Compilation of news reports – IAK staff
Israeli forces killed at least 24 Palestinians in Gaza on Sunday, including 2 aid seekers. In total, Israel has killed at least 2,610 aid seekers since the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation opened on May 27, 2025 (learn about aid seekers here).
Among the dead was a Doctors Without Borders staff member, Abed El Hameed Qaradaya, the 3rd from the organization in 3 weeks.
The number of known starvation/malnutrition deaths stands at 460, including 154 children.
Additional statistics below. For detail on Israeli attacks in Gaza on Sunday, go here.
GAZA NEWS & HEADLINES:
(For some basic info on the Palestine-Israel conflict, go here. For more critical context, skim this, this, and this. To read about a remarkable but underreported, 20-month-long peaceful protest in Gaza against Israel, go here.)
After 2 years of genocide, a sample of what Palestinians have lost
To mark two years of attacks by Israel, the Government Media Office in Gaza has released a series of figures detailing the devastating toll the war has taken on Palestinians:
- About 90 percent of the Gaza Strip has been totally destroyed by the Israeli military, which controls more than 80 percent of the territory through ground invasion, armed attacks and forced displacement orders.
- Israel has dropped more than 200,000 tonnes of explosives on the besieged enclave – and has bombed the so-called “safe zone” of al-Mawasi at least 136 times.
- At least 1,015 children under one year old have been killed by Israel, along with 1,670 medical staff, 254 journalists, and 140 civil defense rescue workers among over 77,000 Palestinians.
- More than 2,700 families, comprising more than 8,500 people, have been wiped off the civil registry. At least 56,348 children are orphaned.
- Israel has bombed 38 hospitals out of commission, with another 96 healthcare centers destroyed, and 197 ambulances and 61 civil defense vehicles also targeted.
- More than 835 mosques have been destroyed and another 180 are damaged, while three churches have been targeted multiple times. Forty cemeteries also were destroyed and bodies taken.
- The total value of initial direct damages as a result of the genocide is estimated at $70bn, including $28bn worth of damage to housing, $5bn to healthcare, and $4bn to the education sector.
#Gaza’s war: 2 years too long.
🔴 Nearly 90% of water, sanitation, and hygiene resources destroyed or damaged
🔴 Over 60% of families lack access to soap
🔴 Over 40% live near uncollected waste
🔴 Half a million women and girls lack sufficient menstrual hygiene materials… pic.twitter.com/UG6kSuYtb9
— UNRWA (@UNRWA) October 5, 2025
CEASEFIRE NEWS & HEADLINES:
Israel and Hamas to hold indirect talks on Monday to discuss ceasefire plan
Israel and Hamas are preparing for indirect negotiations in Egypt, amid hopes for a possible agreement on ending the Gaza war based on Donald Trump’s 20-point ceasefire plan.
Palestinian group Hamas said on Sunday that its delegation had arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh; the Israeli delegation will leave on Monday for the talks. Hopes for a possible ceasefire in Gaza grew after Netanyahu said on Friday that he was hopeful a deal to release all the remaining captives could be announced this week.
US President Trump said the talks were advancing quickly. “These talks have been very successful, and proceeding rapidly. The technical teams will again meet Monday, in Egypt, to work through and clarify the final details,” he said in a social media post on Sunday. “I am told that the first phase should be completed this week, and I am asking everyone to MOVE FAST.”
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Rubio’s Israel-centric statement on the negotiations
“We will know very quickly whether Hamas is serious or not by how these technical talks go in terms of the logistics,” Rubio told NBC’s Meet the Press about the release of the captives who are held in Gaza, repeating that the US wants them freed as soon as possible.
“We are the closest we have been in a very long time to having no captives held by Hamas.”
RELATED: Larry Ellison Vetted Marco Rubio for Fealty to Israel, Hacked Emails Reveal
FLOTILLA NEWS & HEADLINES:
(Read about the Gaza Freedom Flotilla 2025 missions here and here; learn about the deadly mission in 2010 here; and find out about the global flotilla here. Track the latest flotilla here.)
New aid flotilla appeals for protection as convoy approaches Gaza
Activists aboard an 11-boat aid convoy sailing to the Israel-blockaded Gaza Strip appealed for international protection on Sunday as their mission is nearing the enclave: “We are close to the possible interception point, and call to the international community to ensure the safety that we are entitled under international law,” the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) said in a statement.
“The Thousands of Madleens” convoy reached the coast of Alexandria off Egypt’s coast early Sunday, around 560 kilometers (348 miles) from Gaza, in a new bid to challenge Israel’s illegal blockade on the Palestinian enclave.
“We are carrying out our legitimate work as deputies, journalists, doctors, nurses, sailors and citizens. We are a lawful and authorized humanitarian mission. Now we are worried about what may happen to us and the ongoing brutality that keeps unfold to the Palestinians.”
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Malaysian singer-actor Hazwani Helmi, who took part in the Global Sumud Flotilla mission described “brutal” and “cruel” treatment by Israeli forces after their vessel was attacked. “Can you imagine we drank from the toilet water? Some people were very, very sick, but they [the Israelis] said: ‘Are they dead? If not, then that’s not my problem. They are very, very cruel people.”
Italian journalist Lorenzo D’Agostino, said the activists were intimidated with dogs and by soldiers pointing the laser sights of their guns at them “to scare us”, adding that his belongings and money had been “stolen by the Israelis”.
British journalist and activist Sarah Wilkinson said, “They [were] trying to assert power and domination onto us. And trying the scare tactics, the fear tactics, the actual physical assaults as well as the mental assaults. It’s a whole bag of crimes against humanity. She said the activists were held in “derelict prison” conditions, with water contaminated with fecal matter, insect-infested food and sleep deprivation tactics.
