Overview

• Israel declared Gaza City a combat zone, canceled local tactical pauses for aid, and said initial phases of a new operation had begun, urging residents to move south.
• Strikes intensified across the enclave with reports of deaths and injuries and orders affecting up to nearly one million people, as the UN said it will stay in Gaza City to keep lifesaving work going.
• In Genoa a mass drive led by Music for Peace collected roughly 250–300 tonnes of food in five days, with four sailboats set to depart on August 31 and additional supplies routed to Catania for loading.
• Organizers say the Global Sumud Flotilla plans 40–50 small vessels departing August 31–September 4 from Barcelona, Genoa, Catania, and Tunis to converge in international waters and attempt to reach Gaza, acknowledging the risk of naval interception.
• Public pressure is rising in Italy, with about 5,000 people marching at the Venice Film Festival and port workers in Genoa signaling further actions if aid deliveries are blocked.