Israel - Gaza, news on the war. UNICEF: "18,000 children have died since the conflict began."
Israeli President Isaac Herzog responded to Italian President Sergio Mattarella by defending his country and saying that his army "does not kill indiscriminately." White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, along with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, visited the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's humanitarian aid distribution center in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, and the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
Netanyahu postpones decision on military action in Gaza until next week
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision regarding possible military action in the Gaza Strip has been postponed until next week, CNN reported, citing a well-informed source close to the Israeli prime minister. This decision could be made if Hamas does not accept a ceasefire.
UNICEF: "18,000 children killed in Gaza since the war began. An average of 28 per day."
Ted Chaiban, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, said in a statement that he "just returned from a five-day mission to Israel, Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The signs of profound suffering and hunger were visible on the faces of families and children. Since the beginning of the war, over 18,000 children have been killed in Gaza. That's an average of 28 children a day, the equivalent of a school class, who are no longer there. The children have lost loved ones, they are hungry, scared, and traumatized.
At least 21 dead in Gaza since dawn, 12 awaiting aid
At least 21 Palestinians have been killed since dawn in the Gaza Strip, 12 of whom lost their lives while trying to collect humanitarian aid, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported. Since the early hours of the day, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have carried out shelling and opened fire in several areas of the Palestinian enclave. Among the victims, 12 were collecting humanitarian aid near the Netzarim corridor. Their bodies were taken to Al-Shifa Hospital. According to local medical sources, at least five members of the same family were killed in an attack on their home in Al-Zawayda, in the center of the enclave. Another five people were killed and several others injured in a drone strike on a refugee camp north of Khan Younis, also according to Wafa.
Crosetto: "Italian aid to Gaza starting August 9th"
"As part of the activities promoted by the Italian government to help alleviate the ongoing grave humanitarian crisis, I have authorized the activation and deployment of a Defense force to carry out airdrops of humanitarian aid for the civilian population of the Gaza Strip. The Italian Defense Ministry continues to be at the forefront in ensuring, quickly and effectively, all possible humanitarian support, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation," Defense Minister Guido Crosetto announced. "In compliance with the government's guidelines," the minister continued, "I have given the green light to a mission involving Army and Air Force assets to transport and airdrop essential supplies for civilians in Gaza, who have been severely affected by the ongoing conflict. The mission—called 'Solidarity Path Operation 2'—will involve the use of Air Force C-130J transport aircraft, which will drop special containers containing essential supplies. The operations will be conducted in collaboration with the Italian Army, which is responsible for preparing the aid shipments. The operation will be carried out in close coordination with the armed forces of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and the operational launch is expected in the next few hours, with the dispatch of an advance party, which will handle preparatory activities and coordination with local authorities. Our first airdrops are scheduled and could take place as early as August 9th, to allow the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to complete the procurement of food supplies and their transportation to Jordan. "This new initiative," the minister continued, "is part of the broader and more concrete commitment of the Italian Ministry of Defense to support the civilian population of Gaza. This commitment has seen us work with the Italian Navy's hospital ship 'Vulcano,' which has provided medical care to numerous wounded in the Strip; with the Italian Air Force, which has carried out special flights to transport seriously ill or injured children and their families to Italy so they can receive the necessary care; and with the Italian Army, which, as part of the 'Air-Bridge for Gaza' initiative, has used its helicopters to directly distribute medicines in the most affected and hard-to-reach areas by land." "Every intervention by the Defense - concluded Crosetto - is based on a clear principle: it cannot
Hamas releases video of hostage Eviatar David
This afternoon, Hamas released a video of hostage Eviatar David , held captive in Gaza for 655 days. The video, or parts of it, will be published only with the family's permission. Last February, during the hostage release, Hamas released a video of Eviatar and Guy Gilboa-Dalal being taken to the handover point of the three hostages, Omar Wenkert, Omar Shem Tov, and Eli-Ha Cohen, just to witness the "ceremony." Yesterday, Palestinian Islamic Jihad released a video of another kidnapped man, Rom Braslavsky. Israel views the release as a form of pressure to resume talks.
The Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's military wing, release a video describing the state of the captured Israeli occupation soldiers: "They eat the same food we eat. It is the Israeli occupation government that has chosen to starve them." pic.twitter.com/o7NM1nxb8v
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) August 1, 2025
Israeli President Herzog slams Mattarella: "We don't kill indiscriminately."
Israeli President Isaac Herzog responded to Italian President Sergio Mattarella's remarks yesterday: "I have great respect for the President of the Republic, my friend Sergio Mattarella. For this reason, I was saddened by some aspects of his recent statements on the situation in Gaza and felt the need to clarify the facts. Israel has accepted numerous brokered ceasefire offers. Hamas has repeatedly rejected the agreements and refused to release the hostages. Israel has no intention of killing indiscriminately. We simply want to live in peace and security. Yes, mistakes happen in war, and we are not indifferent to the pain of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. We are doing everything we can to improve the situation. We are acting in accordance with international law under almost impossible conditions. Unlike our enemy, who blatantly and proudly violates human rights conventions and laws. As has been made known, Israel has launched a major humanitarian effort, which we intend to further expand together with our partners, including Italy. Our friends must maintain moral clarity: Hamas started this war, Hamas is holding hostages, Hamas is responsible for the suffering on both sides, and international pressure must be directed at them. I reiterate: there is a key to ending this tragedy, and that is the release of the hostages held in Gaza. If Hamas truly wants a better future for the people of Gaza, it should release the hostages immediately.
IDF Chief: "Without a hostage deal in the coming days, fighting will continue unabated."
"I believe we will know in the next few days whether we can reach an agreement for the release of our hostages." And, "if not, the fighting will continue unabated," said Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir in statements reported by local media.
Israeli Ambassador to Italy: "The exploitation of Palestinian children is intolerable."
"The instrumental use of images of Palestinian children to slander Israel for propaganda purposes is an intolerable practice." This is what Israeli Ambassador to Italy Jonathan Peled wrote on X, in a post in which he takes aim at several media outlets, including the New York Times , which in particular published "the latest serious distortion", only to later "issue a denial". The post cites "three examples of manipulative use of photographs depicting minors," also citing CNN and the BBC . Regarding the NYT , Ambassador Peled states that "a recent post on the American newspaper's Instagram account" featured several images under the title 'Hunger in Gaza,' claiming they were of malnourished children. Among them was 11-month-old Sila Rabah, photographed at Gaza's Nasser Hospital with her mother." Yet, the Israeli diplomat emphasized, "Dr. Ahmad Al-Farra, the hospital's pediatrician, later asserted that Sila's condition was the result of a chronic nutritional deficiency." A "chronic stomach disorder" also confirmed by the NGO, Rebuilding Alliance, Peled added. The image of Muhammad Al-Matouq, along with his mother, published "in an Instagram post describing his critical condition due to malnutrition" is then cited. This "news" "ended up being reported by major international media, including the New York Times , the BBC , Sky News and the Guardian ," Peled said, adding that "the actual data" indicates that the child "suffers from a serious genetic condition, cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy." The Israeli ambassador concludes the post by returning to the New York Times and asking "the Italian press to publish the correction to ensure authoritative and impartial journalism."
epubblica
