IRIA News

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At least 57 Palestinians were killed in Gaza in the past 24 hours by Israeli attacks, many while waiting for humanitarian aid. The death toll includes those shot near the Zikim crossing into Israel, where desperate civilians had gathered in hopes of receiving food and supplies.

In recent weeks, it has become increasingly common for Israeli forces to attack the crowds assembling at aid entry points. Mass starvation continues to grip the besieged enclave.

Israeli air raids also struck residential areas, including a building in Gaza City that killed four people. The killings have further intensified calls for a ceasefire and urgent humanitarian intervention.

Death toll nears 60,000

The Israeli military campaign in Gaza has killed over 59,700 Palestinians, most of them women and children. The enclave’s health infrastructure has collapsed, and mass hunger has become a central feature of the conflict.

More than 10,000 Palestinians are currently detained in Israeli prisons, with reports of torture, starvation, and medical neglect, while Israel believes approximately 50 hostages remain in Gaza, of whom 20 are thought to be alive. As diplomatic efforts hang by a thread and humanitarian aid remains critically insufficient, Gaza’s suffering continues, with no clear end in sight.

Hunger devastates the children of Gaza. pic.twitter.com/rUF5egymST

— TIMES OF GAZA (@Timesofgaza) July 27, 2025

European leaders call for an immediate ceasefire

The leaders of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, collectively known as the E3, issued a joint call for an immediate ceasefire. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz held a phone call and released a unified statement calling the situation in Gaza “appalling.”

They emphasized the urgent need to lift all restrictions on aid and deliver immediate food and medical assistance to those in need. The statement also outlined their intent to work closely together on a long-term peace plan. While specifics were not provided, the leaders stated they are “ready to take further action” to support a diplomatic and political solution.

The E3 leaders reaffirmed their position that Hamas must have no role in Gaza’s future and expressed support for the mediation efforts led by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt.

France will recognize Palestine as a state, Macron says

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday that France will recognize the state of Palestine, saying it reflects France’s “historical commitment to a just and durable peace in the Middle East.” In a post on X, Macron said he would formalize the decision at the U.N. General Assembly in September, adding, “The urgent thing today is that the war in Gaza stops and the civilian population is saved.”

The announcement comes amid growing international outrage over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and months of speculation about France’s stance. France is now the biggest Western power to recognize Palestine, a move that could prompt other countries to follow suit.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted angrily to to move, calling it “a launchpad to annihilate Israel” and accused Macron oMacron of leading “a crusade against the Jewish state.”

Ceasefire talks collapse in Doha

Despite weeks of negotiations in Doha, ceasefire talks collapsed last week after the United States and Israel withdrew their negotiating teams, citing Hamas’s latest response as a sign of unwillingness to compromise. U.S. President Donald Trump blamed Hamas directly, saying, “I don’t think Hamas wants a deal.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed this, calling Hamas “the obstacle to a hostage release deal” and indicating that Israel is exploring “alternative options” to end the conflict, though no details were shared.

Hamas rejected the accusations made by the U.S. and Israel. A senior Hamas official, Taher Al Nunu, described Trump’s remarks as “particularly surprising,” noting that progress had been made on several points in the negotiations.

Disagreements remain on key issues, including the positioning of Israeli forces during the ceasefire, aid access, and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners for Israeli hostages.

Qatar and Egypt vow to continue mediation

Despite the breakdown in direct negotiations, Qatar and Egypt reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing mediation. In a joint statement, the two countries said they will “continue their intensive efforts in the Gaza mediation file, to reach an agreement that brings an end to the war.”

They noted that “some progress” had been made during the most recent three-week negotiation round and emphasized that the current pause is a “natural part of the process” due to the complexity of issues involved.

The mediators also urged international media to avoid relying on leaked reports that misrepresent the actual status of the talks and reiterated that they will continue working alongside the U.S. to secure a lasting ceasefire and the exchange of hostages and detainees.

Aid situation worsens as starvation spreads

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels. According to the Palestinian news agency, 124 people, including 84 children, have died from starvation, with the most recent deaths including three infants in 24 hours.

The World Food Program estimates that over 90,000 women and children are in urgent need of treatment for malnutrition, and one in three people in Gaza has gone days without food.

Israel insists that it has allowed 4,500 aid trucks to enter Gaza since partially lifting the blockade in May, roughly 70 trucks per day. However, the UN says this is far below the prewar average of 500 daily, and that its ability to distribute aid is hampered by Israeli restrictions, permit rejections, and delays.

UK and Jordan to airdrop aid

As conditions in Gaza deteriorate, the United Kingdom announced it will begin airdropping aid into the enclave in coordination with Jordan. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed the plan Saturday, stating the UK is “working urgently” to deliver food and medical help, particularly to children.

Israel, facing international condemnation over images of starving civilians and malnourished children, agreed to allow airdrops for the first time in months. Jordan will begin dropping food and infant formula. But not all humanitarian officials are supportive. Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, criticized the airdrops, calling them “a distraction.”

“Airdrops will not reverse the deepening starvation. They are expensive, inefficient, and can even kill starving civilians. It is a distraction and screensmoke,” he posted on X.