From September 18 to 19, 2025, Gaza has witnessed an intensification of the Israeli offensive, particularly on Gaza City and the central area of the enclave. Israel announced the closure of the temporary humanitarian route set up toward the south and has warned the civilian population of the use of “unprecedented force” in the coming days, issuing repeated calls for mass evacuation.
In the past 48 hours, at least six people have been killed in Nuseirat and at hospitals in central Gaza, though the overall figure remains unknown due to the communications blackout. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reports more than 65,000 deaths since October, although the UN estimates the real number may be far higher, considering the thousands missing and the ongoing communication disruptions. Israeli tanks have advanced in both the north and the center, with reports of mass forced displacements; it is estimated that about 250,000 people have fled, but most have found no safe shelter nor access to water or other basic services.
The UN denounces that at least three people have died from starvation in the past 24 hours, raising the toll from hunger to over 420, including 125 children. Ten UNRWA buildings, among them seven schools and two clinics, have been destroyed in recent bombings, and the only hospital in the northern area has ceased operations.
On the diplomatic front, the United States has once again vetoed at the UN a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire. UN rapporteurs and international organizations have described the offensive as a possible genocide, warning about the devastating impact on the civilian population, the systematic destruction of infrastructure, and the deliberate killing of journalists in Gaza.
In Jerusalem and other cities, protests continue against the offensive and in favor of the release of hostages, while international pressure grows and humanitarian conditions in Gaza deteriorate sharply.
Meanwhile, in the past 48 hours, the West Bank has also endured new episodes of violence and repression. On Wednesday, a shooting was recorded near the Allenby crossing, where a Jordanian driver killed two Israeli soldiers before being shot dead, leading Israel to temporarily close the border crossing with Jordan and suspend delivery of humanitarian aid. In recent hours, incursions by the Israeli army have been reported in Ramallah and other areas, with raids, mass arrests, and additional roadblocks isolating Palestinian communities.
Pressure from Israeli settlers remains extremely high, with constant attacks on Palestinian families. Humanitarian organizations and the UN document an average of four assaults per day, including demolitions of homes and basic structures. So far in September, at least six Palestinians and two Israelis have been killed in the West Bank in direct clashes, shootings, and stabbing attacks.
The health system remains in crisis, with hospitals and clinics operating at minimum capacity and frequent restrictions on access for Palestinian patients who require treatment outside the West Bank. Tensions have risen under the tightening of military controls and nightly arrests. The international community has voiced concern over the rapid deterioration of the humanitarian situation and the risk of violence spreading to other parts of the region.
