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| Meta Title | Gaza latest: Israel mobilises thousands of reservists as scholars say Gaza offensive is 'genocide' | World News | Sky News |
| Meta Description | The Israeli military is starting to mobilise tens of thousands of reservists as part of its Gaza City offensive. Meanwhile, a group of 500 scholars say Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. |
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We're pausing our live coverage
Thanks for following. We'll be back soon with more updates from the war in Gaza.
Until then, here's a rundown of what's been happening today:
Israel is starting to mobilise reservists after announcing plans last month to call up 60,000.
It is part of its plan to widen its offensive in Gaza City, one of the last few shelters for civilians in the north of the besieged enclave.
Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed al Ansari has warned that any such Israeli invasion of Gaza City could cost hundreds of lives.Â
But the Israeli military has been pressing ahead with its campaign in northern and central Gaza.
Strikes were reported in parts of Zeitoun and Shijaiyah - two western Gaza City neighbourhoods.
Elsewhere, the UK announced more aid for Gaza - with Foreign Secretary David Lammy insisting it must "all be let in".
But Lammy dodged a question about imposing sanctions on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu specifically from an MP in the House of Commons this afternoon, referring instead to UK moves to stop settler violence and other sanction packages.
'We will not report for duty when called again': Israeli reservists reveal protest plans
Reservists who oppose the latest call-ups to fight for Israel in Gaza have given a news conference in Tel Aviv, saying they won't report for duty for the Gaza City offensive.
As we've been reporting, Israel is mobilising thousands more reservists - that process is now under way, after plans to activate 60,000 more were announced last month.
But the move is not going unchallenged, with hundreds of reservists said to be willing to refuse to fight.
The Times of Israel quotes Max Kresch, a reservist sergeant who has been speaking in Tel Aviv this afternoon, as saying: "We are over 365, and counting, soldiers who served during the war and have declared that we will not report for duty when called again."
He added: "We refuse to take part in Netanyahu's illegal war, and we see it as a patriotic duty to refuse and demand accountability from our leaders."
Kresch, a combat medic, says that the group of reservists and soldiers are the same people who rushed to the frontline on October 7 2023 to protect Israel after Hamas's attacks.
"It is precisely from that same sense of duty that we are driven to refuse," he says.
Qatar foreign ministry warns hundreds will die if Gaza City invaded
Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed al Ansari has warned an Israeli invasion of Gaza City could cost hundreds of lives.Â
Speaking at a press conference, Al Ansari was quoted as saying by the Times of Israel: "The dangerous step Israel is taking, invading Gaza City, given the dense population and the worsening humanitarian situation, will cause the deaths of hundreds of civilians."
It will "endanger everybody, including the hostages," he adds.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been pushing ahead with his plan to militarily occupy the Gaza Strip, starting with Gaza City, with the goal of destroying Hamas and returning the remaining Israeli hostages.Â
Israel has claimed the city was a Hamas stronghold and alleged that a network of tunnels remains in use despite several previous large-scale raids on the area.
Israeli president to meet the Pope on Thursday
Israeli President Isaac Herzog will travel to the Vatican to meet the Pope on Thursday.Â
The one-day visit is happening as a result of an invitation by Pope Leo, the president's office says.Â
The Pope has recently stepped up calls for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, where Israel's war against Hamas has been raging for the past 22 months.
The president will also meet secretary of state Cardinal
Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's chief diplomat, and tour the
Vatican Archives and Library, Herzog's office added.Â
"Central to their meetings will be the efforts to secure the
release of the hostages, the fight against global antisemitism,
and the safeguarding of Christian communities in the Middle
East, alongside discussions on other political matters," the
presidency said.Â
Lammy dodges question about UK sanctioning Netanyahu
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has dodged a question about imposing sanctions on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Commons today.Â
While taking questions from MPs earlier, Lammy was asked by Freddie van Mierlo, Lib Dem MP for Henley and Thame, if he would commit to sanctioning Netanyahu.
Lammy replied by pointing to three packages of sanctions imposed by the British government, which he says show "there is no other country in the world with the range of sanctions against those who incite... particularly settler violence and expansion".
Turkey's Erdogan calls for US to 'urgently revise' decision to block Palestinian officials from UN
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on the US to "urgently revise" its decision to block Palestinian officials from attending a UN meeting in New York later this month.
The US recently said it would revoke the visas of dozens of Palestinian officials, including Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.Â
The move "does not fit the United Nations' raison d'etre," Erdogan said on a return flight from China, according to a readout from his office today.
"The decision needs to be urgently revised. The United Nations General Assembly exists for the issues of the world to be discussed and for solutions to be found.
"The Palestinian delegation not being at the General
Assembly would only please Israel," he added.Â
"What is expected from the United States is to say 'stop' to Israel's massacres."
Several US allies, including France, Malta, Australia and most recently Belgium (
see post 7.38
), have announced plans to recognise Palestine as a state at September's UN General Assembly.Â
Canada and the UK will too, unless Israel meets certain conditions.
Watch as Lammy faces questions on Gaza and more from MPs
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy is facing questions on Gaza, Ukraine and other issues from MPs in the Commons.
Watch live at the top of this page.
Or, you can use the YouTube stream below to rewind and catch up...
