Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (August 25– September 1, 2025)

Abu Obeida’s ID card (IDF spokesperson, August 31, 2025)From the video dedicated to Muhammad al-Deif (Hamas Telegram channel, August 30, 2025)Al-Sheikh meets with Mohammed bin Salman (Wafa, September 1, 2025)

IDF forces continued extensive aerial and ground attacks in the Gaza Strip, focusing on the eastern neighborhoods of Gaza City in preparation for the expected takeover of the city, and eliminated the spokesperson of the Hamas military wing and the head of ISIS’s “Palestine” district. The bodies of two Israeli civilians kidnapped in the October 7, 2023 attack and massacre were recovered. An IDF soldier was killed in Khan Yunis.
Hamas rejected the statement of American mediator Steve Witkoff that the movement was responsible for placing obstacles in the path of the negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of hostages, and claimed that Israel was ignoring the proposal and carrying out a “massacre” [sic] in Gaza.
The IDF announced the creation of two new centers to facilitate the distribution of food to Gazans in the southern part of the Strip.
Dozens of vessels with hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists set sail from Barcelona as part of an international flotilla intended to “lift the blockade” on the Gaza Strip.
A senior Hamas figure rejected the American plan to evacuate Gazans and turn the Strip into an economic and tourist zone under American administration for ten years. Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman Mahmoud Abbas said he would agree to an Arab or international partnership for administering the Strip alongside the PA.
The American administration announced that it would not issue entry visas to Mahmoud Abbas and senior PA and PLO figures ahead of the UN General Assembly session in September 2025.

IDF Activity

IDF forces continued aerial and ground attacks on terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip, primarily of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), focusing on the al-Zeitoun neighborhood, Jabaliya in the north of the Strip and the outskirts of Gaza City, part of preparations for the takeover of the city. The forces attacked terrorist squads and eliminated terrorist operatives, including Abu Obeida, spokesman for the Hamas military wing, and the head of ISIS’s “Palestine” district. The forces destroyed buildings used for military purposes, rocket and weapons storehouses, tunnels and underground facilities, rocket launching and sniper positions, some operating in or near civilian buildings. IDF forces and the Israel Security Agency also recovered the bodies of two Israelis who had been kidnapped in the October 7, 2023 attack and massacre. An IDF officer was killed in an operational accident in Khan Yunis (IDF spokesperson, August 26–September 2, 2025).

Abu Obeida’s ID card (IDF spokesperson, August 31, 2025)

“Palestinian sources” reported that the neighborhoods of al-Zeitoun, al-Shuja’iya and Tuffah in eastern Gaza City were destroyed and emptied of residents. Most of the area’s population was reportedly pushed into the western part of the city, mainly into the al-Saraya area, al-Jalaa Street, al-Nasr Street, the area around the university, Tel al-Hawa, and the seafront promenade (al-Nuseirat News Telegram channel, August 29, 2025). The spokesperson for Civil Defense in Gaza also claimed that since the start of the Israeli operation on August 6, 2025, the IDF had completely destroyed more than 1,500 residential buildings in the al-Zeitoun neighborhood, stating that the southern part of al-Zeitoun was “razed to the ground and no building stands.” He added that the situation in the Jabaliya refugee camp and Jabaliya al-Nazla was no less dire, with the IDF’s continuing artillery shelling and the deployment of “explosive robots,” without the ground advancement of military vehicles (Anatolia Agency, August 28, 2025).
On August 29, 2025, the Hamas military wing reported fierce battles in the southern part of the al-Zeitoun neighborhood in Gaza City. Hamas claimed its operatives had detonated a powerful charge which “destroyed” an Israeli APC near the University of Gaza, and that IDF rescue helicopters were seen landing after the incident (Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades Telegram channel, August 29, 2025). “Sources in Gaza City” claimed that “resistance fighters”[2] infiltrated through tunnels and reached Israeli forces in al-Zeitoun, surprising them with gunfire and explosive charges, some of which had been placed in advance. The “sources” confirmed that the “fighters” tried to abduct soldiers, but their activities were “disrupted” by the Israeli Air Force aerial attacks (al-Sharq al-Awsat, August 30, 2025). Seven IDF soldiers were wounded, one seriously, when their APC hit an explosive charge in al-Zeitoun (Israeli media, August 30, 2025).

