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The European Union will present measures on Wednesday to pressure Israel over its Gaza policy, including potential suspension of trade privileges, as Israeli forces launched a ground offensive into Gaza City that killed at least 101 Palestinians in a single day.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas announced via social media platform X that the European Commission would propose "certain measures to pressure Tel Aviv to change course on Gaza," warning that Israel's ground operation "will worsen the already dire situation."
"Israel's ground operation in Gaza means more death, destruction and displacement," Kallas stated.
"Suspending trade privileges and imposing sanctions on extremist ministers and violent settlers will clearly show that the EU demands an end to this war," she noted.
The Israeli military announced it had begun ground operations into Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip during nighttime hours, with two divisions currently participating and a third expected to join in the coming days.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed during a corruption trial hearing that they had launched intense attacks on Gaza City.
According to hospital sources and eyewitnesses in the region, at least 86 bodies were brought to hospitals in Gaza City alone following heavy bombardment. The total death toll across the Gaza Strip reached 101, including nine killed in central Gaza and six in southern areas.
Witnesses reported that many of the dead were women and children, with at least 23 civilians killed in bombings in northwestern Gaza City and 20 bodies recovered from rubble in the city's central area, along with 15 wounded.
Hamas characterized the expanded ground operations as "a new phase of genocide and ethnic cleansing," stating that the attacks are being carried out "with open political and military support from the United States," making Washington responsible for what is happening.
The group called the U.S. administration a "key partner" in the genocide and ethnic cleansing occurring in Gaza.
Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin, referencing a UN Investigation Commission report, stated: "According to the UN report, it's very clear that genocide is taking place. The Israeli government will have to be held accountable for what is happening."
Martin noted that Israel's actions in Gaza meet four out of five genocide criteria, adding, "We are all witnesses to this. All buildings in Gaza have been destroyed. The report shows that 90% of all housing has been destroyed, educational institutions have been destroyed, health infrastructure and reproductive health facilities have been eliminated."
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the situation in Gaza as "horrific" and "systematic destruction," stating that Israel shows no interest in serious negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release.
"What we're seeing in Gaza today is horrific. I've never seen civilians being killed en masse like this in any conflict since I became Secretary-General," Guterres said at a press conference at UN headquarters.
Regarding Israel's attack on the Hamas negotiation team in Qatar's capital Doha, Guterres stated: "Let's be clear, considering the attack that took place in Qatar, it appears Israel has no interest in serious negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of hostages."
Guterres emphasized that Israel's obstruction of aid distribution and repeated forced displacement orders are "morally, politically and legally unacceptable."
When asked about deploying a UN force to protect civilians in Gaza, Guterres said this would be impossible, stating, "It would be rejected by Israel and I believe also rejected by the United States."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that U.S. President Donald Trump invited him to meet at the White House on September 29.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at a press conference on the economy. Netanyahu said Trump's invitation came during a phone call yesterday.
This will be Trump's 4th face-to-face meeting with Netanyahu since taking office.
The Israeli military announced it conducted at least 850 airstrikes on Gaza in one week, destroying approximately 2,000 buildings in the past month alone.
The military threatened that airstrikes would continue in areas where ground forces have entered.
According to updated casualty figures, since Israel resumed intensive attacks on March 18 following a ceasefire that had taken effect on January 19, 12,413 people have been killed and 53,271 wounded in Gaza.
Since October 7, 2023, Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip have killed at least 64,964 Palestinians and wounded 165,312.
The ground offensive represents an escalation of what humanitarian organizations have described as one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent decades, with bombardment continuing for approximately two years and access to humanitarian assistance severely restricted by Israel.
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