Israel Steps Up Gaza City Assault as West Bank Settlement Faces Global Condemnation

Published: August 21, 2025

Israel has launched an intensified military campaign on Gaza City, aiming to take full control of the territory. The offensive has forced nearly one million Palestinians from their homes, with widespread demolitions reported across neighborhoods.

Hamas has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of ignoring international mediation efforts for a ceasefire and pressing ahead with what it calls a full-scale seizure of Gaza City.

Meanwhile, international concern continues to rise, with world leaders, rights groups, and civil society organizations condemning both Israel’s Gaza offensive and settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.

Key Developments

US Senators Condemn Attacks on Journalists

A group of 17 US senators, including Elizabeth Warren, Tim Kaine, and Bernie Sanders, urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to pressure Israel over restrictions on press freedom in Gaza.

The senators denounced Israel’s recent strikes that killed four Al Jazeera journalists and two freelancers, warning that targeting reporters violates international law.

“Banning media access and threatening journalists is unacceptable and must end immediately,” their letter stated.

UK Business Leaders Call for Sanctions

In the United Kingdom, over 760 business leaders – including a former royal adviser and descendants of Holocaust survivors – signed a statement demanding immediate action against Israel.

They called on the government to:

• Suspend arms trade with Israel

• Sanction officials accused of war crimes, including Netanyahu

• Prevent UK businesses from financing companies complicit in the conflict

• Enforce UN human rights principles across supply chains

“This is not only a moral duty but a matter of professional responsibility,” the letter stressed.

West Bank Security Incident

Israeli forces reported a “security incident” near the illegal Malachei HaShalom outpost in the occupied West Bank, close to Ramallah. Investigations are ongoing.

Israeli Drone Strike in Lebanon

Reports from Lebanon’s National News Agency confirmed that an Israeli drone targeted a motorcycle in Deir Siryan, southern Lebanon, leaving one person injured.

Analyst: Gaza Assault Mirrors West Bank Apartheid

Al Jazeera’s senior analyst Marwan Bishara argued that Israel’s current strategy risks paving the way for ethnic cleansing.

He explained that while Israel recalls tens of thousands of reservists for a possible re-occupation of Gaza, it also faces growing domestic pressure to secure the release of captives and consider long-term deals.

Bishara warned that without stronger Arab intervention, Washington is unlikely to change course, despite Qatari and Egyptian diplomatic efforts.

Recap of the Crisis

• Israeli forces are pushing deeper into Gaza City, displacing nearly 1 million Palestinians.

• Hamas accuses Netanyahu of sabotaging ceasefire efforts.

• At least 81 Palestinians, including 30 aid seekers, were killed in Wednesday’s strikes.

• Israel plans to call up 60,000 additional reservists.

• The US imposed sanctions on International Criminal Court officials, drawing global criticism.

• Israel’s approval of the controversial E1 settlement project in the West Bank has been condemned by world leaders, warning it will sever Palestinian territories.