Israel News for 7-23-2025
News Update
Hamas has rejected the current U.S. backed ceasefire proposal being negotiated in Doha. Ceasefire negotiations reportedly stalled over who distributes humanitarian aid in Gaza when the deal goes into effect. Hamas is demanding that the United Nations and the Palestinian Red Crescent control all the aid running into Gaza. The U.S. proposal, accepted by Israel, has those groups participating in distribution, but not in control. Hamas is also demanding that the U.S.-Israeli sponsored Gaza Humanitarian Foundation be cut out entirely from aid distribution. Israel has refused to allow the U.N. to have control over aid because it’s aid distribution is run by UNRWA, which Israel claims has ties to Hamas and employees who took part in the October 7 massacre.
Other issues that remain unresolved include how wide of a buffer zone Israel would maintain in the Philadelphi corridor, along the Egyptian border. Israel is reportedly willing to pull back approximately 1,000 to 1,200 meters from the corridor, while Hamas is demanding 800 meters. Hamas is also pressing for the release of more terrorists from Israeli prisons.
According to an IDF statement yesterday, based on the daily surveillance and inspections carried out by the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) within the Gaza Strip, there is no real hunger crisis in Gaza. The four designated food distribution centers in central and southern Gaza are achieving their purpose of getting aid to civilians without it falling into the hands of Hamas, although trucks carrying food into Gaza are still being looted. The statement said, “We speak directly with distribution workers on the ground and with aid organizations, and we’ve discovered that Hamas is using images of malnourished children from Yemen and AI-generated fakes.” It added, “There are illnesses in the Gaza Strip, including among children, but not due to malnutrition. There may be issues with access to food, and we need to expand aid operations to address those.”
Ground and air forces continue operations throughout Gaza, including in areas previously not touched by the IDF, where hostages are believed to be held. Israel is trying to pressure Hamas into accepting a deal.
Greek authorities have promised Israel they would work to distance protests from Israeli tourists “in order not to harm their experience,” after 1,600 passengers on an Israeli cruise ship docking at the Greek island of Syros were stranded on board without permission to disembark due to a large pro-Palestinian demonstration on the island. The decision not to allow passengers off the ship was made by the Israeli crew, not imposed by Greek authorities. The demonstration at the port was nonviolent, and local police promised to prevent any harm to passengers.