Cartoons of olive trees [zeitoun is Arabic for olives], representing the al-Zeitoun neighborhood fighting and attacking IDF soldiers (X account of cartoonist Mahmoud Abbas, August 30, 2025)

On August 30, 2025, for the first time, Hamas confirmed the death of Muhammad al-Sinwar, who had served as head of the military wing and was eliminated by Israel on May 13, 2025. The confirmation was issued as part of a video produced as a tribute to the former head of the military wing, Muhammad Deif, who was eliminated in July 2024. Other Hamas figures killed in the Gaza Strip War also appeared in the video, including two former movement leaders, Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya al-Sinwar (Hamas Telegram channel, August 30, 2025).

      
From the video dedicated to Muhammad al-Deif (Hamas Telegram channel, August 30, 2025)
Preparations for IDF Takeover of Gaza City

The Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) reported that the evacuation of Gaza City was inevitable and that there were extensive vacant areas in the central and southern Gaza Strip in the al-Mawasi area. He added that every family that moved south would receive increased humanitarian aid, and reported that the IDF had begun bringing in tents, preparing areas for aid distribution centers, and laying water lines and other facilities for the evacuees (COGAT Facebook page, August 27, 2025).

Map of the vacant areas for refugees from the north (marked in blue)
(COGAT Facebook page, August 27, 2025)

Hamas accused the IDF of spreading “lies and misleading maps” to justify the “forced displacement” while presenting “a false picture of empty lands” in southern Gaza Strip. Hamas claimed that more than 1.25 million displaced persons already lived in the south of the Strip in flimsy tents, and that the areas mentioned, such as al-Mawasi and the central camps, were not prepared to absorb masses, some being private lands or threatened areas. Hamas also claimed that the infrastructure in those areas had collapsed and every additional civilian would only worsen the problems of disease, hunger and water shortages (Hamas media office Telegram channel, August 28, 2025).
Muhammad al-Mugheir, head of the supply department in Hamas’ Civil Defense in the Gaza Strip, said the al-Mawasi area of Khan Yunis was packed and could not absorb more displaced persons. He claimed people lacked basic necessities such as water and shelter and were forced to sleep on the ground. Nizar Ayash, mayor of Deir al-Balah, said that in Deir al-Balah as well there was no area in which new tents could be erected for displaced persons. He claimed the coastal area was crowded, the eastern area was under bombardment, the infrastructure was destroyed and the desalination plant was barely functioning. He warned of a complete humanitarian disaster if displacement and the pressure on the central district of the Strip continued (Sunud website, August 28, 2025).
The IDF spokesperson reported that according to situation assessment and directives of the political echelon, starting on August 29, 2025, the local and temporary tactical pause would not apply to Gaza City and the area would be defined as a “dangerous combat zone” (IDF spokesperson, August 29, 2025). Residents of Gaza City claimed the objective of the move was to pressure the city’s inhabitants to leave by preventing the arrival of aid and food products and by intensifying attacks. Residents noted that aid planes were not dropping aid on the city and that the flow of aid through the Zikim Crossing had decreased (al-Ayyam, August 31, 2025).
Dr. Munir al-Barsh, director general of the ministry of health in the Gaza Strip, denied the existence of a “tactical pause” in Gaza City and said Israel’s statement was “media propaganda” in light of the ongoing daily attacks on Gazan civilians. He claimed all the residents of East Gaza had moved to the west of the city, and the population density in Gaza City had reached 60,000 people per square kilometer. He said Israel’s plans to force the city’s residents to leave would fail since the residents wanted to stay (al-Jazeera website, August 29, 2025).

