### Under-reported news from Israel, Palestine, the Middle East and North Africa: September 19, 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 expands its military offensive, pushing further into Gaza City. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are forcibly pushed from the City center into crowded and dangerous coastal enclaves. Several Israeli soldiers were killed in Gaza and the West Bank. In a rare speech, Netanyahu acknowledges Israel's growing diplomatic isolation, and vows to turn the country into a self-reliant "super-sparta". Meanwhile, international and regional pressure on Israel grows. --- ##### Gaza: - 2025-09-15 - A Middle East Eye report [shows](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-destroys-gaza-last-lifelines-force-mass-displacement) Israel has been targeting Gaza City's vital lifelines - places where people have sheltered, solar panels, water tanks, and internet access points - in order to force the population to move. - 2025-09-16 - The Israeli offensive into Gaza City enters a new phase, with [ground troops pushing in to capture it](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/09/16/world/israel-hamas-war-updates/), forcing further, mass displacement. - 2025-09-16 - [The Israeli military killed at least 75 Palestinians](https://aje.io/bdkjml?update=3953398) across Gaza today; at least three died of starvation. - 2025-09-16 - A new investigation shows that [Israeli forces have killed nearly 3,000 Palestinian aid-seekers](https://www.newarab.com/news/nearly-3000-aid-seekers-killed-israel-gaza-report) in Gaza over the past 20 months. - Soldiers testimonies [confirm](https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/magazine/2025-09-15/ty-article-magazine/.premium/00000199-379d-d336-addd-7fffd8c50000) ([again](https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/magazine/2024-12-18/ty-article-magazine/.premium/00000193-d01a-dcf9-afbb-deff388f0000)) that the killings at aid-distribution are indiscriminate. #hebrew - 2025-09-17 - [At least 51 Palestinians were killed](https://aje.io/ok262u?update=3956965) in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip today. - 2025-09-17 - Israel [further restricts internet access](https://x.com/EuroMedHR/status/1968312278908043271) in Gaza City. - 2025-09-18 - [At least 42 Palestinians were killed](https://aje.io/y9m34m?update=3960753) in Gaza since dawn today. - 2025-09-18 - [Four Israeli soldiers were killed by an IED](https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/bypifnyiex) in Gaza. #hebrew - 2025-09-19 - At least [33 Palestinians have been killed and 146 injured](https://aje.io/8v8svm?update=3963533) in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip in the past 24 hours. Four died of malnutrition. Ground forces continue to push into the strip. Military spokesperson warns residents to leave again, [vows](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2615926/middle-east) to use "unprecedented force". ---- ##### West Bank, inc. East Jerusalem: - 2025-09-15 - Basel Adra, co-director of the Oscar-winning movie [*No Other Land*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Other_Land), [recounts an Israeli raid on his home](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/no-other-land-director-recounts-horrific-raid-his-home-israeli-forces) over the weekend. - 2025-09-15 - Israel places new barriers on Palestinian movement across the West Bank - [near Ramallah](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/161347), [near Jerusalem](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/161349), [in the Jordan Valley](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/161350), [in Qalqilya](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/161364), and [near Bethlehem](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/161372). - 2025-09-15 - Israeli forces [detain workers](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/161371) after raiding the town of Barta'a, near Jenin, storming homes and shops. - 2025-09-15 - Israeli bulldozers level large tracts of farmland near Tulkarm. - 2025-09-16 - [Two Palestinian men were shot and killed](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/161398) by Israeli forces [in a raid](https://www.aljazeera.net/news/2025/9/16/%d8%b4%d9%87%d9%8a%d8%af%d8%a7%d9%86-%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%b9%d8%aa%d9%82%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d9%81%d9%8a-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b6%d9%81%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ba%d8%b1%d8%a8%d9%8a%d8%a9) on the city of Qalqilya. #arabic - 2025-09-17 - [Israeli forces demolished a Palestinian-owned car wash](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/161446) near Bethlehem. - 2025-09-17 - Israeli forces raided the home of Nader Abu Bakr, secretary of the Fatah Movement in the village of Marda, north of Salfit, [and severely assaulted him](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/161433), leading to his hospitalization. - 2025-09-18 - [Israeli forces demolish two 100-square-meter homes in Hebron](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/161474), belonging to the Abu Sharkh family, which housed 12 people. - 2025-09-18 - [Israeli settlers vandalize irrigation networks](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/161463) near Nablus. - 2025-09-19 - [The Israeli military says](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-09-19/ty-article-live/how-do-you-sleep-netanyahu-met-by-protesting-hostage-families-outside-official-home/00000199-5fb4-d08f-a5fd-fffd2c170000?liveBlogItemId=1818377879&utm_source=site&utm_medium=button&utm_campaign=live_blog_item#1818377879) it arrested three Palestinians for manufacturing rockets, near Ramallah. - 2025-09-19 - [Israeli forces detain al-Aqsa mosque preacher](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/161501) Sheikh Sarandah after Friday prayers. Friday prayers frequently include the deployment of heavily armed forces at gates and throughout the Old City of Jerusalem. - 2025-09-19 - [Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian car](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/161500) in the northern Jordan Valley. - 2025-09-19 - [The Israeli military violently assaulted](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/161498) a Palestinian journalist and a doctor today during a raid in the town of Arraba, near Jenin. ---- ##### '48 Palestinians: - 2025-09-17 - Israeli authorities continue to ethnically cleanse [unrecognized Bedouin communities](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unrecognized_Bedouin_villages_in_Israel) in the Negev, with [40 home demolitions](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%A9/2025/09/17/%D9%85%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AA%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%A1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AE%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%87%D8%AF%D9%85-%D8%B9%D8%B4%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B2%D9%84-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%82%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D9%82%D8%A8) in the village of al-Sir, today. #arabic - 2025-09-18 - [Thousands