### Under-reported news from Israel, Palestine, the Middle East and North Africa: September 5, 2025 *These roundups are, and will always be, free. No paywalls. If you find them useful, you can buy me a cup of coffee [here](https://paypal.me/ridaaburass?country.x=CA&locale.x=en_US). Thanks!* [Subscribe](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSct2B1Mm-SuaoJe5WkVn1HW1CSYkWnrXgLlOeg2JLLSEnqz2g/viewform?usp=header) to get these roundups (and just these roundups) by email. No spam. **TL;DR**: The Israeli military continues to kill dozens every day across the Gaza Strip, as the overall number and rate of starvation deaths rises. Israeli hostages' families continue to protest against the war, but the military push into Gaza City goes on, displacing tens of thousands of Palestinians. Settlers continue to rampage through the West Bank with impunity - oftentimes, accompanied and guarded by Israeli military forces. Gun violence is running rampant among Palestinian citizens of Israel ('48 Palestinians), with ten victims this week alone. Far-right minister Smotrich unveils proposal to annex the West Bank, drawing international condemnation. Turkey continues to assert itself regionally, demanding Kurdish militias disarm in Syria, and possibly thawing relations with Libya's Khalifa Haftar. --- ##### Gaza: - 2025-09-01 - [The Israeli military continues](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2613733/middle-east) its push into Gaza City, driving its population out. [At least 98 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes](https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/israeli-forces-kill-98-palestinians-24-hours-says-health-ministry?nid=427184&topic=Israel%2527s%2520genocide%2520in%2520Gaza&fid=547590) across the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours. - 2025-09-01 - The world's leading genocide scholars' association [says Israel's actions in Gaza meet the legal criteria for the crime](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/world-top-genocide-scholars-association-genocide-Gaza). - 2025-09-01 - Nine Palestinians, including three children, die of starvation in Gaza over the past 24 hours. - 2025-09-02 - [At least 78 Palestinians killed](https://aje.io/5169f3?update=3921280) by the Israeli military across the Gaza Strip since dawn today, including 20 aid seekers. - 2025-09-03 - [At least 44 Palestinians have been killed](https://aje.io/asekzl?update=3923670) across the Gaza Strip since dawn. - 2025-09-03 - The Israeli military [continues to push](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2613977/middle-east) into Gaza City, displacing many. [According to an Israeli estimate](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-09-03/ty-article-live/macron-urges-trump-to-drop-ban-on-palestinian-officials-entering-u-s-for-general-assembly/00000199-0d58-de3f-afdb-9fdaf6740000?liveBlogItemId=1268887209&utm_source=site&utm_medium=button&utm_campaign=live_blog_item#1268887209), between 70,000-80,000 Palestinians were displaced from the City within the last 72 hours alone. - 2025-09-03 - [Satellite pictures reveal utter devastation](https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/politics/2025-09-03/ty-article-magazine/.premium/00000199-093e-d21e-a9db-1bffaa4f0000) in Gaza City, especially in the Shuja'iyya, Zaytun and Tuffah neighborhoods. #hebrew - 2025-09-04 - [At least 84 Palestinians were killed](https://www.newarab.com/news/israeli-attacks-gaza-homes-leave-45-dead-dawn?blockId=block_61633) across the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours. At least 17 were killed while seeking aid, bringing the total number of aid-seeker deaths to 2,356. [Some Israeli strikes targeted tents](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-rejects-hamas-truce-efforts-it-escalates-attacks-displaced-palestinians) sheltering displaced Palestinians, using armed quadcopters dropping incendiary bombs. - 2025-09-04 - Israeli defense minister Israel Katz [openly threatens to flatten Gaza City](https://www.newarab.com/news/israel-threatens-raze-gaza-city-if-hamas-does-not-surrender) unless the hostages are released. - 2025-09-05 - [New polling data shows very low support for Hamas](https://institute.global/insights/geopolitics-and-security/tbi-comment-zogby-research-services-Palestinian-polling-May-2025), armed resistance in Gaza and across Palestine. It's important to take these results, obtained under conditions of genocide, with a grain of salt. They are consistent with [recent trends; other polls](https://www.pcpsr.org/en/node/997). #survey - 2025-09-05 - [Hamas releases videos of two hostages](https://www.timesofisrael.com/hamas-publishes-video-of-hostages-guy-gilboa-dalal-alon-ohel-ahead-of-gaza-city-op/), filmed from a car in Gaza City. This is the first video of one of these hostages to be released. - 2025-09-05 - [Israel continues its push into Gaza City](https://www.newarab.com/news/israel-levels-high-rise-building-relentless-gaza-city-assault) while displacing its population. [At least 69 Palestinians were killed](https://www.newarab.com/news/israel-levels-high-rise-building-relentless-gaza-city-assault?blockId=block_61691) across the strip over the past 24 hours. [Egypt reiterates](https://aje.io/gzdbl1?update=3927526) it will not allow Palestinians to be displaced into its territory. ---- ##### West Bank, inc. East Jerusalem: - 2025-09-01 - [Israeli forces demolish](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/160865) two-story home under construction in Ramallah. - 2025-09-02 - [Israeli forces conduct a large-scale raid](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/160911) of around 150 homes in a village near Nablus, and arrest at least 10 Palestinians. - 2025-09-02 - [Israeli settlers attacked a village near Bethlehem](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/160907), fired flashbangs, and threw stones at residents' homes. - 2025-09-03 - The number of Palestinians in Israeli prisons [surpasses 11,000](https://aje.io/asekzl?update=3923372) - the