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UK announces 'vital' aid funding for Gaza - with foreign secretary insisting it 'must all be let in'
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has announced "vital" aid funding for Gaza as he called for a ceasefire and for hostages to be returned.
He posted a clip of his statement to the Commons on X this morning, saying: "I'm announcing further vital funding for aid, but it must all be let in.Â
"We need an immediate ceasefire, all hostages released, a surge in aid and a framework for lasting peace."
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His comments refer to widespread global criticism of Israel, which has restricted the flow of aid into Gaza.
Israel blames Hamas for creating security and looting threats.
13 more deaths from malnutrition in Gaza in past 24 hours, health ministry says
A total of 13 Palestinians, including three children, have died of malnutrition and starvation in Gaza in the past 24
hours, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.
It means the number of reported deaths from such causes has risen to at least 361,
including 130 children.
Israel disputes the hunger fatality figures given by the health ministry of Gaza's Hamas-run government, arguing that deaths were due to other medical causes.Â
The crisis is also particularly affecting pregnant women and young mothers, according to more figures from the Palestinian health ministry statement we told you about in our previous post.
More than 55,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women are experiencing malnutrition
67% of pregnant women are suffering from anaemia, in what the ministry described as "the most alarming rate in years"
'Catastrophic consequences of famine accelerating'
A total of 185 deaths due to malnutrition were recorded in August alone, according to the Palestinian health ministry, which described the figure as the "highest number in months".
"The catastrophic consequences of famine in the Gaza Strip are accelerating," a statement by the ministry says.
According to the statement, 70 deaths, including 12 children, came after the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) confirmed famine in Gaza City last month.Â
Some 43,000 children under the age of five are suffering from malnutrition, the ministry added.
The IPC - a globally recognised system for classifying the severity of food insecurity and malnutrition - has confirmed just four famines since it was established in 2004.
Israel starts mobilising thousands of reservists
Israel is starting to mobilise tens of thousands of reservists as part of its
plan to widen its offensive in Gaza City, one of the last few shelters for civilians in the north of the besieged enclave.
It comes after plans to call up 60,000 reservists were announced last month, as Israel plans to expand its military operations in Gaza.
The Israeli military has been pressing ahead with its campaign in northern and central Gaza, with strikes reported in parts of Zeitoun and Shijaiyah — two western Gaza City neighbourhoods.
Last week, Gaza City, which is the largest city in the besieged enclave, was declared a combat zone.
Israel has claimed the city was a Hamas stronghold and alleged that a network of tunnels remains in use despite several previous large-scale raids on the area.
'Stop killing journalists in Gaza': Media groups unite against Israeli attacks
Media organisations from across the world have renewed calls for the killing of journalists in Gaza to stop - warning there will "soon be no one left to keep you informed".
The campaign is also demanding foreign media is allowed free access to Gaza and an "end to the impunity for crimes perpetrated by the Israeli army" against Palestinian journalists.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and Avaaz, a non-profit organisation which promotes global activism, said hundreds of media groups in more than 50 countries were supporting its demands.
It follows outcry over the killing of five journalists following Israeli strikes on a hospital in southern Gaza at the end of last month.
Al Jazeera, the Associated Press and Reuters said their journalists were among those killed.
That followed the death of six media workers at the start of August.Â
RSF said 220 journalists had been killed in Gaza since October 2023 by the Israeli army, which has previously insisted its forces do not target the media.
You can read more about the appeal here...
Palestinian officials welcome Belgium's statehood announcement
The Palestinian foreign ministry has welcomed Belgium's decision to recognise a Palestinian state later this month.Â
On X, it says it "considers it to be in line with international law and United Nations resolutions, and protective of the two-state solution and supportive of achieving peace".
As we reported earlier (see post at 7.38am), Belgium's foreign minister, Maxime Prevot, announced it would join the UK, France, Canada and Australia in recognising a Palestinian state at a UN meeting this month.
Belgium will also introduce "firm sanctions" against the Israeli government, he said, including a ban on imports from West Bank settlements and possible judicial prosecutions.
At least 31 people killed in recent strikes, hospitals say
At least 31 people were killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza yesterday, more than half of whom were women and children, according to local hospitals.
At least 13 people were killed in Gaza City, where Israel has been carrying out a major offensive.
The city, which is Gaza's biggest, was declared a combat zone last week.
A total of 63,557 Palestinians have been killed in the war, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, which says another 160,660 people have been wounded.Â
The ministry doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatants in its figures, but says women and children make up around half the dead.
Aid flotilla with Greta Thunberg and activists on board sets off after delay
Dozens of boats carrying desperately needed aid to Gaza have set off from Barcelona, with activist Greta Thunberg and others on board.Â
The vessels are part of the Global Sumud Flotilla Mission, which departed on Monday evening after previously being forced to turn back due to stormy weather.Â
Pro-Palestinian activists including climate campaigner Thunberg and Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham are taking part in the mission aimed at breaking the Israeli blockade of the Palestinian territory by sea.
While it's unclear how many boats actually departed on Monday, organisers previously said around 20 vessels carrying people from 44 countries would be taking part.
