wounded in the clashes. He added that hundreds of families had fled the south amid the violence.
Syria’s president announces ‘immediate and comprehensive’ ceasefire
Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa has announced an “immediate and comprehensive” ceasefire in response to days of sectarian violence around the Druze-majority city of Suwayda.
In a statement, al-Sharaa said the ceasefire was being declared “in light of the critical circumstances the country is going through, and out of concern to spare Syrian blood, preserve the unity of Syrian territory, the safety of its people, and in response to national and humanitarian responsibility”.
He said he called on all parties “to fully commit to this decision and to immediately cease all hostilities in all regions, ensure the protection of civilians, and guarantee the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid”, adding that security had begun deploying “in several areas” to enforce it.
Israeli forces raid towns near Bethlehem
Israeli forces have been carrying out raids in towns around Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, the Wafa news agency is reporting.
It said Israeli forces had raided locations in the towns of Tuqu, southeast of Bethlehem, Dar Salah and Zaatara to the east, and Beit Fajjar, south of Bethlehem.
News of troop deployment to Suwayda welcomed as fighting continues
We’ve just heard the announcement that troops have begun deploying to Suwayda.
That’s welcome news for many who want this fighting to stop.
We know that since yesterday, the troops have been at the outskirts of the province, trying to prevent more tribal fighters from entering.
Since the announcement of a ceasefire, we’ve heard that the mood has calmed in some of the villages west of Suwayda that have been taken by Bedouin tribal fighters, as they wait for more details from the government about the ceasefire.
As for the Druze in Suwayda, there have been conflicting messages about the ceasefire. One of the community’s influential leaders, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, has welcomed the ceasefire and called on his supporters to stop fighting. But some leaders of factions said to be loyal to him have said they will continue fighting.
Meanwhile, clashes are ongoing, particularly in the western part of Suwayda, where more than 1,000 Bedouin fighters have already entered.
Palestinians desperate for food as more killed while seeking aid
At least 29 people were shot while seeking aid from GHF centres, and more than 80 were wounded.
Doctors at Nasser Hospital are struggling to treat the wounded, many of whom are in critical condition.
The hospital is also running out of medical supplies and fuel.
People keep going to GHF centres because these are the only distribution centres that have food. There’s no flour or rice, and all that is left is very expensive, and no one can afford it.
Palestinians walk long distances in the sun to reach those centres. They say they have nothing to lose – that they’re either going to die by starvation or by Israeli fire.
Deaths, injuries reported in Israeli drone attack on Khan Younis
We are getting reports from our colleagues on the ground of an undetermined number of deaths and injuries from an Israeli drone attack in southern Gaza.
The reports, which quoted sources from Nasser Hospital, said Israeli forces attacked tents set up by displaced Palestinians seeking shelter west of the city of Khan Younis.
Syria says security forces deploying to Suwayda
Syria’s Interior Ministry is saying the country’s internal security forces have begun deploying in Suwayda.
“Internal security forces have begun deploying in Suwayda province … with the aim of protecting civilians and putting an end to the chaos,” ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba said in a statement on Telegram.
This comes hours after the US ambassador to Turkiye said Syria and Israel have agreed to a ceasefire, drawing an uneasy truce between the neighbours after days of Israeli air raids and sectarian bloodshed in Syria’s southwestern region.
Gaza death toll reaches 41
Sources in Gaza hospitals have told Al Jazeera that 41 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli raids on the Strip today, including 29 aid seekers.
At least 100 people have also been wounded.
Concern growing in Syria over sectarian violence
Concern is growing in the Druze-majority city of Suwayda over growing bouts of sectarian violence, after thousands have been killed since the fall of the al-Assad government in December.
Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr, reporting from Suwayda, said the new government of Ahmed al-Sharaa won recognition from the West, but longstanding divisions continue to threaten stability.
The country still has a fragmented military landscape and no cohesive army. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces control 25 percent of the territory in northeastern Syria.
In the south, Bedouin tribes have fought a battle about whether the region should integrate into the new Syria.
“The Syrian regime has been unable to take responsibility for the events that have been unfolding,” human rights activist Sadi Haroun said. “These repeated events are caused by the absence of justice and the state’s failure to fulfil its responsibilities.”
Adeeb al-Hariri, a Deraa resident, believes the international community wants to give the Syrian government “a real chance to govern”.
“But we can’t hold them accountable until they have control of the entire territory of Syria,” he said.
Trump says 10 Israeli captives to be released ‘very shortly’
Trump says 10 Israeli captives held in Gaza will be released soon, without giving more details.
Trump made the comment on Friday night at a dinner with legislators at the White House, as he talked up the progress of his Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff in mediating in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
“We got most of the hostages back. We’re going to have another 10 coming very shortly, and we hope to have that finished quickly,” Trump said.
In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly claimed a ceasefire deal and release of captives were imminent, without anything materialising.