Italian journalist Saverio Tommasi said Israeli soldiers withheld medicines and treated prisoners “like monkeys”: “This is called torture. It’s called torture, a denial of human rights, even the most basic ones…They took away everyone’s medicine: people with heart disease, asthma, even an 86-year-old man… they took away his inhaler.”
Israel’s foreign ministry has denied all allegations of mistreatment* – however, far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir boasted Sunday about the harsh prison conditions and mistreatment of the flotilla activists.
*NOTE: Israel’s denial carries little weight: historically, Israel has not proven itself trustworthy. Among Israel’s lies are numerous atrocity stories about the October 7th attack that have since been proven untrue (more examples here). The Israeli military has also disseminated false stories about its own actions throughout the war. Previously, Israel has been caught in many lies – for example, this and this and this.
Many of Israel’s lies have been debunked even by traditionally pro-Israel mainstream media.
OCCUPIED WEST BANK/EAST JERUSALEM HEADLINES:
(For background on the West Bank, read this and this. For information on the significance of Israeli settlers in the West Bank, read this and this.)
The olive harvest season in the West Bank: Roots of resilience in the face of Uprooting
Army Abducts 10 Palestinians in West Bank, Including Two Children
ISRAEL NEWS & HEADLINES:
(Get a glimpse inside Israel and the turmoil and contradictions within the country. Often, our news items and headlines are taken from Israeli media.)
Ben Gvir to blow up Netanyahu’s coalition if Hamas ‘continues to exist’ after Trump deal
Israel’s influential, extremist National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir threatened on 5 October that his Jewish Power (Otzma Yehudit) party would leave the coalition government if Hamas “continues to exist” after the release of Israeli captives under the Trump ceasefire plan. calling it a “national defeat” and “eternal disgrace.”
Ben Gvir has threatened to leave Netanyahu’s coalition multiple times since Israel’s genocide in Gaza began in October two years ago, seeking to pressure the prime minister to continue the violence. He stepped down as National Security Minister when a ceasefire was reached in January, but rejoined Netanyahu’s cabinet in March after Israel resumed the war.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also called to ensure that Hamas is dismantled: “As long as there’s a threat emanating from Gaza against Israel security, be it Hamas or some successor organization … there isn’t going to be peace,” he claimed.
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HERE’S WHAT ISRAELIS ARE READING:
‘They Like Me’: Trump’s Ego Might Be the Key to Finally Ending the Gaza War
Army ‘must stay alert and ready on defense, prepared to resume combat at any moment,’ IDF chief says
OTHER NEWS & HEADLINES:
Millions around the world protest for end to genocide, release of flotilla activists
A huge protest took place in the Netherlands, where around 250,000 people filled Amsterdam’s Museum Square on Sunday before marching through the city center. Draped in Palestinian flags and dressed in red, demonstrators demanded that their government take a harder line against Israel and stop arms exports to the occupying power.
Hundreds of thousands of people across several Turkish cities marched Sunday in support of Palestinians and an aid flotilla ’s attempt to reach Gaza.
Rome saw as many a one million over the weekend, and another two million on Friday.
Johannesburg, South Africa was the site of another massive rally.
Other cities around the world hosted rallies for Gaza to commemorate the second anniversary of the beginning of the war.
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MORE HEADLINES:
Trump to Netanyahu on Gaza talks: “You’re always so f***ing negative”
ICYMI (IN CASE YOU MISSED IT) – A SELECTION OF YESTERDAY’S HEADLINES:
Netanyahu spins Gaza bloodshed into a positive
Greta Thunberg ‘forced to kiss’ Israeli flag while in custody: Report
Trump plans to make Israel great in the world’s eyes again
(Read yesterday’s daily update here.)
TAKE ACTION FOR GAZA
If Americans Knew has prepared a whole set of resources for educating and informing the public on the situation in Gaza: short videos, statistics, links, and downloadable flyers that you can print and hand out.
Watch this introductory video, and visit the website. Then pitch in to make a difference!
STATISTICS OCTOBER 7, 2023 – OCTOBER 5, 2025*:
- At least 68,209 Palestinians killed, 179,679 injured – including:
- at least 67,160 killed in Gaza (~20,000 children, 23,000 women)
- at least 1,049 killed in the West Bank (~212 children)
- at least 169,679 injured in Gaza
- more than 10,000 injured in the West Bank
- at least 460 have died from malnutrition in Gaza, including 154 children
At least 2,610 Palestinians have been killed while trying to access aid parcels from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which started operating on May 26, 2025.
Since the Israeli army unilaterally broke the January ceasefire on March 18, 2025, it has killed at least 13,568 people. 65 Israeli soldiers (most recent Sept. 28) have been killed during the same time period.
*NOTE: Thousands of those killed in Gaza have yet to be identified, and an estimated 14,000 more are still buried under rubble. Additionally, the numbers of injured and starved are very conservative estimates.
Reported Israeli death toll from October 7, 2023 – October 5, 2025: ~1,658 – including ~1,139 on October 7, 2023 (~36 children), 466 military forces since the ground invasion began in Gaza, about 52 military and civilians in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Israel.
By one count, Israeli attacks have killed approximately 270 Palestinian journalists and media workers; Palestinians have killed 4 Israeli journalists (other groups have tallied between 203 and 323 Palestinian journalists killed – depending on the criteria used).
NOTE: It is unknown at this time how many of the deaths and injuries of Israelis on October 7 were caused by Israeli soldiers.
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