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Scholars accuse Israel of genocide
The biggest professional organisation of scholars studying genocide has said Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
A resolution from the International Association of Genocide Scholars, which has around 500 members worldwide, including a number of Holocaust experts, said that "Israel's policies and actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide", as well as crimes against humanity and war crimes.Â
The resolution was supported by 86% of those who voted.Â
Israel vehemently rejects the allegation.Â
"People who are experts in the study of genocide can see this situation for what it is," Melanie O'Brien, the organisation's president and a professor of international law at the University of Western Australia, said.
The Israeli foreign ministry called it "an embarrassment to the legal profession and to any academic standard".
It said the determination was "entirely based on Hamas's campaign of lies."
Belgium joins Western allies with announcement it will recognise Palestinian state
The Belgian government says it will officially recognise the Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly this month.
The country's foreign minister, Maxime Prevot, announced it would join the UK, France, Canada and Australia in recognising a Palestinian state.
Belgium will also introduce "firm sanctions" against the Israeli government, he said, including a ban on imports from West Bank settlements and possible judicial prosecutions.
Read more on Brussels's decision...
Good morning
Hello and welcome back to our live coverage of the war in Gaza.
A flotilla of boats carrying aid for Gaza departed from Barcelona on Monday evening after previously being forced to turn back due to stormy weather.Â
Pro-Palestinian activists including climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham are on the Global Sumud Flotilla Mission.
It comes as the Belgian government says it will officially recognise the Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly this month.
The country's foreign minister, Maxime Prevot, announced it will join the UK, France, Canada and Australia in recognising a Palestinian state.
Israel is also pressing ahead with a major offensive in Gaza City, which was declared a combat zone last week.
Stay with us throughout the day for the latest developments and analysis.
We're pausing our live coverage
Thanks for following. We'll be back soon with more updates from the war in Gaza.
Until then, here's a rundown of what's been happening today:
Israel's military has announced it's suspending the humanitarian pauses in Gaza City that previously allowed aid into the area, calling it a "dangerous combat zone";
The Israel Defence Forces says it is already operating "with great force" on the outskirts of Gaza's second-largest city;
Inside Gaza, five more malnutrition-related deaths were reported from the last 24 hours, the territory's health ministry said.
The foreign ministers from Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Slovenia and Spain released a joint statement condemning Israel's new military offensive;Â
Elsewhere, Benjamin Netanyahu says the body of Israeli hostage Ilan Weiss has been recovered and returned to Israel;
The operation also returned the remains of another hostage whose name has not yet been released, the Israeli PM said; |
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# Gaza latest: Israel mobilises thousands of reservists as scholars say Gaza offensive is 'genocide'
The Israeli military is starting to mobilise tens of thousands of reservists as part of its Gaza City offensive. Meanwhile, a group of 500 scholars say Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
Tuesday 2 September 2025 16:16, UK
- [Benjamin Netanyahu](https://news.sky.com/topic/benjamin-netanyahu-6264)
- [Gaza](https://news.sky.com/topic/gaza-8014)
- [Hamas](https://news.sky.com/topic/hamas-8015)
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Deadly drones and struggle for food: Diary from Gaza
[Why you can trust Sky News](https://news.sky.com/info/policies-and-standards)
##### Key points
- [Israel mobilises reservists as it ramps up Gaza City offensive View post](https://news.sky.com/story/gaza-latest-war-israel-city-ceasefire-hamas-13415481?postid=10114768#liveblog-body)
- [Gaza City offensive could cost hundreds of lives, Qatar warns View post](https://news.sky.com/story/gaza-latest-war-israel-city-ceasefire-hamas-13415481?postid=10115735#liveblog-body)
- [UK promises more aid for Gaza - saying it must all be let in View post](https://news.sky.com/story/gaza-latest-war-israel-city-ceasefire-hamas-13415481?postid=10115136#liveblog-body)
- [Lammy dodges question on sanctioning Netanyahu View post](https://news.sky.com/story/gaza-latest-war-israel-city-ceasefire-hamas-13415481?postid=10115466#liveblog-body)
- [Scholars accuse Israel of genocide View post](https://news.sky.com/story/gaza-latest-war-israel-city-ceasefire-hamas-13415481?postid=10114326#liveblog-body)
- [Aid flotilla with Greta Thunberg on board en route to Gaza View post](https://news.sky.com/story/gaza-latest-war-israel-city-ceasefire-hamas-13415481?postid=10114327#liveblog-body)
- Live reporting by [Claire Gilbody-Dickerson](https://news.sky.com/author/claire-gilbody-dickerson-1064)
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2 Sept 2 Sept 15:00
## We're pausing our live coverage
Thanks for following. We'll be back soon with more updates from the war in Gaza.
Until then, here's a rundown of what's been happening today:
- Israel is starting to mobilise reservists after announcing plans last month to call up 60,000.
- It is part of its plan to widen its offensive in Gaza City, one of the last few shelters for civilians in the north of the besieged enclave.
- Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed al Ansari has warned that any such Israeli invasion of Gaza City could cost hundreds of lives.
- But the Israeli military has been pressing ahead with its campaign in northern and central Gaza.
- Strikes were reported in parts of Zeitoun and Shijaiyah - two western Gaza City neighbourhoods.
- Elsewhere, the UK announced more aid for Gaza - with Foreign Secretary David Lammy insisting it must "all be let in".
