Strikes across Gaza kill at least 31 as international scholars accuse
Israel of genocide
[September 02, 2025]
By WAFAA SHURAFA, SAMY MAGDY and SAM METZ
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel launched strikes across the Gaza
Strip on Monday, killing at least 31 people as it presses ahead with a
major offensive in the territory's largest city, according to health
officials. Leading genocide scholars, meanwhile, accused Israel of
genocide, allegations the government vehemently rejects.
Airstrikes and artillery shelling have echoed through Gaza City since
Israel declared it a combat zone last week. On the city’s outskirts and
in the Jabaliya refugee camp, residents have observed explosive-laden
robots demolishing buildings.
“Another merciless night in Gaza City,” said Saeed Abu Elaish, a
Jabaliya-born medic sheltering in the northwestern side of the city.
Hospitals in Gaza said at least 31 people were killed by Israeli fire
Monday, more than half of them women and children. At least 13 people
were killed in Gaza City, where Israel has carried out several previous
large-scale raids since Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel to
ignite the war on Oct. 7, 2023.
Israel says it only targets militants and blames Hamas for civilian
casualties because the militant group — now largely reduced to a
guerrilla organization — operates in densely-populated areas.
Double threat of war and starvation
Gaza City residents, many displaced by war multiple times, now face the
twin threats of combat and hunger. The world’s leading authority on food
crises said last month that it was in the throes of famine — a crisis
driven by ongoing fighting and Israel's blockade, magnified by repeated
mass displacement and the collapse of food production.
A total of 63,557 Palestinians have been killed in the war, according to
Gaza's Health Ministry, which says another 160,660 people have been
wounded. The ministry doesn't differentiate between civilians and
combatants in its count, but says women and children make up around half
the dead.
The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government but staffed by medical
professionals. U.N. agencies and many independent experts consider its
figures to be the most reliable estimate of war casualties. Israel
disputes them, but hasn't provided its own toll.
Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the Oct. 7
attack and took 251 people hostage. Forty-eight hostages are still
inside Gaza, around 20 of them believed by Israel to be alive, after
most of the rest were released in ceasefires or other deals.
Scholars accuse Israel of genocide
The largest professional organization of scholars studying genocide said
Monday that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
Israel, which was established in the wake of the Holocaust, in which 6
million European Jews and others were killed, vehemently rejects the
allegation. It says it takes every measure to avoid harming civilians
and is fighting a war of self-defense after Hamas' Oct. 7 attack, which
Israel says was itself a genocidal act.
A resolution from the International Association of Genocide Scholars —
which has around 500 members worldwide, including a number of Holocaust
experts — said that “Israel’s policies and actions in Gaza meet the
legal definition of genocide,” as well as crimes against humanity and
war crimes.
The resolution was supported by 86% of those who voted. The organization
didn’t release the specifics of the voting.
“People who are experts in the study of genocide can see this situation
for what it is,” Melanie O’Brien, the organization’s president and a
professor of international law at the University of Western Australia,
told The Associated Press.
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Displaced Palestinians fleeing northern Gaza Strip move with their
belongings along the Sea Road, in Gaza City, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025.
(AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
The Israeli Foreign Ministry called it “an embarrassment to the
legal profession and to any academic standard.” It said the
determination was “entirely based on Hamas’ campaign of lies.”
In July, two prominent Israeli rights groups — B’Tselem and
Physicians for Human Rights-Israel — said that their country is
committing genocide in Gaza. The organizations don't reflect
mainstream thinking in Israel, but it marked the first time that
local Jewish-led organizations have made such accusations.
International human rights groups have also leveled the allegation.
Mourners vent anger at hostage funeral
Thousands of Israelis gathered for the funeral of Idan Shtivi, one
of two hostages whose remains were recovered in a military operation
last week. A private funeral was held for Ilan Weiss, the other
captive.
Some mourners expressed anger at the government for not reaching a
deal with Hamas to end the fighting and return the remaining
captives.
“It is very, very infuriating that no one, no one from this
government stands up and says enough,” said Ami Dagan, a mourner
from Rishon Letzion.
“It’s a horror, it’s profound sadness and grief beyond words to
describe the anger, the insult to the hostages, the insult to the
fallen, the insult to the soldiers sent once again to Gaza," said
Ruti Taro, another mourner. “No one knows why, except for the
power-hungry ruler.”
Many Israelis accuse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of prolonging
the war for political purposes, and mass protests calling for a
ceasefire and hostage release have swelled in recent weeks.
Flotilla leaves Barcelona after storm delay
An activist flotilla bound for Gaza left Barcelona hours after a
last-minute delay caused by stormy weather.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, consisting of around 20 boats with
participants from 44 countries, had earlier set sail and then turned
back, with organizers citing safety concerns. The expedition
includes climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, who took part in a
previous flotilla that was intercepted in July.
The flotilla is the largest attempt yet to symbolically break
Israel's blockade of Gaza. All previous ones have been intercepted
at sea by Israeli forces. Israel says the blockade is needed to
prevent Hamas from importing arms and that there are multiple other
channels for sending aid to Gaza.
Israel has taken steps to further restrict the delivery of food to
northern Gaza as it presses ahead with its latest offensive in Gaza
City.
___
Metz reported from Jerusalem, and Magdy from Cairo. Molly Quell in
The Hague, Netherlands, and Renata Brito in Barcelona, Spain,
contributed to this report.
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