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Here’s where things stand on Sunday 20 July 2025:
- Israeli forces continue to pound Gaza, after killing at least 116 Palestinians on Saturday. The victims include 38 people killed near food aid sites in Rafah.
- Two more Palestinians, including a 35-day-old infant, have died of malnutrition at Gaza City’s al-Shifa Hospital, according to a doctor; a Muslim group in the United States accuses Israel of “forcibly” starving Palestinians in Gaza, “backed by billions in US taxpayer-supplied weapons and aid”.
- Tens of thousands of people have marched in Tel Aviv, urging US President Donald Trump to reach a deal to end the war and bring back about 50 captives remaining in Gaza.
- 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, 2023 attacks, and more than 200 were taken captive.
Rubio says US ‘heavily involved’ in talks on southern Syria
The US Secretary of State says the US has been speaking to Israel, Jordan and Syria over the last three days about “the horrifying and dangerous developments in southern Syria”.
“If authorities in Damascus want to preserve any chance of achieving a unified, inclusive and peaceful Syria free of ISIS and of Iranian control they must help end this calamity,” Marco Rubio wrote in a post on social media.
He added that Syrian security forces should “prevent ISIS and any other violent jihadists from entering the area and carrying out massacres”.
“Furthermore the fighting between Druze and Bedouin groups inside the perimeter must also stop immediately,” he said.
Syria’s government said its security forces have cleared Bedouin fighters from the predominantly Druze city of Suwayda after President al-Sharaa ordered a new ceasefire between Bedouin and Druze groups.
‘Death trap’: More Palestinians killed at food aid site
Israel has continued targeted Palestinians seeking aid at GHF sites in southern Gaza.
Yesterday, at least 38 out of the 116 people it killed were aid seekers.
“The tanks started moving towards us, we thought they came out to organise us so we can get aid,” Mohammed al-Khalidi, one of those trying to get food at a GHF site, said.
“Suddenly we saw the jeeps coming from one side, and the tanks from the other and they started shooting at us. It wasn’t shots that were to scare us or to organise us, it was shots that were targeted to kill us.”
Another witness, Mohammed al-Barbaray, said: “This is not a site for aid, this is a trap, a death trap, anyone can get killed.”
“More than 900 Palestinians have been killed near sites run by the notorious GHF since it began operating in May,” said Al Jazeera’s Hing Khoudary, reporting from Deir el-Balah. “But unless Israel allows more food into Gaza, Palestinians have no choice but to risk their lives just for something to eat.”
Four-year-old dies from malnutrition
Four-year-old Palestinian child Razan Abu Zaher has died of complications from malnutrition and hunger, a source at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Gaza City told Al Jazeera.
As we reported earlier, the director of al-Shifa Hospital said that two Palestinians died of starvation at the hospital on Saturday, including a 35-day-old infant.
On Friday, Palestinian Health Ministry said starving Palestinians are arriving in hospital emergency departments across Gaza in “unprecedented numbers”, as Israel continues to severely restrict access to food in Gaza and shoot people seeking aid.
Israeli army expands ground operations in Deir el-Balah
The Israeli army has issued a forced evacuation threat for areas in Deir el-Balah, adding that it will expand its ground activities in the city.
Israeli attacks kill 6 Palestinians in northern Gaza
Our colleagues on the ground are reporting that Israeli forces have killed at least six Palestinians in Gaza City and northern Gaza since the early hours of this morning.
France, UK, Japan welcome ceasefire in Syria’s Suwayda
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has declared a ceasefire in the southern province of Suwayda, after days of deadly clashes between Druze and Bedouin factions that were compounded by Israeli military intervention.
Countries around the world have been welcoming the announcement, which followed a separate US-brokered deal to avert further Israeli attacks.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said in a post on X that he was horrified by the violence in southern Syria and that “a sustainable ceasefire is vital”.
The French Foreign Ministry stressed the need for “Syrian authorities to ensure the safety and rights of all segments of the Syrian people” and called for investigations into abuses against civilians in Suwayda.
Japan also expressed concern over the violence, including the Israeli strikes, and called for the ceasefire to be implemented swiftly.
Read more in our story here.
Israeli forces destroying houses in northern Gaza
Israeli forces continue their attacks across Gaza this morning.
Palestinian sources have told Al Jazeera that the Israeli army is carrying out operations to demolish a number of civilian houses in the Shujayea neighbourhood, east of Gaza City.
Freed captive urges Netanyahu to end Gaza war and ‘make Israel great again’
We’ve been reporting on protests in Israel calling for an end to the war on Gaza and a deal to secure the release of the remaining captives.
Among the protesters was freed captive Doron Steinbrecher.
She spoke at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square to thousands of people gathered there, according to The Times of Israel.
“Six months ago, I saw the sun for the first time after 471 days in the tunnels,” Steinbrecher, who was released from Hamas captivity as part of a truce deal in January, said at the weekly rally.
“Six months ago, I drew my first breath that wasn’t all fear. Now, after six months, I still can’t breathe … without fear,” she continued. “It’ll take time. And the first step is that everyone comes back.”
She then addressed Trump in English.
“We have met and spoken; I know how personally important this is to you, how deeply you are involved, and I know what you are capable of. Make it happen,” she said. “Let everyone emerge through the gates of hell so that we may rise.”
Israel’s notorious GHF site killings
A new wave of Israeli attacks has targeted Palestinians looking for food at sites run by the notorious GHF in southern Gaza. At least 38 people were killed trying to get food on Saturday.
A recap of recent developments
- Israeli forces killed at least 116 Palestinians across Gaza on Saturday, including 38 people trying to get food rations.
- Two more Palestinians, including a weeks-old baby, have died from starvation, medical sources said, as the United Nations warned that thousands in Gaza are on the “verge of catastrophic hunger”.
- The Israeli military has killed two people in separate drone attacks on southern Lebanon, claiming the victims were trying to revitalise Hezbollah infrastructure.
- Tens of thousands of people have marched in Tel Aviv urging US President Donald Trump to reach a deal to end the war and bring back the 50 captives remaining in Gaza.
- Israeli forces have arrested more Palestinians during raids across the occupied West Bank as settlers launched more violent attacks.
- Right-wing Israelis have attacked the car carrying a member of the Knesset, Ayman Odeh, and chanted “Death to Arabs”, prompting strong criticism from opposition leaders.
Welcome to our live coverage
Hello, and welcome to our live coverage of Israel’s war on Gaza and its attacks on Syria.
Stay with us for the latest news, reactions and analyses.
You can find all our updates from Saturday, July 19, here.
