The Israeli army approves the general outline for the occupation of Gaza. Cairo is working on a truce.

The Italian Air Force C-130J aircraft carrying six Palestinian children from the Gaza Strip, arriving for treatment in Italy, has just landed at Ciampino Airport. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani welcomed the patients and their companions. Simultaneously, two other planes carrying children from Gaza arrived at Pisa and Milan Linate airports. This operation is the 14th medical evacuation conducted by Italy since January 2024 and the largest to date, with 31 patients and 83 companions, for a total of 114 people.

At least 98 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip since dawn, including at least 37 seeking aid. Medical sources told Al Jazeera. The Hamas press office has meanwhile updated the total number of starvation deaths to 235, including 106 children.

Hamas expressed its willingness to quickly resume ceasefire negotiations in Gaza during a meeting with Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Mahmoud Rashad in Cairo, Egyptian TV Al-Qahera News reported.

At least 81 people have been killed in separate Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip since dawn today, including 45 in Gaza City. Medical sources at hospitals in the Strip reported this, citing the Palestinian news agency Wafa.

In the past few hours, six countries (Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, Belgium, France, and Italy) have airlifted 119 food aid packages to the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military said in a statement.

Some Jewish figures have harshly criticized an article published in L' Osservatore Romano a few days ago by biblical scholar Father David Neuhaus, which discussed the use of the Bible to justify conflict . Israeli Ambassador to the Holy See Yaron Sideman , writing in the Middle East Forum , emphasized that "history is full of examples of religious scriptures, from any religion, being used for good or manipulated for evil. Perhaps the most glaring example of the latter is the perverse interpretation of religion by radical Islamic groups—such as Hamas, Iran, and Hezbollah—to justify the most horrific acts of violence they commit, in the name of God, against any group of people who do not adhere to their vision of Islam." Sideman cited as an example the cries of Allahu Akbar ( God is great ) by Hamas terrorists as they killed, raped, tortured, and kidnapped on October 7, 2023. “ When Israel, however, makes security decisions, the decision-makers do not open a Bible and interpret its texts , as Mr. Neuhaus might suggest. Rather, Israel adopts the best course of action it deems necessary to defend itself from very concrete existential threats directed at it. Religious polemics between Christians and Jews are neither necessary nor relevant in this case,” says the ambassador. The portal article, which includes this reflection by the ambassador, also contains criticism from other figures and calls the Osservatore Romano “ known for its anti-Semitism .”

South Sudan denies engaging in discussions with Israel regarding the transfer of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to its territory, as reported yesterday. In a statement posted on social media, the African country's Foreign Ministry claimed these were "baseless reports that do not reflect the official position of the South Sudanese government."

According to Turkey, Israel is one of the main culprits behind the violence that has erupted in recent weeks in the Syrian province of Sweida , populated primarily by the Druze minority. According to humanitarian organizations, over 1,400 people have been killed in clashes involving Druze forces and Sunni Bedouins, which saw the intervention of Damascus government forces. "One of the main actors behind this situation has proven to be Israel," Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said during a joint press conference with his Syrian counterpart Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani in Ankara. "The new Syria should be a Syria where all peoples, beliefs, and cultures are preserved and can coexist. As Turkey, we are formulating our recommendations in this direction," Fidan added, as reported by Anadolu.

A Palestinian state in the heart of Israel “will be a solution for those who seek to destroy us,” Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said as he hosted a delegation of journalists led by the American network Newsmax, stressing that the Israeli government “will not allow this to happen.”

“The creation of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with its capital in East Jerusalem, would gravely endanger Israel's population centers and push Israel toward indefensible borders,” added the head of Israeli diplomacy.

Israeli forces were carrying out "aggressive" incursions into Gaza City after the army approved the framework for a new offensive in the territory, said Ismail Al-Thawabta, director general of the Hamas government's media office in Gaza. "These attacks represent a dangerous escalation aimed at imposing a new reality on the ground by force, through a scorched earth policy and the complete destruction of civilian property."