Izzat al-Rishq, member of the Hamas political bureau, rejected the remarks of United States special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, who accused Hamas of raising obstacles to the negotiations, calling it “blind echoing” of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s words. He claimed Hamas had already accepted the Egyptian-Qatari proposal for a 60-day ceasefire, while Israel was ignoring it (Hamas Telegram channel, August 27, 2025).
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said Witkoff’s proposal, which included a 60-day ceasefire, the release of ten live and the bodies of 18 dead hostages in exchange for about 200 Palestinian prisoners serving long sentences, and which had been approved by Hamas, was currently the best option for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, as part of a path toward an agreement and the release of “prisoners.” He further noted that Egypt and Qatar were exerting pressure on the European Union and international actors to compel Israel to halt the offensive (al-Hadath.net, August 28, 2025).
Abu Obeida, spokesman for the Hamas military wing, a day before being killed by IDF forces, accused Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government of being determined to reduce the number of “live captives” [hostages] by half and warned that most of the bodies of the “dead captives” [hostages] would disappear forever, and that the IDF and the government of Israel would bear full responsibility. He claimed Hamas “fighters”[3] were “on alert and in high spirits,” and would protect the Israeli “captives” as much as they could [sic]. He said the “captives” would be with Hamas fighters in combat and confrontation areas under “the same dangerous living conditions,” and that they would publish the name and picture of every “captive” killed because of the “aggression” as proof of death (Hamas Telegram channel, August 29, 2025).

The Distribution of Humanitarian Aid

The Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) reported that during the week ending August 31, 2025, nearly 1,500 aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip, most of them carrying food. In addition, the UN and international organizations collected nearly 2,200 aid trucks from the Palestinian side of the Kerem Shalom and Zikim Crossings and distributed them throughout the Strip. Furthermore, 325 children in need of medical assistance and their escorts, as well as Gazans with dual citizenship, left the Strip through Kerem Shalom toward the Allenby Bridge crossing (COGAT X account).
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) reported that since it began operations at the end of May 2025, more than 2.4 million packages had been distributed, constituting more than 148 million meals for residents of the Strip at the four distribution centers. On September 1, 2025, 25,000 packages of nutritional supplements for women and children were distributed to help prevent malnutrition (GHF X account, September 1, 2025).
The IDF spokesperson announced two new food distribution centers in the southern Gaza Strip to replace the Tel al-Sultan distribution center, with the objective of improving the accessibility of aid and the security of its distribution, bringing the total number of distribution sites to five (IDF spokesperson in Arabic, August 27, 2025).
“Palestinian sources” reported that large quantities of sugar, flour and fruit, as well as a quantity of mobile phones, had entered the Gaza Strip (journalist Mahmoud Issa’s Telegram channel, August 28, 2025).

Hunger Propaganda

UNRWA called for the removal of the Israeli ban on its humanitarian aid deliveries to the Strip, noting that it was ready to continue operations as its warehouses in Egypt and Jordan were full and ready to load about 6,000 aid trucks. The agency stated that it had an efficient and safe mechanism for distributing large-scale aid, and asked to be allowed to deliver its life-saving aid by land (UNRWA Facebook page, August 30, 2025).
The Hamas ministry of health in Gaza claimed that between the beginning of the war on October 7, 2023, and September 2, 2025, 361 residents had died from malnutrition, including 130 children. According to the ministry’s claim, 13 of the deaths were reported during the 24 hours between September 1 and 2, 2025. It was further reported that since the publication of the UN’s IPC report on August 21, 2025, which claimed that there was “famine” in the Gaza Strip, 83 deaths due to malnutrition had been recorded, 15 of them children (Hamas Health Ministry Telegram channel, September 2, 2025).
A report from ActionAid International based on data from al-Awda Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip warned of malnutrition among pregnant and breastfeeding women. According to hospital data, 70–75% of the approximately 300 women arriving daily suffered from food and supplement shortages. Doctors also reported an increase in pregnancy complications, including miscarriages, anemia, calcium and vitamin D deficiency, low maternal and fetal weight, and impaired fetal movement. Acting hospital director Dr. Muhammad Salha said that more than 60,000 women had been affected by the food shortage, and many of them faced malnutrition. He added that the demand for nutritional supplements was greater than the hospital was able to supply (Palestinian Media Center, August 30, 2025).

