Overview

• The Israel Defense Forces began transporting tents and evacuation kits into Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing on August 17 under prior inspection.
• IDF Chief of Staff Tamir Zamir said forces will soon transition to the next operational phase, signaling intensified operations around Gaza City.
• An Israeli airstrike near al-Ahli Arab Hospital on August 17 killed at least seven people, according to Palestinian sources, while the military says it targeted Hamas fighters.
• Indirect negotiations on a ceasefire and hostage releases between Israel and Hamas remain stalled, prompting stepped-up attacks on Gaza City’s outskirts.
• Gaza Health Authority reports over 61,900 Palestinian deaths since October 2023 and warns that restricted aid access and mass displacement have worsened the humanitarian crisis.