- But Lammy dodged a question about imposing sanctions on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu specifically from an MP in the House of Commons this afternoon, referring instead to UK moves to stop settler violence and other sanction packages.
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2 Sept 2 Sept 14:19
## 'We will not report for duty when called again': Israeli reservists reveal protest plans
Reservists who oppose the latest call-ups to fight for Israel in Gaza have given a news conference in Tel Aviv, saying they won't report for duty for the Gaza City offensive.
As we've been reporting, Israel is mobilising thousands more reservists - that process is now under way, after plans to activate 60,000 more were announced last month.
But the move is not going unchallenged, with hundreds of reservists said to be willing to refuse to fight.
The Times of Israel quotes Max Kresch, a reservist sergeant who has been speaking in Tel Aviv this afternoon, as saying: "We are over 365, and counting, soldiers who served during the war and have declared that we will not report for duty when called again."
He added: "We refuse to take part in Netanyahu's illegal war, and we see it as a patriotic duty to refuse and demand accountability from our leaders."
Kresch, a combat medic, says that the group of reservists and soldiers are the same people who rushed to the frontline on October 7 2023 to protect Israel after Hamas's attacks.
"It is precisely from that same sense of duty that we are driven to refuse," he says.
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2 Sept 2 Sept 13:20
## Qatar foreign ministry warns hundreds will die if Gaza City invaded
Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed al Ansari has warned an Israeli invasion of Gaza City could cost hundreds of lives.
Speaking at a press conference, Al Ansari was quoted as saying by the Times of Israel: "The dangerous step Israel is taking, invading Gaza City, given the dense population and the worsening humanitarian situation, will cause the deaths of hundreds of civilians."
It will "endanger everybody, including the hostages," he adds.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been pushing ahead with his plan to militarily occupy the Gaza Strip, starting with Gaza City, with the goal of destroying Hamas and returning the remaining Israeli hostages.
Israel has claimed the city was a Hamas stronghold and alleged that a network of tunnels remains in use despite several previous large-scale raids on the area.
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2 Sept 2 Sept 12:50
## Israeli president to meet the Pope on Thursday
Israeli President Isaac Herzog will travel to the Vatican to meet the Pope on Thursday.
The one-day visit is happening as a result of an invitation by Pope Leo, the president's office says.
The Pope has recently stepped up calls for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, where Israel's war against Hamas has been raging for the past 22 months.
The president will also meet secretary of state Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's chief diplomat, and tour the Vatican Archives and Library, Herzog's office added.
"Central to their meetings will be the efforts to secure the release of the hostages, the fight against global antisemitism, and the safeguarding of Christian communities in the Middle East, alongside discussions on other political matters," the presidency said.
Herzog in Latvia last monthReuters
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2 Sept 2 Sept 12:37
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2 Sept 2 Sept 12:18
## Lammy dodges question about UK sanctioning Netanyahu
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has dodged a question about imposing sanctions on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Commons today.
While taking questions from MPs earlier, Lammy was asked by Freddie van Mierlo, Lib Dem MP for Henley and Thame, if he would commit to sanctioning Netanyahu.
Lammy replied by pointing to three packages of sanctions imposed by the British government, which he says show "there is no other country in the world with the range of sanctions against those who incite... particularly settler violence and expansion".
Netanyahu last monthReuters
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2 Sept 2 Sept 11:26
## Turkey's Erdogan calls for US to 'urgently revise' decision to block Palestinian officials from UN
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on the US to "urgently revise" its decision to block Palestinian officials from attending a UN meeting in New York later this month.
The US recently said it would revoke the visas of dozens of Palestinian officials, including Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
The move "does not fit the United Nations' raison d'etre," Erdogan said on a return flight from China, according to a readout from his office today.
"The decision needs to be urgently revised. The United Nations General Assembly exists for the issues of the world to be discussed and for solutions to be found.
"The Palestinian delegation not being at the General
Assembly would only please Israel," he added.
"What is expected from the United States is to say 'stop' to Israel's massacres."
Erdogan in China yesterdayReuters
Several US allies, including France, Malta, Australia and most recently Belgium ([see post 7.38](https://news.sky.com/story/gaza-latest-war-israel-city-ceasefire-hamas-13415481?postid=10114325#liveblog-body)), have announced plans to recognise Palestine as a state at September's UN General Assembly.
Canada and the UK will too, unless Israel meets certain conditions.
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2 Sept 2 Sept 11:16
## Watch as Lammy faces questions on Gaza and more from MPs
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy is facing questions on Gaza, Ukraine and other issues from MPs in the Commons.
Watch live at the top of this page.
Or, you can use the YouTube stream below to rewind and catch up...
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2 Sept 2 Sept 10:46
## UK announces 'vital' aid funding for Gaza - with foreign secretary insisting it 'must all be let in'
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has announced "vital" aid funding for Gaza as he called for a ceasefire and for hostages to be returned.
He posted a clip of his statement to the Commons on X this morning, saying: "I'm announcing further vital funding for aid, but it must all be let in.
"We need an immediate ceasefire, all hostages released, a surge in aid and a framework for lasting peace."
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His comments refer to widespread global criticism of Israel, which has restricted the flow of aid into Gaza.
Israel blames Hamas for creating security and looting threats.
