Live: 54 Palestinians killed, 831 wounded in 24 hours

An American man and a Tunisian man detained by Israel while on board a Freedom Flotilla vessel heading to Gaza were released from prison on Thursday. 

Christian Smalls and Hatem Aouini were aboard the Handala when it was stormed by Israeli forces in international waters on 26 July.

Both were put in Givon prison in Israel. Both went on hunger strike for five days to protest against mistreatment.

Aouini was met by Tunisian embassy staff at the border with Jordan.

US consulate and US Embassy officials did not meet with Smalls despite repeated requests for assistance and being notified in advance of his arrival details, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition said in a press release.

All 21 volunteers aboard the Handala have now been released from Israeli captivity. 

The raid of the Handala was broadcast live by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, showing soldiers confronting unarmed passengers as they sat on deck with their hands raised, singing the anti-fascist anthem "Bella Ciao."

The Handala, carrying 19 activists, including European MPs and two Al Jazeera journalists, was intercepted roughly 100 kilometres west of Gaza, and around 50km off Egypt's coast.

More than 10,300 Palestinian political prisoners remain captive in Israeli prisons, with at least 320 of them children in violation of international law.
 

The decision came after years of hesitation. It was constantly discussed, but never implemented.

On 24 July, French President Emmanuel Macron finally confirmed in a letter addressed to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas that France will recognise the state of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September.

The announcement provoked the ire of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who "strongly condemned" a decision that "rewards terrorism".

The United States, Israel's main supporter, considered it a "reckless decision [that] only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace".

The French president did not choose the date of his announcement randomly. Days later, on 28 and 29 July, a conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia devoted to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was held at the UN.

On this occasion, the French authorities hoped to convince other states to commit to the same path. And their gamble appears to have paid off, at least partially.

On 29 July, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the United Kingdom will recognise a Palestinian state by September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip by then and "commit to a long-term sustainable peace reviving the prospect of a two-state solution".

The same day, 15 western countries led by France launched a "New York Call" stating their willingness to move toward recognition of a Palestinian state.

Read more: France's recognition of Palestinian state: A 'symbolic' move with questionable effectiveness

The leader of the Houthis in Yemen has said that its support for Gaza continues, announcing the fourth stage of the operation, Al Jazeera Arabic has reported.

"This means targeting the ships of any company that deals with the enemy," Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said, adding that announcing the fourth phase is a "necessary step due to the situation in Gaza".  

The group has intensified attacks on Israel and targeted commercial shipping in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea in support of Palestinians in Gaza. 

On 29 July, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that Britain would recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September, "unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza and commits to a long-term sustainable peace".

Of course, any British recognition of the state of Palestine, if and when it happens, would mark a historic moment. Britain bears a unique responsibility as the author of the Balfour Declaration and the mandatory power in Palestine.

If recognition does take place, it would reinforce the British government's stated support for a two-state solution, after decades of recognising only one state, Israel, while denying the other.

It would chart a trajectory that rejects Israel's attempt to impose a one-state apartheid reality across the whole of historic Palestine.

It would set the terms for any future peace process, in which the end goal must include a Palestinian state, reaffirming the British government's stated commitment to a two-state solution, as outlined in its announcement.

So why were Palestinians and others not out on the streets celebrating the British government's announcement that emerged from an emergency recall of the cabinet?

Read more: Recognition of a Palestinian state should not be a pawn in a diplomatic game Opinion by Chris Doyle 

Gaza's Civil Defense spokesman Mahmoud Basal has said that humanitarian aid must be brought in officially and secured through specific mechanisms, Al Jazeera reported. 

A large number of aid seekers have been killed as a result of direct targeting by Israel, he said, adding that the current method of delivering aid is not practical.

Since May, Israeli forces have killed more than 1,330 Palestinian aid seekers and over 8,818 others have been wounded, mainly at the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution sites run by the US and Israel. 

Portugal has joined a growing number of countries considering the recognition of the State of Palestine at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in September.

Prime Minister Luis Montenegro’s office said on Thursday that the government would consult with the president and parliament before making a final decision.

Portugal “is considering recognition of the Palestinian state, as part of a procedure that could be concluded during the high-level week of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, to be held in New York in September,” the statement read.

It also cited "the extremely worrying developments in the conflict, both from a humanitarian perspective and through repeated references to a possible annexation of Palestinian territories" by Israel as its reason behind the decision. 

Following the announcement, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said: "The government took a very carefully considered decision in consultation with its European and other partners."

The plan follows similar announcements by France and the UK to formally recognise Palestine.

On Wednesday, New Zealand and Australia also signed a declaration suggesting they may follow suit in the coming months.

Read more: Portugal joins states considering recognition of Palestinian state in September 

French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot has said that the US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's (GHF) militarised distribution of aid has generated a bloodbath, and called for the cessation of its activities. 

“I want to call for the cessation of the activities of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the militarised distribution of humanitarian aid that has generated a bloodbath in distribution lines in Gaza, which is a scandal, which is shameful, and has to stop,” Barrot told reporters after meeting his Cypriot counterpart in Nicosia.