Refuting Hamas’ Hunger Propaganda

The IDF spokesperson published a video released by the Palestinians, in which a Palestinian woman spoke of “hunger.” However, according to the IDF spokesperson, the video used artificial intelligence (AI), which also caused glitches, such as “cuts” which transferred from the face of the girl in the video to her mother (IDF spokesperson in Arabic, August 27, 2025).

    
Right: Cuts seen on the little girl’s face. Left: The same cuts on the mother’s face
(IDF spokesperson in Arabic, August 27, 2025)

The Situation in the Gaza Strip

As part of the UAE’s Knight Rider 3 operation, the Emir Line was opened to transfer desalinated water from desalination plants in Egypt to the al-Mawasi area in Khan Yunis, to supply water to tens of thousands of displaced families (journalist Muhannad Qushta’s Telegram channel, August 29, 2025).
The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief), in cooperation with the World Health Organization, completed a project at the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Yunis, which included the construction of an integrated medical warehouse “according to the highest standards,” equipping it with large quantities of medical supplies and distributing them to the various departments. The project also supplied new medical devices and equipment to the dialysis department to provide advanced treatment services for patients with renal failure. Dr. Atef al-Houth, director of the complex, thanked Saudi Arabia, represented by KSRelief, for the support, which he said contributed to improving health services and ensuring their continuity (Saudi Press Agency, August 31, 2025).
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society announced that its teams had resumed the activity of the cardiology catheterization department at al-Quds Hospital in Gaza City. The medical teams completed three heart catheterizations within 48 hours, despite the difficult conditions and shortage of medicines and essential medical supplies (Sunud website, September 1, 2025).
Munir al-Barsh, director general of the ministry of health in Gaza, claimed the hospitals in the Gaza Strip were collapsing, and because of that six children were hospitalized in a single bed [sic]. He reported that since the beginning of the war, about 40,000 children had been injured, more than 150 medicine warehouses had been destroyed and about 1,000 heart patients had died from lack of treatment. He added that there were currently about 49,000 orphans in the Strip, and denied that there was a coronavirus epidemic in the Strip (al-Aqsa TV Telegram channel, August 28, 2025). Dr. Muhammad Abu Afash, director of the medical defense authority in Gaza, said unidentified viruses were spreading in the Strip, but the lack of testing and medical equipment made it impossible to diagnose their origin. He stated that the common symptoms included high fever, headaches, joint pain and diarrhea, and there were unsubstantiated assessments that it was a mutation of the coronavirus. He added that the collapsing health system was struggling to supply even the most basic medicines and painkillers (al-Malkat Telegram channel, September 1, 2025).
The al-Shuhadaa al-Aqsa Hospital in the central Gaza Strip issued an urgent appeal for a generator to save the lives of thousands of patients and wounded. According to reports, the hospital was suffering from a severe power supply crisis, with only two generators operating which did not cover the needs of essential departments such as operating rooms, intensive care and neonatal wards (Palinfo, August 29, 2025).

