LIVE: Israel kills 116 in Gaza, starvation claims life of Palestinian baby

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Here’s where things stand on Saturday 19 July 2025:

• Two more Palestinians, including a weeks-old baby, have succumbed to starvation, director of al-Shifa Hospital tells Al Jazeera, as UN says thousands in Gaza on the “verge of catastrophic hunger”.
• At least 116 Palestinians, including 38 people near food aid sites in Rafah, killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza today.
• Syria’s 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 58,765 people and wounded 140,485. An estimated 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the October 7 attacks, and more than 200 were taken captive.

Jordan hosts trilateral meeting on situation in Syria

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi has hosted his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shibani and US special envoy for Syria Thomas Barak in Amman today.

“They discussed the situation in Syria and efforts to consolidate the ceasefire reached around Suwayda Governorate to prevent bloodshed and preserve the safety of civilians,” the Jordanian Foreign Ministry said in a readout of the talks.

The three officials agreed on “practical steps” to support the ceasefire that was announced in southern Suwayda, including the release of detainees held by all parties, Syrian security force deployments and community reconciliation efforts.

Safadi, the Jordanian foreign minister, also welcomed the Syrian government’s “commitment to holding accountable all those responsible for violations against Syrian citizens” in the Suwayda area, the ministry said.

Israel’s opposition leaders slam attack on Arab member of Knesset

Leading opposition figures Yair Lapid and Yair Golan have strongly condemned the attack on lawmaker Ayman Odeh that we reported on earlier.

“I condemn the violence against Knesset member Odeh and call on the police to find those responsible and bring them to justice. There is no place for political violence in a democratic state,” Lapid wrote in a post on X.

Golan wrote that the attack is a direct result of “prolonged political incitement” and attempts to vote in the Knesset to earlier this week to expel Odeh because he has spoken about the mass killings in Gaza.

“This is an attack on the entire Arab minority in Israel,” he said, adding that the opposition will continue to try to oust the government and “will not surrender to the hatred and racism coming directly” from Prime Minister Benjamin and his far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Palestinians repeatedly targeted by Israeli forces at GHF sites

Al Jazeera reports from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza on the latest wave of Israeli attacks targeting Palestinian aid seekers.

Photos: Israelis protest in Tel Aviv, demanding release of captives from Gaza

Settlers Storm Old City of Hebron under protection of Israeli soldiers

Verified footage circulating on Palestinian social media shows that a large number of settlers stormed the Old City in Hebron in the occupied West Bank this evening under protection from Israeli forces.

Heavily armed soldiers stood guard, with local platforms reporting that Israeli forces prevented journalists from moving to cover the settler advances.

Israeli forces also launched a raid on the village of Anza, south of Jenin city in northern West Bank, using armoured vehicles.

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Let’s bring you up to speed on the latest developments:

• A 35-day-old Palestinian infant has died of malnutrition at Gaza City’s al-Shifa Hospital, the hospital director tells Al Jazeera, as starvation deepens under Israel’s blockade.
• The Israeli military continues to pound the Strip, killing at least 116 Palestinians across the enclave since dawn, including dozens of aid seekers.
• Israeli forces have opened fire on and arrested three Palestinian fishermen off the Gaza coast, the Palestinian Prisoner’s Media Office reports.
• Israelis are once again rallying in Tel Aviv tonight to demand a “comprehensive” deal that would end the war in Gaza and secure the release of captives held in Gaza.

Israelis shout ‘death to Arabs’ as they attack Knesset member’s car

A car carrying Arab member of the Knesset Ayman Odeh has been attacked by Israelis in the city of Ness Ziona, south of Tel Aviv.

Right-wing activists intercepted the car as he arrived to deliver a speech at a protest in the city. Israeli activists spat on Odeh and broke the rear glass of his car, as shown in videos verified by Al Jazeera’s Sanad agency.

According to Israeli media, the police were aware in advance of a demonstration at the location. The Israelis chanted “death to Arabs” while attacking the car and called the lawmaker a “terrorist”.

The Israeli police announced in a statement on X that they arrested three residents of Ness Ziona on suspicion of involvement in the assault and vandalism of the car of a deputy in the city. The police described the incident as “unusual and dangerous,” noting that they would interrogate the detainees, examine documented evidence, and identify and arrest other individuals involved.

The below video, posted by Israeli media outlet Kann, shows the incident:

Israeli forces arrest Palestinian fishermen off Gaza coast

The Palestinian Prisoner’s Media Office reports that three fishermen were arrested by Israeli forces near the Gaza port.

