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A summary of today’s developments
UN warns Gaza faces ‘starvation, pure and simple’ as child deaths mount. The body’s humanitarian office OCHA said 98 children had died from acute malnutrition since the start of the conflict in October 2023, with 37 of those deaths since July, according to Gaza’s authorities. (see post 18.46)
The US defends Israel at security council meeting, saying it has the right to decide what’s best for its security. It called allegations of genocide in Gaza false.The US has veto power at the council and can block proposed actions there. (see post 17.23)
Chief rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis criticises UK decision to recognise Palestine at a march in central London calling for release of Israeli hostages.
Meanwhile, at least 61,430 Palestinian people have been killed and 153,213 others injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza since 7 October 2023, the Gaza health ministry said in a statement on Sunday. At least 61 Palestinian people were killed and 363 others injured in the last 24 hours alone, the ministry said.
“The invasion of Gaza risks turning into a Vietnam for Israeli soldiers,” Italy’s foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, has said in an interview with daily Il Messaggero. Senior Israeli military officers and former senior commanders have warned that Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to occupy Gaza City risks further international isolation of Israel.
Gaza’s Government Media Office say only 14% of the aid Gaza’s population needs entered the Strip over the last fortnight.
Benjamin Netanyahu says he wants a ‘civilian administration’ to be established in Gaza after Hamas is defeated.
The Israeli prime minister defended his Gaza city plan and said on Sunday he was talking to the US about ‘additional aid measures’ and claims he has ‘directed’ the military to bring in foreign reporters to Gaza.
The UN security council debated the seizure of Gaza in a rare emergency meeting, you can watch the video below:
UN ambassadors discuss Israel’s Gaza City seizure plan – video Share
Helena Smith
Helena Smith is the Guardian’s Athens-based correspondent
Back to those protests in Greece where demonstrators far and wide have kicked off a “day of rage” with more than 100 “stop the war” rallies planned nationwide this evening.
In remote Astypalaia in the south-eastern Aegean Sea, a motley group of protesters, including tourists and locals unfurled banners and placards proclaiming “free Palestine, stop the genocide, not in our name” and “victory to Palestine” at the foot of the island’s fortress-topped town.
The mass rallies – the biggest coordinated wave of protest seen in Greece since the onset of the Gaza war – come on the back of rising anger over the increasingly close ties Athens enjoys with Tel Aviv. Tessa Charta joined the mass rally outside the Greek parliament this evening in Athens’ Syntagma square.
We are disgusted with our government’s blind support for a country so obviously violating every human right. Other countries with close ties have criticised Israel and have promised to recognise Palestine but not Greece. That is why the slogan tonight is not in our name. We don’t want to be complicit
Protesters attending mass pro-Palestinian rally in front of the Greek parliament. Photograph: Helena Smith/The GuardianShare
Updated at 14.33 EDT
UN’s humanitarian office OCHA describe situation in Gaza as ‘starvation’
AFP reports that the UN’s humanitarian office OCHA said 98 children had died from acute malnutrition since the start of the conflict in October 2023, with 37 of those deaths since July, according to Gaza’s authorities.
OCHA’s coordination director Ramesh Rajasingham said the situation in Gaza had developed into full blown starvation.
This is no longer a looming hunger crisis – this is starvation, pure and simple
Ramesh Rajasingham speaks via video monitor at a UN security council meeting on the situation in the Middle East. Photograph: Stefan Jeremiah/APShare
Updated at 13.50 EDT
Family of victims accuse government of rewarding Hamas with plan to recognise a Palestinian state
Ayelet Svatitzky, whose brothers Roi and Nadav Popplewell were murdered, told demonstrators at the march in London that recognising the state of Palestine before the return of all of the hostages is a “prize” to Hamas.
Speaking close to Downing Street, she said:
This week I joined a meeting with the UK government to continue to press our case that the hostages must be freed before the UK government can recognise the state of Palestine.
As I said to the government, to recognise the state without the return of all of the hostages is a prize to Hamas for the murder of my two brothers.”
Ayelet Stavitsky, the sister of Nadav Popplewell, who died in captivity in Gaza, and Roi Popplewell speaks at a rally outside Downing Street during a march. Photograph: Jaimi Joy/ReutersShare
Updated at 14.26 EDT
US defends Israel at security council
The UN security council meeting on Gaza is still going on and there is a video feed at the top of this blog.
Associated Press reports that the US defended Israel, saying it has the right to decide what’s best for its security. It called allegations of genocide in Gaza false.
The US has veto power at the council and can block proposed actions there.
Other council members, and UN officials, expressed alarm. China called the “collective punishment” of people in Gaza unacceptable. Russia warned against a “reckless intensification of hostilities”.
“This is no longer a looming hunger crisis; this is starvation,” said Ramesh Rajasingham with the UN humanitarian office told the AP. “Humanitarian conditions are beyond horrific. We have frankly run out of words to describe it.”