A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo yesterday for talks on a possible agreement with Israel, while Egypt presented the terrorist group with a new proposal for a comprehensive agreement, according to the online newspaper Ynet. The new proposal calls for the release of all hostages in a single phase, an end to the war, the demilitarization of Gaza, and the symbolic exile of some Hamas members. "Egypt is working with Qatar and the United States to relaunch the 60-day plan," Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aaty stated yesterday.

Israeli Army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has approved the outline of the announced offensive in Gaza City, according to a statement from the Israel Defense Forces. The Israeli military states that "the main concept for the IDF offensive plan in Gaza" was discussed during a meeting Zamir held this morning with the General Staff Forum, along with other officers and Shin Bet representatives. "During the discussion, the IDF's actions undertaken so far were presented, including the offensive in the Zeitoun area that began yesterday," the statement states, confirming that the forces have launched new operations in the Gaza City neighborhood. "Furthermore, the main concept for the next steps in the Gaza Strip was presented and approved, in accordance with the directives of the political leadership," the IDF said, referring to the government-ordered operation against Hamas in Gaza City, which is not expected to begin immediately, so much so that mediators are currently trying to relaunch the diplomatic initiative. Zamir reportedly rejected the plan to conquer the city and recently clashed with Defense Minister Israel Katz. The IDF said that during the meeting, Zamir "stressed the importance of improving the readiness of the forces and preparation for the reserve call-up, while also conducting refresher courses and providing some respite [for the soldiers] for upcoming missions."

On the eve of the Italy-Israel soccer match, scheduled for October 14 in Udine, debate is heating up over the role of sport in the face of grave humanitarian and political crises. Mauro Berruto, the Democratic Party's national sports director, along with 44 Democratic Party parliamentarians elected to the Chamber of Deputies, the Senate, and the European Parliament, has launched an appeal across all sports. The appeal calls on the Italian members of the International Olympic Committee, the President of CONI (Italian National Olympic Committee), and the President of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) to advocate for Israel's suspension from all international sporting competitions with the IOC, FIFA, and UEFA. The appeal states, "This is not an act of revenge, but an act of responsibility. Not to punish a people, but to affirm that sport cannot remain neutral in the face of a policy of annihilation." The appeal emphasizes how, for nearly two years, the Gaza Strip has been the scene of a massacre that has already claimed tens of thousands of civilian lives, including at least 636 Palestinian athletes. The Palestinian Olympic Committee also denounces that over 90% of sports infrastructure in Gaza has been destroyed, making all activity impossible for at least a decade. According to the promoters, the destruction of sport is not a side effect, but a political choice to strike a people in spirit and hope. The appeal recalls historical precedents in which the international sports community has chosen to suspend national federations and committees: from post-war Germany and Japan to Yugoslavia, from Iraq to Afghanistan, from apartheid South Africa (excluded from the Games for 24 years) to Russia, now suspended for its aggression against Ukraine. In an interview today in La Stampa, Berruto echoed the hopes of all the signatories, who are calling for cross-party consensus, regardless of political affiliation, so that sport remains consistent with the values of peace, equality, and human dignity enshrined in the Olympic and federal charters and statutes. The signatories are, in addition to Mauro Berruto, Ouidad Bakkali, Anthony Barbagallo, Lorenzo Basso, Brando Benifei, Laura Boldrini, Susanna Camusso, Annalisa Corrado, Gianni Cuperlo, Augusto Curti, Cecilia D'Elia, Eleonora Evi, Sara Ferrari, Rosanna Filippin, Antonella Forattini, Marco Furfaro, Gianni Girelli, Stefano Graziano, Chiara Gribaudo, Valentina Ghio, Giovanna Iacono, Silvio Lai, Francesca La Marca, Ilenia Malavasi, Stefania Marino, Antonio Nicita, Matteo Orfini, Alberto Pandolfo, Luca Pastorino, Vinicio Peluffo, Fabio Porta, Vincenza Rando, Silvia Roggiani, Nadia Romeo, Sandro Ruotolo, Rachele Scarpa, Arturo Scotto, Marco Simiani, Cecilia Strada, Nico Stumpo, Bruno Tabacci, Marco Tarquinio, Stefano Vaccari, Ylenia Zambito.