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2 Sept 2 Sept 10:16
## 13 more deaths from malnutrition in Gaza in past 24 hours, health ministry says
A total of 13 Palestinians, including three children, have died of malnutrition and starvation in Gaza in the past 24 hours, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.
It means the number of reported deaths from such causes has risen to at least 361, including 130 children.
Israel disputes the hunger fatality figures given by the health ministry of Gaza's Hamas-run government, arguing that deaths were due to other medical causes.
The crisis is also particularly affecting pregnant women and young mothers, according to more figures from the Palestinian health ministry statement we told you about in our previous post.
- More than 55,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women are experiencing malnutrition
- 67% of pregnant women are suffering from anaemia, in what the ministry described as "the most alarming rate in years"
A child trying to get food in Gaza in AugustReuters
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2 Sept 2 Sept 09:34
## 'Catastrophic consequences of famine accelerating'
A total of 185 deaths due to malnutrition were recorded in August alone, according to the Palestinian health ministry, which described the figure as the "highest number in months".
"The catastrophic consequences of famine in the Gaza Strip are accelerating," a statement by the ministry says.
According to the statement, 70 deaths, including 12 children, came after the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) confirmed famine in Gaza City last month.
Some 43,000 children under the age of five are suffering from malnutrition, the ministry added.
The IPC - a globally recognised system for classifying the severity of food insecurity and malnutrition - has confirmed just four famines since it was established in 2004.
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2 Sept 2 Sept 08:57
## Israel starts mobilising thousands of reservists
Israel is starting to mobilise tens of thousands of reservists as part of its plan to widen its offensive in Gaza City, one of the last few shelters for civilians in the north of the besieged enclave.
It comes after plans to call up 60,000 reservists were announced last month, as Israel plans to expand its military operations in Gaza.
The Israeli military has been pressing ahead with its campaign in northern and central Gaza, with strikes reported in parts of Zeitoun and Shijaiyah — two western Gaza City neighbourhoods.
Last week, Gaza City, which is the largest city in the besieged enclave, was declared a combat zone.
Israel has claimed the city was a Hamas stronghold and alleged that a network of tunnels remains in use despite several previous large-scale raids on the area.
An explosion in Gaza, seen from the Israeli side of the border yesterdayReuters
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2 Sept 2 Sept 08:32
## 'Stop killing journalists in Gaza': Media groups unite against Israeli attacks
Media organisations from across the world have renewed calls for the killing of journalists in Gaza to stop - warning there will "soon be no one left to keep you informed".
The campaign is also demanding foreign media is allowed free access to Gaza and an "end to the impunity for crimes perpetrated by the Israeli army" against Palestinian journalists.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and Avaaz, a non-profit organisation which promotes global activism, said hundreds of media groups in more than 50 countries were supporting its demands.
It follows outcry over the killing of five journalists following Israeli strikes on a hospital in southern Gaza at the end of last month.
Al Jazeera, the Associated Press and Reuters said their journalists were among those killed.
That followed the death of six media workers at the start of August.
RSF said 220 journalists had been killed in Gaza since October 2023 by the Israeli army, which has previously insisted its forces do not target the media.
You can read more about the appeal here...
[ 'Stop killing journalists in Gaza': Media groups unite against Israeli attacks Sky News](https://news.sky.com/story/stop-killing-journalists-in-gaza-media-groups-unite-against-israeli-attacks-13422993)
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2 Sept 2 Sept 08:02
## Palestinian officials welcome Belgium's statehood announcement
The Palestinian foreign ministry has welcomed Belgium's decision to recognise a Palestinian state later this month.
On X, it says it "considers it to be in line with international law and United Nations resolutions, and protective of the two-state solution and supportive of achieving peace".
As we reported earlier (see post at 7.38am), Belgium's foreign minister, Maxime Prevot, announced it would join the UK, France, Canada and Australia in recognising a Palestinian state at a UN meeting this month.
Belgium will also introduce "firm sanctions" against the Israeli government, he said, including a ban on imports from West Bank settlements and possible judicial prosecutions.
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2 Sept 2 Sept 07:24
## At least 31 people killed in recent strikes, hospitals say
At least 31 people were killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza yesterday, more than half of whom were women and children, according to local hospitals.
At least 13 people were killed in Gaza City, where Israel has been carrying out a major offensive.
The city, which is Gaza's biggest, was declared a combat zone last week.
A total of 63,557 Palestinians have been killed in the war, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, which says another 160,660 people have been wounded.
The ministry doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatants in its figures, but says women and children make up around half the dead.
Displaced Palestinians shelter in a tent camp in Gaza CityReuters
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2 Sept 2 Sept 06:38
## Aid flotilla with Greta Thunberg and activists on board sets off after delay
Dozens of boats carrying desperately needed aid to Gaza have set off from Barcelona, with activist Greta Thunberg and others on board.
The vessels are part of the Global Sumud Flotilla Mission, which departed on Monday evening after previously being forced to turn back due to stormy weather.
Pro-Palestinian activists including climate campaigner Thunberg and Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham are taking part in the mission aimed at breaking the Israeli blockade of the Palestinian territory by sea.