It said in a short statement that Israeli forces surrounded their boat and opened fire on them before arresting them.

The Israeli military has maintained a naval blockade on Gaza since 2007, when Hamas took over the enclave.

The naval siege has only tightened since the start of the war in October 2023, with Israeli navy vessels blocking all humanitarian aid going into Gaza and firing on the coast and air strikes also hitting the coastal area repeatedly.

Photos: Palestinians mourn loved ones killed in Gaza City

Flotilla ship Handala to leave for Gaza tomorrow

Another ship hoping to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza will depart for the Palestinian enclave on Sunday, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition activist group has confirmed.

The vessel, which the coalition said had been undergoing “final technical preparations”, will leave from Gallipoli, Italy.

“This mission is for the children of Gaza,” the coalition said in a statement.

“Until everyday people of conscience challenge Israel’s impunity, their brutal violence will only grow.”

Director of Nuseirat police among those killed in Gaza strike: Ministry

The Interior Ministry in Gaza reports that Colonel Omar Saeed Aql, director of Nuseirat police in the central governorate, was killed along with 11 of his family members when the Israeli army bombed their home earlier today.

The new “massacre” took place in the town of az-Zawayda in the central part of the besieged enclave, the ministry said, condemning it as a “heinous crime” in a statement.

“We renew our call to the international community and the United Nations to take a firm stance to stop the repeated Israeli violations against police personnel who perform civil duties and are protected from targeting under international law.”

At least 116 killed by Israeli attacks on Gaza today

This update to today’s death toll comes to us from sources at hospitals in the Gaza Strip.

The toll includes at least 38 people killed by Israeli fire at aid distribution points run by the GHF.

Palestinian armed groups report attacks on Israeli tanks in Gaza

The armed wings of Hamas and the Islamic Palestinian Jihad (PIJ) have reported new ambushes on invading Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip, especially its heavily besieged northern parts.

Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said its fighters carried out three separate attacks on Israeli army Merkava tanks in Jabalia using explosives and rocket-propelled grenades earlier this week.

Two more tanks were hit with two roadside bombs in a different incident in the same area, the Qassam Brigades said, claiming military helicopters were observed coming in to transfer casualties. The group also said it hit a D9 military bulldozer in Jabalia.

The Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the PIJ, said its fighters reported hitting another military bulldozer with a planted explosive in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis. They also released the below video below of an explosive ambush in Gaza City in the north.

Israeli army says two troops injured in Gaza

The military says the pair were injured “in a battle in the southern Gaza Strip”, without specifying where exactly the fighting took place.

It said the soldier and officer were taken to hospital for treatment.

Ambulance sirens to sound across Gaza tomorrow amid starvation crisis

The Gaza Health Ministry has announced plans for ambulance sirens to ring across the territory tomorrow as an “urgent warning” over the worsening starvation crisis.

Ambulances will gather outside al-Shifa Hospital complex in Gaza City, Al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza’s Deir el-Balah and Nasser Hospital in southern Khan Younis.

The sirens, which will ring at 11am local time (08:00 GMT) on Sunday, represent “the voice of the hungry and the bereaved who are left to die”, the ministry said in a statement.

Palestine Action arrests raise questions around freedom to dissent

At the action earlier, 55 people were arrested, and that included an 81-year-old former magistrate. This is in addition to the already more than 100 arrests that have occurred across the country, simply for professing public support or holding up a placard in support of Palestine Action.

This is the third weekend in a row since that ban [of the group] has come into force. It’s certainly not deterring any supporters of Palestine Action from turning up and making their point.

The point that they want to make is the fact that they simply held up a banner and vocalised their support – and it’s that that can get them arrested and lead to a sentence of up to 14 years in prison.

You’ve also had criticism from human rights activists, saying this is really striking a blow to civil liberties in the UK. They’re really questioning the idea of exactly how much freedom to dissent there is here.

Families demand return of Israeli captives ahead of planned rallies

Tens of thousands of Israelis are once again expected to rally in Tel Aviv tonight to demand a “comprehensive” deal that would end the war in Gaza, framing it as the only way to bring back all 50 captives still held in the besieged enclave.

Organisers are calling for a march to the US Embassy branch office in the city.

Einav Zangauker, whose soldier son Matan Zangauker is held by Hamas, told crowds during an address before the weekly demonstrations that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is delaying signing an agreement to maintain his grip on power.

“We see the pressure that Trump is exerting to bring about a comprehensive agreement and end the war,” she said, according to the Times of Israel.