Approximately 320 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid entered the Gaza Strip yesterday through the Kerem Shalom and Zikim crossings, according to the Coordinator of Government Activities of Israel. According to COGAT, three tankers carrying "UN fuel intended for the operation of essential humanitarian systems" also entered Gaza. The UN stated that at least 600 truckloads of aid must be distributed daily to feed the Strip's approximately two million residents.

"We are doing everything we can to ensure that Israel stops its attack on Gaza. We have imposed sanctions on West Bank settlers, condemned the killing of Al Jazeera journalists, and just hours ago signed an appeal with 28 other countries to the Israeli authorities, asking for humanitarian workers and NGOs to be guaranteed the safety of their food distribution efforts." This was stated by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in an interview with Corriere della Sera. "Our position is crystal clear: what is happening in Gaza is unacceptable. The opposition speaks, we walk the walk. Along with Turkey, the UAE, and Qatar, we are the country that has welcomed the largest number of sick people from Gaza to ensure their treatment, and it's not easy; these are political operations. In the last few hours, we have sent another 350 tons of flour, and we will send another 100 tons in the coming days with the UN," he added. Regarding the possible recognition of Palestine, "we are in favor of it, but we cannot recognize a state that doesn't exist. It must first be created, because Palestine doesn't exist today, and Hamas, but the Palestinian National Authority, cannot have a leading role. We have always said that to unify two different entities with opposing visions, a United Nations mission is needed," the Foreign Minister concluded.

In an interview with i24, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was pressed on why he calls Gaza City "the last real stronghold" of Hamas, given that he had already used the same rhetoric to describe Rafah before Israel launched a major offensive in the southern Gaza Strip city last spring. Responding to questions, the Israeli prime minister clarified that in February he was referring to "the last organized battalions of Hamas" then stationed in Rafah.

Israel is considering sending a high-level delegation to Doha to meet with Qatari officials as part of efforts to resume hostage-handover negotiations and reach a ceasefire in Gaza, sources familiar with the matter told Axios' Barak Ravid.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on countries that care about the Palestinians to welcome them, ahead of the announced offensive to occupy Gaza. "We are not chasing them away, but we are allowing them to leave, and that is what is happening," Netanyahu said in an interview with i24News. "We are talking to several potential host countries; I cannot go into details here." "The most natural thing for all those who are speaking out, who say they care about the Palestinians and want to help them, is to open their doors," the Israeli prime minister emphasized.

The Trump administration wants an end to the war in Gaza and the release of the Israeli hostages captured by Hamas. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt reiterated this at a press conference. "This is, of course, an incredibly complex and complicated situation," Leavitt said. "The administration has made our goal clear. We want to see this conflict end. We want to see the hostages freed... The president and his national security team have spent significant time and effort on this."

The decisions to recognize the Palestinian state announced by some European countries "are largely senseless," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an interview with 'Sid & Friends in the Morning'. "It's symbolic, and they're doing it first and foremost for a reason, their domestic policies," Rubio said. "In the UK, in France, in many parts of Europe, and in Ireland, domestic policies have long been anti-Israel, or whatever they are. They're under a lot of internal pressure to do something, but it's largely senseless." "The truth of the matter is that the future of the region will not be decided by some UN resolution," Rubio continued, "it will not be decided by some press release from some prime minister or president of some country. It will be decided on the ground." The US Secretary of State then reiterated that the conflict in Gaza can only end with "the elimination of Hamas as a military threat."