Cunningham and comedian Tadhg Hickey at a press conference before taking part in the Global Sumud FlotillaReuters
While it's unclear how many boats actually departed on Monday, organisers previously said around 20 vessels carrying people from 44 countries would be taking part.
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2 Sept 2 Sept 06:38
## Scholars accuse Israel of genocide
The biggest professional organisation of scholars studying genocide has said Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
A resolution from the International Association of Genocide Scholars, which has around 500 members worldwide, including a number of Holocaust experts, said that "Israel's policies and actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide", as well as crimes against humanity and war crimes.
The resolution was supported by 86% of those who voted.
Israel vehemently rejects the allegation.
"People who are experts in the study of genocide can see this situation for what it is," Melanie O'Brien, the organisation's president and a professor of international law at the University of Western Australia, said.
The Israeli foreign ministry called it "an embarrassment to the legal profession and to any academic standard".
It said the determination was "entirely based on Hamas's campaign of lies."
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2 Sept 2 Sept 06:38
## Belgium joins Western allies with announcement it will recognise Palestinian state
The Belgian government says it will officially recognise the Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly this month.
The country's foreign minister, Maxime Prevot, announced it would join the UK, France, Canada and Australia in recognising a Palestinian state.
Belgium will also introduce "firm sanctions" against the Israeli government, he said, including a ban on imports from West Bank settlements and possible judicial prosecutions.
Read more on Brussels's decision...
[ Belgium announces it will recognise Palestinian state Sky News](https://news.sky.com/story/belgium-announces-it-will-recognise-palestinian-state-13423469)
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2 Sept 2 Sept 06:38
## Good morning
Hello and welcome back to our live coverage of the war in Gaza.
A flotilla of boats carrying aid for Gaza departed from Barcelona on Monday evening after previously being forced to turn back due to stormy weather.
Pro-Palestinian activists including climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham are on the Global Sumud Flotilla Mission.
It comes as the Belgian government says it will officially recognise the Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly this month.
The country's foreign minister, Maxime Prevot, announced it will join the UK, France, Canada and Australia in recognising a Palestinian state.
Israel is also pressing ahead with a major offensive in Gaza City, which was declared a combat zone last week.
Stay with us throughout the day for the latest developments and analysis.
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29 Aug 29 Aug 15:15
## We're pausing our live coverage
Thanks for following. We'll be back soon with more updates from the war in Gaza.
Until then, here's a rundown of what's been happening today:
- Israel's military has announced it's suspending the humanitarian pauses in Gaza City that previously allowed aid into the area, calling it a "dangerous combat zone";
- The Israel Defence Forces says it is already operating "with great force" on the outskirts of Gaza's second-largest city;
- Inside Gaza, five more malnutrition-related deaths were reported from the last 24 hours, the territory's health ministry said.
- The foreign ministers from Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Slovenia and Spain released a joint statement condemning Israel's new military offensive;
- Elsewhere, Benjamin Netanyahu says the body of Israeli hostage Ilan Weiss has been recovered and returned to Israel;
- The operation also returned the remains of another hostage whose name has not yet been released, the Israeli PM said;
Destruction in Gaza as seen from southern IsraelReuters
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| Readable Markdown | Sort by:
## We're pausing our live coverage
Thanks for following. We'll be back soon with more updates from the war in Gaza.
Until then, here's a rundown of what's been happening today:
- Israel is starting to mobilise reservists after announcing plans last month to call up 60,000.
- It is part of its plan to widen its offensive in Gaza City, one of the last few shelters for civilians in the north of the besieged enclave.
- Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed al Ansari has warned that any such Israeli invasion of Gaza City could cost hundreds of lives.
- But the Israeli military has been pressing ahead with its campaign in northern and central Gaza.
- Strikes were reported in parts of Zeitoun and Shijaiyah - two western Gaza City neighbourhoods.
- Elsewhere, the UK announced more aid for Gaza - with Foreign Secretary David Lammy insisting it must "all be let in".
- But Lammy dodged a question about imposing sanctions on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu specifically from an MP in the House of Commons this afternoon, referring instead to UK moves to stop settler violence and other sanction packages.
## 'We will not report for duty when called again': Israeli reservists reveal protest plans
Reservists who oppose the latest call-ups to fight for Israel in Gaza have given a news conference in Tel Aviv, saying they won't report for duty for the Gaza City offensive.
As we've been reporting, Israel is mobilising thousands more reservists - that process is now under way, after plans to activate 60,000 more were announced last month.
But the move is not going unchallenged, with hundreds of reservists said to be willing to refuse to fight.
The Times of Israel quotes Max Kresch, a reservist sergeant who has been speaking in Tel Aviv this afternoon, as saying: "We are over 365, and counting, soldiers who served during the war and have declared that we will not report for duty when called again."
He added: "We refuse to take part in Netanyahu's illegal war, and we see it as a patriotic duty to refuse and demand accountability from our leaders."
Kresch, a combat medic, says that the group of reservists and soldiers are the same people who rushed to the frontline on October 7 2023 to protect Israel after Hamas's attacks.
"It is precisely from that same sense of duty that we are driven to refuse," he says.
## Qatar foreign ministry warns hundreds will die if Gaza City invaded
Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed al Ansari has warned an Israeli invasion of Gaza City could cost hundreds of lives.