Since May, Israeli forces have killed more than 1,330 Palestinian aid seekers, and over 8,818 others have been wounded, mainly at the GHF distribution sites. 

Israel continues to block all aid to Gaza, which has led to at least 155 Palestinians being starved to death. 

Portugal's Prime Minister Luis Montenegro has said that his country intends to recognise the state of Palestine in September, AFP has reported. 

"The Portuguese government will consult the president and parliament on the question of recognising the State of Palestine at the UN in September," Montenegro’s office has said in a statement.

This comes a day after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the UK will recognise the state of Palestine in September, "unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza". 

The announcement was followed by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who said that the nation will recognise the Palestinian state at the UN in September. 

France and Malta have also said they will recognise Palestine. 

The United States said on Thursday that it was placing sanctions of officials in the Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organisation over their work taking Israel to international courts.

According to the State Department, the unnamed officials were “not complying with their commitments and undermining the prospects for peace”.

It cited “initiating and supporting actions at international organizations” and “taking actions to internationalize its conflict with Israel such as through the International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ)”.

This is a developing story…

Read more: US sanctions Palestinian officials over ICJ and ICC cases
 

Sweden and the Netherlands have called on the European Union to suspend a trade deal with Israel over its assault on the Gaza Strip.

Mounting pressure has grown on the EU, Israel's largest trading partner, to freeze its association agreement with Israel, which covers both trade and political relations.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Thursday that the situation in Gaza had become "utterly deplorable" and that Israel was failing to uphold its obligations with regards to the delivery of aid.

"Sweden therefore demands that the EU, as soon as possible, freezes the trade component of the association agreement," he wrote on X.

"Economic pressure on Israel must increase. The Israeli government must allow unrestricted humanitarian aid in Gaza."

His comments come two days after a similar stance was taken by the Netherlands.

Dutch foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp also advocated suspending the trade element of the EU-Israel Association Agreement if aid was not stepped up in Gaza.

The calls for suspending the deal come as a number of countries have announced they will recognise the State of Palestine in response to Israel's continuing onslaught on Gaza.

Read more: Sweden and the Netherlands call for EU to suspend Israel trade deal

Two Palestinians have starved to death today due to the Israeli blockade, Al Jazeera reported, quoting medical sources. 

Both cases are reported to be children, although it is unclear whether the two deaths include the "young man" who starved to death earlier today. 

The latest casualties bring the number of starvation-related deaths to 159, including 90 children, as Israel continues to block aid to Gaza. 

Israeli soldier Roi Wasserstein died by suicide on Wednesday, after being discharged from around 300 days of duty, Haaretz has reported. 

Wasserstein was stationed in Gaza as part of the 401st Brigade, and his death marks the seventh suicide case among Israeli forces this month.  

Close to 50 Israeli soldiers have died by suicide since October 2023, local media said on Wednesday. 

Haaretz has reported that 17 soldiers have died by suicide this year, while the number stood at 24 in 2024. 

More than 111 Palestinians have been killed and 820 others wounded in Israeli attacks across Gaza in the past 24 hours, the Palestinian health ministry in the enclave has said. 

Updating the toll posted earlier today, the ministry said the number includes 91 aid seekers. 

Since May, Israeli forces have killed more than 1,330 Palestinian aid seekers, and over 8,818 others have been wounded in Israeli attacks, mainly at the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution sites run by the US and Israel. 

Israel forces have killed a total of 60,249 Palestinians and wounded 147,089 others since 7 October 2023, the ministry said on Telegram.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's announcement on Tuesday that the UK intends to recognise a Palestinian state by September presents itself as a significant diplomatic shift.

However, a closer examination reveals this to be a conditional statement, not a genuine step towards justice or an end to the brutal realities in Gaza and the Occupied West Bank.

This move risks functioning as a distraction, obscuring the UK's complicity and absolving it of its historical and legal responsibilities.

While Gaza’s civilians starve under siege, the UK government dangles a conditional promise of statehood.

Israel’s assault on Gaza has been catastrophic, with over 60,000 Palestinians killed since October 2023, and the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) stating the starvation of the people of Gaza is "manufactured and man-made".

There is, for all to see, a genocide unfolding. Yet, Starmer’s response has been to pledge recognition of Palestine only if Israel first meets an extensive checklist: a ceasefire, unimpeded aid deliveries, a halt to West Bank annexations, and more. 

Read more: Starmer's dangerous message: Palestinians can only have their basic rights if Israel allows it Opinion by Ismail Patel

Germany's foreign minister said on Thursday that Israel was increasingly isolated diplomatically over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the push by some countries to recognise a Palestinian state.

Johann Wadephul said in a statement before heading to Israel that the recent UN conference on a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict showed that "Israel is finding itself increasingly in the minority".

Germany is one of Israel's staunchest diplomatic allies but Wadephul noted that "in view of the open threats of annexation by some in the Israeli government, a growing number of European countries are ready to recognise a state of Palestine without previous negotiations".

"A negotiated two-state solution remains the only path that can offer people on both sides a life in peace, security and dignity," he said.

"For Germany, the recognition of a Palestinian state comes more at the end of that process. But such a process must begin now."