Jerusalem, 15 September (H.S.): As U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio touched down in Israel on Sunday, Israeli forces intensified bombings across Gaza City, destroying at least 30 residential buildings and displacing thousands, according to Palestinian officials.Israel has declared its intention to capture Gaza City, the last major stronghold of Hamas, where an estimated one million Palestinians are sheltering.
Rubio’s visit, set to last until Tuesday, is expected to include discussions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on securing the release of the remaining 48 hostages held by Hamas—only 20 of whom are believed to be alive—as well as plans for rebuilding the besieged enclave.
The situation is further complicated by Israel’s recent airstrike targeting Hamas leadership in Doha, Qatar, a close U.S. ally, drawing sharp international condemnation. Qatar has responded by convening an emergency Arab-Islamic summit on Monday to discuss the crisis.
Meanwhile, Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank—a move strongly opposed by Palestinians and criticized by the United Arab Emirates—threatens to undermine the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords.Humanitarian conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate: UNRWA has suspended services at a key clinic in the north, water and sanitation systems are at half capacity, and at least 10 UNRWA buildings have been struck in recent days.
Aid agencies warn that a full-scale Israeli takeover of Gaza City could have catastrophic consequences for the civilian population, already suffering from acute malnutrition. The death toll from starvation and malnutrition in Gaza has reached at least 422, including 145 children, with two more deaths reported in the past 24 hours.Israel has stepped up calls for civilians to evacuate Gaza City before a planned ground offensive, but hundreds of thousands remain, many unwilling or unable to leave due to lack of safe shelter and resources in the south.
Hamas has urged residents to stay, while Israel reports completing five waves of airstrikes targeting over 500 sites in a week, including militant infrastructure. Palestinian officials report at least 45 fatalities from Israeli fire on Sunday, mostly in Gaza City, though they do not distinguish between civilian and militant casualties.
Amid the escalating violence, Rubio visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem, reiterating U.S. recognition of the city as Israel’s capital. The broader context of the crisis dates to the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people and triggered a prolonged Israeli military campaign in Gaza that has so far claimed over 64,000 lives, according to local authorities.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