Speaking at a press conference, Al Ansari was quoted as saying by the Times of Israel: "The dangerous step Israel is taking, invading Gaza City, given the dense population and the worsening humanitarian situation, will cause the deaths of hundreds of civilians."
It will "endanger everybody, including the hostages," he adds.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been pushing ahead with his plan to militarily occupy the Gaza Strip, starting with Gaza City, with the goal of destroying Hamas and returning the remaining Israeli hostages.
Israel has claimed the city was a Hamas stronghold and alleged that a network of tunnels remains in use despite several previous large-scale raids on the area.
## Israeli president to meet the Pope on Thursday
Israeli President Isaac Herzog will travel to the Vatican to meet the Pope on Thursday.
The one-day visit is happening as a result of an invitation by Pope Leo, the president's office says.
The Pope has recently stepped up calls for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, where Israel's war against Hamas has been raging for the past 22 months.
The president will also meet secretary of state Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's chief diplomat, and tour the Vatican Archives and Library, Herzog's office added.
"Central to their meetings will be the efforts to secure the release of the hostages, the fight against global antisemitism, and the safeguarding of Christian communities in the Middle East, alongside discussions on other political matters," the presidency said.
## Lammy dodges question about UK sanctioning Netanyahu
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has dodged a question about imposing sanctions on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Commons today.
While taking questions from MPs earlier, Lammy was asked by Freddie van Mierlo, Lib Dem MP for Henley and Thame, if he would commit to sanctioning Netanyahu.
Lammy replied by pointing to three packages of sanctions imposed by the British government, which he says show "there is no other country in the world with the range of sanctions against those who incite... particularly settler violence and expansion".
## Turkey's Erdogan calls for US to 'urgently revise' decision to block Palestinian officials from UN
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on the US to "urgently revise" its decision to block Palestinian officials from attending a UN meeting in New York later this month.
The US recently said it would revoke the visas of dozens of Palestinian officials, including Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
The move "does not fit the United Nations' raison d'etre," Erdogan said on a return flight from China, according to a readout from his office today.
"The decision needs to be urgently revised. The United Nations General Assembly exists for the issues of the world to be discussed and for solutions to be found.
"The Palestinian delegation not being at the General
Assembly would only please Israel," he added.
"What is expected from the United States is to say 'stop' to Israel's massacres."
Several US allies, including France, Malta, Australia and most recently Belgium ([see post 7.38](https://news.sky.com/story/gaza-latest-war-israel-city-ceasefire-hamas-13415481?postid=10114325#liveblog-body)), have announced plans to recognise Palestine as a state at September's UN General Assembly.
Canada and the UK will too, unless Israel meets certain conditions.
## Watch as Lammy faces questions on Gaza and more from MPs
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy is facing questions on Gaza, Ukraine and other issues from MPs in the Commons.
Watch live at the top of this page.
Or, you can use the YouTube stream below to rewind and catch up...
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## UK announces 'vital' aid funding for Gaza - with foreign secretary insisting it 'must all be let in'
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has announced "vital" aid funding for Gaza as he called for a ceasefire and for hostages to be returned.
He posted a clip of his statement to the Commons on X this morning, saying: "I'm announcing further vital funding for aid, but it must all be let in.
"We need an immediate ceasefire, all hostages released, a surge in aid and a framework for lasting peace."
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His comments refer to widespread global criticism of Israel, which has restricted the flow of aid into Gaza.
Israel blames Hamas for creating security and looting threats.
## 13 more deaths from malnutrition in Gaza in past 24 hours, health ministry says
A total of 13 Palestinians, including three children, have died of malnutrition and starvation in Gaza in the past 24 hours, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.
It means the number of reported deaths from such causes has risen to at least 361, including 130 children.
Israel disputes the hunger fatality figures given by the health ministry of Gaza's Hamas-run government, arguing that deaths were due to other medical causes.
The crisis is also particularly affecting pregnant women and young mothers, according to more figures from the Palestinian health ministry statement we told you about in our previous post.
- More than 55,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women are experiencing malnutrition
- 67% of pregnant women are suffering from anaemia, in what the ministry described as "the most alarming rate in years"
## 'Catastrophic consequences of famine accelerating'
A total of 185 deaths due to malnutrition were recorded in August alone, according to the Palestinian health ministry, which described the figure as the "highest number in months".
"The catastrophic consequences of famine in the Gaza Strip are accelerating," a statement by the ministry says.
According to the statement, 70 deaths, including 12 children, came after the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) confirmed famine in Gaza City last month.
Some 43,000 children under the age of five are suffering from malnutrition, the ministry added.
The IPC - a globally recognised system for classifying the severity of food insecurity and malnutrition - has confirmed just four famines since it was established in 2004.
## Israel starts mobilising thousands of reservists
Israel is starting to mobilise tens of thousands of reservists as part of its plan to widen its offensive in Gaza City, one of the last few shelters for civilians in the north of the besieged enclave.
It comes after plans to call up 60,000 reservists were announced last month, as Israel plans to expand its military operations in Gaza.
The Israeli military has been pressing ahead with its campaign in northern and central Gaza, with strikes reported in parts of Zeitoun and Shijaiyah — two western Gaza City neighbourhoods.
Last week, Gaza City, which is the largest city in the besieged enclave, was declared a combat zone.