Updated at 12.25 EDT
Chief rabbi criticises UK decision to recognise Palestine at hostage march
The UK’s chief rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis has addressed the London march calling for the hostages’ release and has attacked an announcement by the prime minister, Keir Starmer, that the country was set to recognise Palestine as a state next month.
Addressing the crowd close to Starmer’s London residence in Downing Street, Mirvis said:
To our government we turn and we say ‘how would you ever be able to live with the fact that you would have recognised a Palestinian state, at the head of which is a terrorist organisation, with a stated intention of destroying the state of Israel and harming Jews right around the world and all this at a time when the hostages are still languishing in the tunnels of Gaza?
The Labour party, both in opposition and now in government has had a mantra, they have continuously been saying ‘don’t judge us by our words, judge us by our deeds’.
And to our government we say right now this is the time for responsible action, it is not too late.”
He added: “We will continue to do whatever we can for the sake of each and every one of the hostages.”
Sir Ephraim Mirvis addresses the hostage march in London on Sunday Photograph: Belinda Jiao/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 14.49 EDT
A man has been arrested at the “national march for the hostages” in central London, the Metropolitan police have said.
The force said the individual, who was not part of the march, was held for common assault and a racially aggravated public order offence after the march briefly paused just past Charing Cross.
The march was ending with an assembly in Whitehall.
Hostage families and supporters pass Trafalgar Square in London during march to Downing Street on Sunday Photograph: Belinda Jiao/Getty ImagesShare
In the UK, a man has been carried away by police officers after a scuffle broke out close to the gates of Downing Street, the prime minister’s London residence.
The man was seen throwing water over a demonstrator who was part of a protest calling for the release of the hostages (see post at 12.43BST). He then charged at him and a scuffle broke out as the man then put his hand around the demonstrator’s neck.
Police officers then intervened and the man was seen being carried away.
Demonstrators hold placards take part in the March for Hostages to Downing Street, in London Photograph: Alberto Pezzali/APShare
Updated at 11.35 EDT
Helena Smith
Helena Smith is the Guardian’s Athens-based correspondent
Meanwhile, in Greece, pro-Palestinian protestors are braced to take to the streets in more than 100 locations nationwide, triggering a rare warning from the Israeli foreign ministry to tourists visiting the country.
Stop the war campaigners say the ‘day of rage’ rallies have been organised in major urban centres, towns, villages and islands with the sole purpose of calling for an end “to the genocide in Gaza” and Benjamin Netanyahu’s latest takeover plans.
Graffiti deploring Israel and its actions have proliferated in areas popular with tourists, starting with Plaka, the ancient Athenian neighbourhood of narrow alleys beneath the Acropolis.
Anti-Israeli graffiti emblazoned across a building in the heart of ancient Athens. Photograph: Helena Smith/The Guardian
“Wherever we are, in every village, every square, every island, every alley, on every street in every town and on every mountain we will call for justice for Palestine,” said a statement released by protest organisers ahead of this evening’s demonstrations.
“We will not put up with those in our country and on our islands who support genocide, we will not tolerate genocide in our name. The whole world will learn that the Greek government is alone,” it added, castigating the centre- right administration of Kyriakos Mitsotakis for standing by the “murderous” Netanyahu.
In a statement, the Israeli foreign ministry warned Israelis to “stay away from areas of demonstrations, avoid public debates and expressing political positions in public spaces, and minimize visible signs of identification (such as [Israeli] flags, shirts with Hebrew writing, IDF symbols.”
Fury over the war in Gaza has mounted in Greece putting diplomatic ties between the two countries under unexpected strain.
Last week, the Israeli ambassador to Greece Noam Katz lashed out at the mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, for failing to clean up anti-Israel graffiti that was, he said “(making) Israeli tourists feel uncomfortable.”
Infuriated by his remarks, Doukas hit back saying:
We Greeks do not take lessons in democracy from those who kill civilians and children standing in line for food, from those responsible for the daily deaths of dozens of Gazans from bombs, hunger and thirst.
Updated at 11.25 EDT
James Kariuki, the UK’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, called Israel’s decision to take Gaza City over “wrong” and said it would displace nearly one million (more) Palestinians.
“Expanding military operations will do nothing to bring an end to this conflict. It will not secure the release of the hostages. It will only deepen the suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza,” Kariuki was quoted by Al Jazeera as having said.
“This inhumanity cannot be justified”, he said, referring to the continuing restrictions on aid imposed by Israel (and its recent total aid blockade which caused widespread starvation). “The partial aid access Israel granted in late July has proven woefully inadequate. We have a clear message for Israel. Urgently and permanently lift all restrictions on aid delivery.”
James Kariuki speaks at the UN security council. Photograph: Eduardo Muñoz/ReutersShare
Updated at 10.53 EDT