IRIA News

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At least six Palestinians, including two children, have died of starvation in the besieged Gaza Strip on September 8, 2025, bringing the total number of recorded famine-related deaths since October 2023 to 393.

About 140 children have been killed due to starvation. According to the Palestinian health ministry, 115 of the deaths occurred after the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification system formally declared Gaza a famine zone last month.

The latest deaths come against the backdrop of Israel’s ongoing offensive, which has killed at least 64,522 Palestinians and wounded 163,096 since October 2023.

On September 8 alone, 67 bodies were brought to hospitals across Gaza, with 320 people injured in Israeli strikes. “Many victims are still trapped under the rubble and on the roads as rescuers are unable to reach them,” the ministry said.

The ministry also reported that 14 Palestinians were killed and 85 were injured while trying to access humanitarian aid in the past 24 hours. Since May 27, at least 2,430 people have been killed and nearly 18,000 injured in incidents linked to aid distribution, where Israeli forces have repeatedly opened fire.

Israel’s closure of all border crossings since March has deepened the crisis for Gaza’s 2.4 million residents. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice.

Renewed Offensive on Gaza City

Israeli strikes since dawn killed at least 52 people, including 32 in Gaza City, as the army announced plans to push deeper into the urban center. Netanyahu warned residents to evacuate, stating that troops would soon move into the city.

The intensified bombardment followed the collapse of a January ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement, with fighting resuming in March. Since then, nearly 12,000 Palestinians have been killed in renewed operations.

Jerusalem Shooting Attack

While Gaza continues to endure heavy bombardment, violence spread to Jerusalem on Monday in one of the deadliest attacks in the city in more than two years. Two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a busy bus stop, killing six people and injuring 20. Witnesses described chaos as the attackers used rifles and carried ammunition and a knife.

The attackers, identified by police as 20-year-old Muthanna Omar and 21-year-old Muhammad Taha from villages near Jerusalem in the occupied West Bank, were shot dead by a combat soldier and a civilian at the scene.

Among the dead was a Spanish national, according to Spain’s Foreign Ministry, marking one of the few foreign casualties in recent violence. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu visited the site hours later, pledging “harsher measures” against Palestinian villages suspected of harboring militants.

“We are pursuing and encircling the villages from which the murderers came. We will reach everyone who helped them and who sent them, and we will take even harsher measures,” he said.

Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir responded by urging civilians to arm themselves, while Defense Minister Israel Katz warned of “the most severe and far-reaching consequences” following the attack. President Isaac Herzog visited wounded survivors in the hospital, telling them that Israel “must be strong” during what he described as a difficult period.

West Bank Raids and Child Casualties

Following the Jerusalem attack, Israeli forces launched raids across the West Bank. In Jenin refugee camp, two 14-year-old boys were killed. Mohammad Sari Omar Masqala died after being shot by Israeli troops, while earlier, Islam Abdel Aziz Noah Majarmah was confirmed dead from gunshot wounds. Both were treated at Jenin Governmental Hospital.

Elsewhere, Israeli soldiers set up checkpoints, raided multiple towns, and used live ammunition and sound grenades. In Biddu, no injuries were reported, but in Abu Dis, videos showed troops severely beating a young man. Arrests were made in Qatanna, where tear gas hindered ambulances from reaching victims.

Israeli Military Casualties

The Israeli army confirmed the deaths of four soldiers in Gaza during recent fighting. Three were identified as 20-year-olds Uri Lamed and Gadi Cotal, and 19-year-old Arye Regev. A fourth soldier’s name has not yet been released. Israeli media reported they were killed in northern Gaza when an explosive device detonated under a tank.

The incident highlights the continuing dangers for Israeli ground forces operating in dense urban areas of Gaza, where improvised explosive devices and anti-tank munitions remain a key challenge.

U.S. Reaction

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee condemned the Jerusalem shooting, calling it an act of “deadly terror” and stating, “We stand with Israel against this savagery.” His choice of language echoed that of other American officials in previous incidents but drew criticism for failing to match the severity of Israel’s own actions in Gaza, which the UN has described as bearing the hallmarks of genocide.

Last month, a separate controversy erupted when U.S. diplomat Tom Barrack referred to Lebanese journalists as “animalistic” for shouting questions at a press conference, reinforcing accusations of double standards in Washington’s rhetoric toward Arabs and Palestinians.

International Fallout

Spain confirmed that one of its nationals was killed in the Jerusalem attack, while its government issued condolences and sought clarification from Israeli authorities. The incident is likely to strain already tense relations between Israel and several European countries critical of its war in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Israel’s expanding settlement program in the West Bank continues to draw international condemnation. The United Nations and the European Union have labeled settlement expansion illegal under international law, warning it risks further destabilizing the region.

The conflict, now approaching its second year, shows no signs of easing. Gaza faces famine and continuous bombardment, Jerusalem has seen its deadliest attack in years, and the West Bank is under escalating raids and arrests. Israeli military casualties add to the domestic political pressure on Netanyahu’s government, while international courts weigh charges of genocide and war crimes.