Israel has claimed the city was a Hamas stronghold and alleged that a network of tunnels remains in use despite several previous large-scale raids on the area.
## 'Stop killing journalists in Gaza': Media groups unite against Israeli attacks
Media organisations from across the world have renewed calls for the killing of journalists in Gaza to stop - warning there will "soon be no one left to keep you informed".
The campaign is also demanding foreign media is allowed free access to Gaza and an "end to the impunity for crimes perpetrated by the Israeli army" against Palestinian journalists.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and Avaaz, a non-profit organisation which promotes global activism, said hundreds of media groups in more than 50 countries were supporting its demands.
It follows outcry over the killing of five journalists following Israeli strikes on a hospital in southern Gaza at the end of last month.
Al Jazeera, the Associated Press and Reuters said their journalists were among those killed.
That followed the death of six media workers at the start of August.
RSF said 220 journalists had been killed in Gaza since October 2023 by the Israeli army, which has previously insisted its forces do not target the media.
You can read more about the appeal here...
## Palestinian officials welcome Belgium's statehood announcement
The Palestinian foreign ministry has welcomed Belgium's decision to recognise a Palestinian state later this month.
On X, it says it "considers it to be in line with international law and United Nations resolutions, and protective of the two-state solution and supportive of achieving peace".
As we reported earlier (see post at 7.38am), Belgium's foreign minister, Maxime Prevot, announced it would join the UK, France, Canada and Australia in recognising a Palestinian state at a UN meeting this month.
Belgium will also introduce "firm sanctions" against the Israeli government, he said, including a ban on imports from West Bank settlements and possible judicial prosecutions.
## At least 31 people killed in recent strikes, hospitals say
At least 31 people were killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza yesterday, more than half of whom were women and children, according to local hospitals.
At least 13 people were killed in Gaza City, where Israel has been carrying out a major offensive.
The city, which is Gaza's biggest, was declared a combat zone last week.
A total of 63,557 Palestinians have been killed in the war, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, which says another 160,660 people have been wounded.
The ministry doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatants in its figures, but says women and children make up around half the dead.
## Aid flotilla with Greta Thunberg and activists on board sets off after delay
Dozens of boats carrying desperately needed aid to Gaza have set off from Barcelona, with activist Greta Thunberg and others on board.
The vessels are part of the Global Sumud Flotilla Mission, which departed on Monday evening after previously being forced to turn back due to stormy weather.
Pro-Palestinian activists including climate campaigner Thunberg and Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham are taking part in the mission aimed at breaking the Israeli blockade of the Palestinian territory by sea.
While it's unclear how many boats actually departed on Monday, organisers previously said around 20 vessels carrying people from 44 countries would be taking part.
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## Scholars accuse Israel of genocide
The biggest professional organisation of scholars studying genocide has said Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
A resolution from the International Association of Genocide Scholars, which has around 500 members worldwide, including a number of Holocaust experts, said that "Israel's policies and actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide", as well as crimes against humanity and war crimes.
The resolution was supported by 86% of those who voted.
Israel vehemently rejects the allegation.
"People who are experts in the study of genocide can see this situation for what it is," Melanie O'Brien, the organisation's president and a professor of international law at the University of Western Australia, said.
The Israeli foreign ministry called it "an embarrassment to the legal profession and to any academic standard".
It said the determination was "entirely based on Hamas's campaign of lies."
## Belgium joins Western allies with announcement it will recognise Palestinian state
The Belgian government says it will officially recognise the Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly this month.
The country's foreign minister, Maxime Prevot, announced it would join the UK, France, Canada and Australia in recognising a Palestinian state.
Belgium will also introduce "firm sanctions" against the Israeli government, he said, including a ban on imports from West Bank settlements and possible judicial prosecutions.
Read more on Brussels's decision...
## Good morning
Hello and welcome back to our live coverage of the war in Gaza.
A flotilla of boats carrying aid for Gaza departed from Barcelona on Monday evening after previously being forced to turn back due to stormy weather.
Pro-Palestinian activists including climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham are on the Global Sumud Flotilla Mission.
It comes as the Belgian government says it will officially recognise the Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly this month.
The country's foreign minister, Maxime Prevot, announced it will join the UK, France, Canada and Australia in recognising a Palestinian state.
Israel is also pressing ahead with a major offensive in Gaza City, which was declared a combat zone last week.
Stay with us throughout the day for the latest developments and analysis.
## We're pausing our live coverage
Thanks for following. We'll be back soon with more updates from the war in Gaza.
Until then, here's a rundown of what's been happening today:
- Israel's military has announced it's suspending the humanitarian pauses in Gaza City that previously allowed aid into the area, calling it a "dangerous combat zone";
- The Israel Defence Forces says it is already operating "with great force" on the outskirts of Gaza's second-largest city;
- Inside Gaza, five more malnutrition-related deaths were reported from the last 24 hours, the territory's health ministry said.
- The foreign ministers from Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Slovenia and Spain released a joint statement condemning Israel's new military offensive;
- Elsewhere, Benjamin Netanyahu says the body of Israeli hostage Ilan Weiss has been recovered and returned to Israel;
- The operation also returned the remains of another hostage whose name has not yet been released, the Israeli PM said;
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