demonstrated](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%A9/2025/09/18/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D9%82%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82-%D9%85%D8%B8%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B2%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%83%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%AF%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%A7-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%82-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%83%D9%86-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%8A%D8%B4-%D8%A8%D9%83%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A9) against home demolitions in the south today. #arabic - 2025-09-18 - Three brothers, residents of Shaqib al-Salam - a Bedouin town in the south - [were killed in a crime-related incident](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%A9/2025/09/18/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D9%82%D8%A8-%D9%85%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%84-3-%D8%A3%D8%B4%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%A1-%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-%D9%82%D8%B1%D8%A8-%D8%B4%D9%82%D9%8A%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85). This brings the total number of Palestinian citizens that fell victim to gun-violence this year to 183. #arabic --- ##### Israel: - 2025-09-15 - In a stunning speech, [Netanyahu says](https://www.haaretz.co.il/tmr/allnews/2025-09-15/ty-article/00000199-4d44-d65c-a9f9-cdd6a10d0000) Israel is "supper-isolated"; it will have to become a "super-Sparta", adopting "autarkic characteristics". Muslim immigration to the West is to blame; migrants have forced their governments' hands. He said Western leaders "haven't denied this in private". #hebrew - 2025-09-15 - [Excellent analysis](https://www.972mag.com/israel-opposition-knesset-election-palestinian-parties/) by 972 magazine: "Despite a strong showing in the polls, Israel’s center-left camp is still in denial about its only trump card: joining forces with Palestinian-led parties". - 2025-09-16 - Centrist politicians continue to play musical chairs: [Gadi Eisenkot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadi_Eisenkot), a retired general, politician, and [Benny Gantz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_Gantz)'s former partner, [establishes a new political party](https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/politi/2025-09-16/ty-article/00000199-528f-d184-afff-76bf75fe0000) ahead of Israeli elections [next year](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_Israeli_legislative_election). The party includes right winger [Matan Kahana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matan_Kahana) and a former Netanyahu associate. #hebrew - 2025-09-17 - According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, [the country is facing a worsening immigration deficit](https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/education/2025-09-17/ty-article/.premium/00000199-5746-dc75-a1d9-574ea9e60000) (more Israelis are leaving than returning / gaining citizenship): -28,000 this year, compared to -10,000 last year. #hebrew --- ##### MENA + geopolitical: - 2025-09-15 - Geopolitical fallout from Israel's attack on Doha: [Arab and Muslim countries will meet](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/15/arab-islamic-summit-expected-to-yield-concrete-measures-against-israel) in Doha today, in a show of unusual unity against Israeli aggression. "Observers are expecting them to deliver a decisive response". - 2025-09-15 - [Egypt's a-Sisi said](https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/politics/2025-09-15/ty-article/.premium/00000199-4dbb-d6e0-a7fb-cffb1d2f0000) Israel's actions threatens "new" and "existing" peace agreements - implying Egypt's own agreement with Israel should not be taken for granted. #hebrew - In the end, the conference included little beyond strong condemnations; concrete steps against Israel were not adopted. Israel began on its ground offensive into Gaza City hours later. - 2025-09-15 - The international "Sumud" flotilla, meant to break Israel's siege on Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid, [is en route to Gaza once again](https://news-tunisia.tunisienumerique.com/tunisia-historic-departure-of-the-soumoud-flotilla-for-gaza-with-hundreds-of-activists/) after leaving Tunisian shores. - 2025-09-16 - Despite Israeli attack, Qatar and US set to finalize a defense pact, [Marco Rubio said during his visit to Doha](https://www.jpost.com/international/article-867646). Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said "this (Israeli) attack, of course, expedites the need for a renewed strategic defense agreement between us and the United States". Would be interesting to see how Qatar navigates its promise to respond to the Israeli attack while maintaining its interests, close ties to the US. - 2025-09-16 - In a joint statement, [16 countries warn Israel](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-spain-others-warn-against-attacks-gaza-sumud-flotilla) not to attack the growing, global "Sumud" flotilla, now en route to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. - 2025-09-16 - [Israel delivers advanced air defense and surveillance system to Cyprus](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/more-dangerous-s-300s-israeli-air-defense-cyprus-extends-intel-reach-over-turkey), capable of monitoring the Turkish-occupied north and southern parts of the Turkish mainland, stoking regional tensions. In July, Shay Gal, vice president of external relations at Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), which manufactures the system, [wrote](https://www.israelhayom.com/opinions/northern-cyprus-is-also-an-israeli-problem/) that "Israel, in coordination with Greece and Cyprus, must prepare a contingency operation for liberating the island’s north". - 2025-09-16 - Turkey's energy minister [plans to expand the country's nuclear energy production](https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/nuclear-plays-central-role-in-turkiyes-long-term-energy-strategy-minister-213643). - 2025-09-17 - Thousands of people in Kurdish-controlled northeastern Syria [rallied Wednesday](https://www.newarab.com/news/dozens-killed-gaza-israel-engineers-internet-blackout?blockId=block_62537) for greater autonomy, decentralization within Syria. The state and the Kurdish leadership tried to reach a deal to integrate Kurdish-controlled areas, with no success thus far. - 2025-09-18 - [A Jordanian truck driver, carrying aid to Gaza, killed two Israeli soldiers](https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-867926) at the Allenby Border Crossing (which connects Jordan to the West Bank). - 2025-09-18 - [Saudi Arabia signs joint strategic defense agreement](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2615647/saudi-arabia) with (nuclear-armed!) Pakistan. - 2025-09-19 - An Israeli strike on southern Lebanon [killed one person and wounded three others](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2615946/middle-east). This is only the latest of many Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement it has with Hezbollah. --- 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.