Hamas Governance

The dept of investigations department in Khan Yunis closed a fresh water station near the Applied Sciences College in al-Mawasi, Khan Yunis, belonging to Izz al-Din Muhammad Abd al-‘Aal, after he sold a gallon of water for four shekels and refused to charge 20 shekels as other merchants did (al-Siyad Telegram channel, August 27, 2025).
Hamas operatives in the Strip and their families received security instructions for defensive behavior, claiming that Israeli intelligence was contacting relatives of “fighters”[4] and providing them with false information in order to locate the “fighters” and eliminate them. Reportedly, a phone call was made to a “fighter’s” family telling them that “their son had been killed,” and after the family tried to check with acquaintances and search in possible places, his location was exposed and he was later attacked. According to the instructions, families were forbidden to answer suspicious calls or spread rumors about the fate of “fighters,” while the “fighters” were instructed not to use phones or the Internet and to strictly maintain personal security procedures (al-Akhres Telegram channel, August 29, 2025).
The Sahm (Arrow) Unit announced it had executed “Colonel” Ahmed Fares Abu Samra, a member of the Palestinian Authority’s intelligence apparatus, along with another person, after both had participated in killing police officer Ibrahim Shaldan in Deir al-Balah in April 2025 (Arrow Unit 103 Telegram channel, August 30, 2025). PA security forces spokesperson Major General Anwar Rajab accused Hamas of “national and moral betrayal” and said Hamas “insists on continuing its bloodshed and crimes, targeting security personnel and our people who reject its path, employing repression, killing, torture and breaking limbs.” He said the PA would not stand idly by while Hamas continued to commit its crimes, which would not be subject to a statute of limitations, and that all those involved in spilling the blood of Palestinians would be held accountable (Wafa, August 31, 2025).

Ahmed Fares Abu Samra (Arrow Unit 103 Telegram channel, August 30, 2025)

International Activity to Lift the “Blockade” of the Gaza Strip

On August 31, 2025, about 20 ships departed from the port of Barcelona as part of the Global Steadfastness Flotilla, with more than 300 activists on board, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, Irish actor Liam Cunningham, Spanish actor Eduardo Fernández, and former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau (Anatolia Agency, August 31, 2025). At the same time, several boats loaded with humanitarian aid departed from the port of Genoa port to join the flotilla, carrying about 300 tons of food and medical aid, collected throughout Italy over five days. According to the plan, the two groups of boats were expected to meet in Sicily and continue toward the Gaza Strip. Other ships in the flotilla were expected to set sail from the port of Tunis on September 4, 2025 (Anatolia Agency, September 1, 2025). However, a day after leaving Barcelona, the ships returned to port due to stormy weather but they set sail again a few hours later (Reuters and the Global Steadfastness Flotilla X account, September 1–2, 2025).

The ships in the port of Barcelona before departure
(Global Steadfastness Flotilla X account, August 31, 2025)

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said that Egypt absolutely rejected the “displacement” of Gazans from the Strip and stated that Egypt agreed to the deployment of international forces in Gaza subject to a Security Council resolution and within a political arrangement toward a Palestinian state. He said the role of the forces would be to protect the population, adding that without a Palestinian state, Israel would have neither stability nor security (al-Hadath.net, August 28, 2025).
Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas said the PA was prepared to govern the Gaza Strip and did not oppose an Arab or international partnership in managing it. He claimed the PA had negotiated with Hamas dozens of times without result, and called on Hamas to recognize the PLO and its legal obligations, stating that the movement had to adhere to “one state and one weapon.” Mahmoud Abbas also accused Israel of “seeking to destroy the Palestinian entity,” but claimed they did not want a war with Israel and based themselves on “peaceful resistance” (al-Arabiya, September 1, 2025).
Bassem Na’im, a member of the Hamas political bureau, said the movement opposed the American plan for the future of the Gaza Strip, which had been revealed in the Washington Post, according to which the Gazans would be asked to leave for other countries or live in restricted areas within the Strip during reconstruction, the Strip would become an economic and tourist zone under American administration for ten years, and American contractors and local guards would be responsible for internal security. Na’im told Agence France-Presse that the Gaza Strip was “not for sale” and that the movement rejected the transfer of all Gazans to other locations. Another “Hamas official” called the plans “worthless and unjust” and added that the movement had not received any official message regarding them (al-Sharq al-Awsat, September 1, 2025).

