KEY POINTS
- 11 more die of famine in Gaza; total 212, including 98 children.
- Israeli strikes kill 39 in 24 hours; war toll 61,369 since Oct 2023.
- UNRWA unable to deliver aid for over 5 months; airdrops continue.
- UK, Germany, Italy, Australia, New Zealand reject Israel’s Gaza takeover plan.
- Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, EU, UN condemn move; Germany halts some arms exports.
- Netanyahu vows “complete control” of Gaza but no direct governance.
GAZA CITY, Palestine: Hospitals in Gaza on Saturday recorded 11 deaths from famine and malnutrition in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of such fatalities to 212, including 98 children, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
The ministry said at least 39 people were killed and 491 wounded in Israeli attacks across Gaza during the past 24 hours. Twenty-one of those killed Palestinians were seeking food aid.
Since October 2023, the ongoing Israeli military offensive across the Gaza Strip has killed at least 61,369 Palestinians, mostly women and children, Gaza’s health ministry said.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said airdrops from several countries have continued over Gaza despite warnings from international bodies that the method is costly and ineffective.
UNRWA stated on X that it had been unable to deliver any humanitarian aid — including medicines and medical supplies — into Gaza for more than five months.
Our latest on the situation in 📍#Gaza and the #WestBank:
🔹In Gaza, airdrops from several member states have continued, despite warnings from several international bodies that they are very expensive and ineffective.
🔹UNRWA has not been allowed to bring any humanitarian aid… pic.twitter.com/b2hggcMx1n
— UNRWA (@UNRWA) August 9, 2025
International diplomatic efforts to end the conflict are continuing. Axios reported that US President Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, will meet Qatar’s prime minister in Spain to discuss a plan to end the Israeli bombardment and secure the release of hostages.
🚨🚨White House special envoy @SteveWitkoff is meeting Saturday in Ibiza, Spain, with Qatari Prime Minister to discuss a plan to end the war in Gaza and release all remaining hostages held by Hamas. My story on @axioshttps://t.co/8Yzhh0QWNL
— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) August 9, 2025
A foreign official involved in the talks, cited by Axios, said Washington and Doha hope to finalise a draft within two weeks for presentation to the parties. The White House declined to comment.
Global condemnation of Israel’s plan
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry welcomed a joint statement by the UK, Germany, Italy, Australia, and New Zealand rejecting Israel’s plan to seize Gaza City, emphasising the need for the Palestinian Authority to assume governance over the territory.
It called for international pressure on Israel to halt the plan and urged countries that have not yet recognised the State of Palestine to do so.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, after talks in Egypt, urged Muslim countries to work in unison against Israel’s Gaza takeover plan and said the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation had been called to an emergency meeting, Reuters reported.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office strongly condemned the reported Israeli plan, calling it a flagrant violation of international law and UN Security Council resolutions.
Pakistan warned the move would worsen the humanitarian crisis and undermine peace efforts.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif expressed hope that US President Donald Trump could broker a two-state solution for Palestine, similar to his role in securing a peace deal between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
"President Trump's role in brokering a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia is commendable. There are indications that President Trump may facilitate peace between Russia and Ukraine. Earlier, a ceasefire between Pakistan and India was also made possible through…
— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) August 9, 2025
Global reaction to Israel’s plan has been swift. Reuters reported that the foreign ministers of Australia, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, and the UK condemned the move, warning it risked violating international humanitarian law.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen urged Israel to reconsider, while Belgium summoned Israel’s ambassador in protest. Saudi Arabia denounced the plan as “starvation” and “ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians.
The Israeli government’s decision to further extend its military operation in Gaza must be reconsidered.
At the same time, there must be the release of all hostages, who are being held in inhumane conditions.
And humanitarian aid must be given immediate and unhindered access to…
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) August 8, 2025
Germany announced it would halt military equipment exports to Israel that could be used in Gaza, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz stressing the need for a ceasefire.
Denmark’s foreign minister called for an immediate reversal of the decision.
The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to meet to discuss the situation, after Palestinian representatives and several countries requested urgent deliberations.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres labelled Israel’s decision a “dangerous escalation” through his spokesperson.
I'm gravely alarmed by the decision of the Israeli Government to "take control of Gaza City".
This marks a dangerous escalation & risks deepening the already catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians.
It could further endanger more lives, including of the remaining… pic.twitter.com/nHxXTWNaFn
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) August 8, 2025
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk warned the move would cause more deaths and suffering, violating an International Court of Justice ruling to end the occupation.
Hamas, in a statement carried by Al Jazeera, said it was ready for a “comprehensive deal” to release all Israeli captives in exchange for an end to the war and withdrawal of Israeli forces.
It warned that occupying Gaza City would be a costly “adventure” for Israel.
Iran’s foreign ministry accused Israel of seeking to “ethnically cleanse” Gaza, while Arab and Muslim nations, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, condemned the plan as a “dangerous escalation” and a violation of international law, AFP reported.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described Israel’s move as illegal and illegitimate, urging the international community to halt the aggression and ensure humanitarian aid reaches Gaza.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for a sovereign Palestinian state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
We strongly condemn the Israeli cabinet’s approval of a plan to take illegal and illegitimate control of Gaza City. This tantamounts to a dangerous escalation in an already catastrophic war against the people of Palestine.
This expansion of military operations will only worsen…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) August 8, 2025
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US broadcaster Fox News that Israel intends to take “complete control” of Gaza to “free it from Hamas”, though he said the country does not plan to govern the enclave.