highest number in 25 years - the majority of them held without trial. - [This blog](https://netunim.wordpress.com/about/) (Hebrew) includes a [[Pasted image 20250903102045.png|useful graph]] of changes in the total number of Palestinian prisoners over time, including a breakdown of administrative and sentenced detainees, and those awaiting trial. - 2025-09-03 - Israeli forces [demolish a minaret under construction](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/160934) near Hebron. - 2025-09-03 - Israeli settlers and soldiers [chased Palestinian shepherds](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/160929) off their pastures in the northern Jordan Valley. - 2025-09-03 - [Israeli military forces raided the city Qalqilya, and surrounding villages](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/160924), searching buildings. No detentions were reported. - 2025-09-03 - [Israeli forces raided Jericho](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/160922), shooting and injuring two men. - 2025-09-03 - [Israeli forces demolished two houses](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/160921) near Bethlehem. - 2025-09-04 - [Israeli forces shoot, injure](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/160960) two Palestinians in the Jalazone refugee camp, near Ramallah. - 2025-09-04 - [Israeli forces detain 11 Palestinians](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/160951) in several raids across the West Bank. - 2025-09-04 - [Israel expands its ethnic cleansing operation in the Tulkarm area](https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/politics/2025-09-04/ty-article/.premium/00000199-151d-dc85-add9-9d9d272b0000) into the city itself, expelling families from its eastern neighborhoods. So far, [Israeli forces have depopulated](https://www.972mag.com/nur-shams-tulkarem-army-destruction/) Tulkarm's neighboring refugee camps, prevented their residents from returning, and destroyed hundreds of homes. #hebrew and #english - 2025-09-05 - Israeli settlers [rampaged through the Palestinian village of Khillet al-Dabaa](https://www.newarab.com/news/west-bank-settler-rampage-injures-dozens-including-baby) in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, beating and injuring residents. ---- ##### '48 Palestinians: - 2025-09-01 - [A Palestinian nurse was killed](https://www.arab48.com/%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA/%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%88%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B1/2025/09/01/%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%B9%D8%A9-%D9%86%D8%AD%D9%81-%D9%85%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%B6-%D9%8A%D8%B2%D9%86-%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%B5-%D9%85%D9%84%D8%AB%D9%85%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%AA%D9%86%D9%83%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%B2%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%B1%D8%B7%D8%A9) in the town of Nahf, in the Galilee, in a crime-related incident. This brings the total number of Palestinian victims of gun-violence within Israel this year [to 170](https://www.arab48.com/%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA/%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9/2025/09/01/%D9%86%D8%AD%D9%81-%D9%85%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%B6-%D9%8A%D8%B2%D9%86-%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D8%B1%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%B5-%D9%88%D8%A5%D8%B6%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%84-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%A9). #arabic - [Gun violence is a rampant, systemic problem](https://www.972mag.com/palestinian-citizens-israel-record-crime-wave/) within the '48 Palestinian community. - 2025-09-01 - The National Democratic Assembly, the community's secular-nationalist political party (also known as "Balad"), [calls for](https://www.arab48.com/%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA/%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A9/2025/08/31/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%AC%D9%85%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%88%D9%84%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A5%D9%86%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%AD-%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B9%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A3%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B3-%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%87%D9%85-%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%8A) the [Joint List](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_List)'s re-establishment. Israeli elections are coming up soon; Palestinian parties have been trying to bridge gaps and re-form the List, in order to surpass the electoral threshold and avoid low voter turnout. #arabic - 2025-09-03 - [Two more victims of gun violence](https://www.arab48.com/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1/%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%84%D8%A9/2025/09/02/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D8%AF-%D8%A5%D9%86%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B4-%D8%B1%D8%AC%D9%84-%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%B6-%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A5%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82-%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B1) within the '48 Palestinian community, bringing the total number of victims this week to six, [and this year to 172](https://www.arab48.com/%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA/%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9/2025/09/03/%D9%85%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%84-%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D8%A8%D8%AC%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A5%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82-%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A9). #arabic - 2025-09-05 - Gun violence continues to run rampant within the '48 Palestinian community: [three Palestinians were killed in a matter of minutes](https://www.arab48.com/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1/%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%84%D8%A9/2025/09/04/%D8%B9%D8%B3%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D9%85%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%84-%D8%B1%D8%AC%D9%84-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AC%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A5%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82-%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B1) today, bringing the total number of victims this year to 176; 10 just this week. #arabic - [This is a systemic problem](https://abrahaminitiatives.org/victims-of-violence-and-crime-in-arab-society-in-2024/), the result of decades of neglect, lack of investment in Israel's Palestinian communities. Crimes are rarely solved; perpetrators are rarely brought to justice. - 2025-09-05 - [10 protesters against the Gaza genocide were arrested](https://www.arab48.com/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1/%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%84%D8%A9/2025/09/04/%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%AD%D8%B1%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%AC%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%B9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%A9-%D9%88%D9%82%D9%81%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%85%D8%AA%D8%B8%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AD%D9%8A%D9%81%D8%A7) in Haifa. #arabic --- ##### Israel: - 2025-09-02 - [[2025-08-22#Gaza|As previously announced]], [Israel is recruiting 60,000 reservists](https://www.newarab.com/news/israel-recruiting-60000-reservists-gaza-city-occupation) in preparation for the occupation of Gaza City. - [350 reservists sign petition, refuse](https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/politics/2025-09-02/ty-article/.premium/00000199-0a31-db7d-a1dd-be7571d70000) to enlist, stating the plan to occupy Gaza City will endanger "hostages, soldiers and citizens". #hebrew - 2025-09-03 - [Smotrich unveils detailed proposal](https://www.timesofisrael.com/smotrich-proposes-annexing-82-of-west-bank-in-bid-to-prevent-palestinian-state/) to annex 82% of West Bank. UAE says annexation is a red line that would endanger the future of its normalization deal with Isreael. - 2025-09-04 - [Amira Hass warns](https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/politics/2025-09-04/ty-article/.premium/00000199-1103-dfba-ab99-71dfad920000) we should take Smotrich's plan seriously. He has been frank and direct about his intentions throughout his career, and acted to materialize them at every step. His statements regarding the Israeli government's priorities over the last two years turned out to be true. Hopefully Hass' excellent analysis is translated and published in Haaretz' English edition. #hebrew - 2025-09-04 - Families of Israeli hostages [continue to protest](https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/politics/2025-09-04/ty-article/.premium/00000199-14c7-d336-addd-7fff6a3e0000) for a comprehensive hostage deal. [Thousands protested in Jerusalem](https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/politics/2025-09-03/ty-article/00000199-106e-d487-a3d9-b47fab630000) yesterday. #hebrew - 2025-09-05 - [Israel sanctions members of three prominent Palestinian human rights organizations](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/palestinian-ngos-sanctioned-us-decry-heinous-act-amid-genocide). Sanctions include banning their workers from entering the US, and freezing their assets. --- ##### MENA + geopolitical: - 2025-09-02 - Khalifa Haftar, the de-facto ruler of Eastern Libya, [is planning a visit to Turkey](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/khalifa-haftar-plans-visit-turkey-ties-thaw) - a longtime rival - possibly signaling a reshuffle in the regional balance of influence within the divided country.c - 2025-09-03 - [Israel attacks UN peacekeeping forces](https://www.newarab.com/news/un-force-lebanon-slams-israeli-drone-attack-peacekeepers) in Lebanon (UNIFIL), [drawing condemnation](https://www.qatar-tribune.com/article/192529/latest-news/qatar-condemns-israels-attack-on-unifil-force-in-lebanon). - 2025-09-03 - An Israeli military force, consisting of around 30 soldiers in five vehicles, [seized seven people from Syrian territory](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2614000/middle-east) and took them into Israel. [Since the fall the al-Assad regime](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_invasion_of_Syria_(2024–present)) in December, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on Syria, and seized the previously UN-administered buffer zone between the two countries, as well as additional Syrian territories beyond the zone. - 2025-09-04 - After facing criticism for sidelining the constitutionally-protected Amazigh (indigenous Berber) language, [Morocco introduces it](https://en.hespress.com/119943-morocco-to-integrate-amazigh-into-pioneer-schools-after-criticism-of-exclusion.html) into the school curriculum. - 2025-09-04 - [Israel widely and harshly criticized](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2614113/middle-east) in Arab League foreign ministers meeting. - 2025-09-05 - [Turkey warns the SDF](https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkiye-warns-sdf-to-disarm-and-integrate-into-syrian-army-213261) - the main, US-backed, Kurdish militia in Syria - to disarm and integrate into the Syrian military. The PKK - Turkey's main Kurdish rebel group - [[2025-07-11#MENA + geopolitical|has also initiated disarmament]] recently. --- Sign up [here](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSct2B1Mm-SuaoJe5WkVn1HW1CSYkWnrXgLlOeg2JLLSEnqz2g/viewform?usp=header) to get an email notification when the weekly roundup is posted.