Counterterrorism Activities

This past week, Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism activities in various areas of Judea and Samaria. They detained wanted persons and terrorist operatives, including a Palestinian suspected of carrying out a shooting in southern Mount Hebron and a wanted individual in the village of Tamun, and raided a money exchange business in Ramallah which transferred funds to Hamas terrorist operatives. Police forces in Jerusalem detained a Palestinian suspect who confessed that he had planned to seize a soldier’s weapon and carry out a terrorist attack (IDF spokesperson and the Israel Police spokesperson’s unit, August 26–September 2, 2025).
Palestinian media reported that Israeli security forces had detained six Palestinians in Bethlehem, carried out house searches in the town of Qabatiya, and increased their activity in Nablus and the nearby Balata and Askar refugee camps (Quds Agency, August 30, 2025). Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas, condemned the “Israeli escalation” in the cities, villages and refugee camps in Judea and Samaria, the “invasion” of Nablus, and the siege on its Old City. He warned that the policy of the Israeli government would lead to regional escalation (Wafa, August 27, 2025). IDF forces also allegedly detained Tayseer Abu Sneineh, the mayor of Hebron, and raided his home (Ramallah News Facebook page, September 2, 2025).

The Palestinian Figures Prevented from Entering the United States

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the administration would not issue entry visas for members of the PLO and the PA ahead of the UN General Assembly session to be convened in September 2025, on the grounds that they had not fulfilled their obligations under American law and had damaged the chances for peace. Rubio said that before the PLO and PA could be recognized as partners for peace, they had to renounce terrorism, including the events of October 7, 2023, cease incitement in the education system, stop evading negotiations by appealing to the court in The Hague, and stop promoting unilateral recognition of a “State of Palestine.” However, the PA delegation to the UN would receive exemptions under the Headquarters Agreement hosting the UN headquarters in New York, and the United States would consider renewing contact with the PA if it met its obligations and took practical steps to return to the path of compromise and dialogue with Israel (United States State Department website, August 29, 2025).

The American ban imposed on PA figures
(cartoonist Muhammad Sabaaneh’s Facebook page, August 30, 2025)

The office of the PA “president” expressed regret and said it had been “surprised” by the American ban, claiming the measure was “contrary to international law” and the UN Charter because the “State of Palestine” was considered an “observer member” of the UN. The office called on the United States to reconsider the ban and allow the delegation to arrive in New York (Wafa, August 29, 2025). Hussein al-Sheikh, deputy PA chairman and deputy chairman of the PLO Executive Committee, held a series of contacts with American administration officials and with Saudi Arabia, France, Britain, Egypt, Jordan and the UN to discuss the American ban. He claimed the move violated to international law and the Headquarters Agreement (Wafa, August 30, 2025).
“Palestinian sources” said the PA hoped to reach understandings with the American administration regarding an entry visa for Mahmoud Abbas and the delegation expected to accompany him to the UN General Assembly in New York. However, they said the efforts to obtain the entry visas would not be paid for by ceding the recognition of a Palestinian state by several countries during the assembly (al-Sharq al-Awsat, September 2, 2025). Reportedly, the Palestinians were considering several options, including submitting a request to transfer UN deliberations to Geneva, as when Yasser Arafat was prevented from speaking at the UN building in 1988; sending Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the UN, to deliver the speech on behalf of the PA leadership; or delivering a remote address (al-Sharq, August 30, 2025).
Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary general, said in response to the American ban that all eligible delegations should be able to participate in the General Assembly in New York. He said the UN had learned visas would be denied to the Palestinian delegation through media reports and would discuss the matter with the State Department in accordance with agreements. He expressed hope for a quick resolution, noting the importance of representation for all member and observer states, especially ahead of the meeting on the two-state solution to be hosted by France and Saudi Arabia at the beginning of the General Assembly (Wafa, August 30, 2025).

International Activity

PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas and his deputy Hussein al-Sheikh met in Ramallah with United States Senators Chris Van Hollen and Jeff Merkley. They discussed the latest developments and ways to achieve a full ceasefire “in the occupied Palestinian territories.” Mahmoud Abbas noted the importance of an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the entry of aid into the Strip, and the “release of prisoners and captives.” He also noted the importance of handing over the weapons of all armed factions to the PA under the principle of “one rule, one law, one legal weapon” (Wafa, August 26, 2025).
Mahmoud Abbas spoke with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people and confirmed his commitment to the two-state solution, promoting an international peace conference and mobilizing support for recognition of a “State of Palestine.” Sánchez also called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the entry of aid, halting “settlements and settler violence,” and advancing a political path based on international law. Mahmoud Abbas thanked Spain for its recognition of the “State of Palestine” and reiterated the need for broad international recognition, convening a peace conference, a ceasefire and preventing “famine and expulsion,” a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and transferring responsibility there to the “State of Palestine” with Arab and international support (Wafa, August 30, 2025).
Hussein al-Sheikh, deputy PA chairman, paid an official visit to Saudi Arabia and met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. They discussed preparations for the peace conference expected to be convened in New York on September 22, 2025, the American administration’s decision to ban the entry of the Palestinian delegation into the United States, and the situation in Judea and Samaria and east Jerusalem. They said there had to be an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and agreed on continued close coordination to promote the establishment of a Palestinian state (Wafa, September 1, 2025).

Al-Sheikh meets with Mohammed bin Salman (Wafa, September 1, 2025)

Muhammad Mustafa, PA prime minister, met with Cindy McCain, head of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), to discuss ways of increasing aid in the Gaza Strip and the importance of international pressure to stop the war and open the crossings. Mustafa praised the WFP’s efforts to support the aid efforts of the PA in Judea and Samaria and in the Gaza Strip. McCain confirmed that all efforts would be made for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip (Wafa, August 28, 2025).
The PA foreign ministry welcomed the announcement by Belgian deputy prime minister and foreign minister Maxime Prévot of his country’s intention to recognize the “State of Palestine” during the UN General Assembly in September 2025. Reportedly, it was a principled position consistent with international law and UN resolutions, and constituted support for the two-state solution and for achieving a just and stable peace. The ministry called on all countries which had not yet recognized “Palestine” to do so “urgently,” and act to stop “crimes, forced displacement, hunger and annexation by Israel,” while opening a political horizon to end the “occupation” and resolve the conflict (PA foreign ministry X account).
Rawhi Fattouh, chairman of the Palestinian National Council, rejected Prime Minister Netanyahu’s remarks about “replacing” the PA leadership in Hebron with clan leaders and to detach the city from the PA’s jurisdiction. He said such moves, including attempts to appoint a “governor” for Gaza, reflected “loss of composure” and were intended to prolong the war and promote a policy of “annexation, Judaization, transfer and forced expulsion.” He said Hebron’s clans were the heart of the national fabric, and attempts to divide them would fail, and that Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, Hebron and the other cities of Judea and Samaria would remain united under legitimate Palestinian leadership until freedom and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital (Rawhi Fattouh’s Facebook page, August 29, 2025).
The Palestinian delegation to the Arms Trade Treaty conference in Geneva called for an arms embargo on Israel, the cessation all cooperation with Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria, and action to end the “occupation” in accordance with the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion. The delegation claimed that arms exports to Israel fueled “war crimes,” and that Israel violated the terms of the treaty by transferring weapons to armed groups of “extremist settlers.” The delegation further claimed that arming “settlers” caused intimidation, the killing of unarmed civilians, displacement and burning of land, and that supplying weapons strengthened an [allegedly] “apartheid regime” and gender-based crimes [sic] (Wafa, August 29, 2025).

[1] Click https://www.terrorism-info.org.il/en to subscribe and receive the ITIC’s daily updates as well as its other publications.

[2] Terrorist operatives.

[3] Terrorist operatives.

[4] Terrorist operatives.

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