International pressure to end Israel's ongoing war on the Gaza Strip is growing as the conflict enters its second year, with Washington leading fresh diplomatic efforts to secure a new ceasefire. The push comes amid mounting genocide accusations against Israel and rapidly escalating humanitarian and political developments. The Gaza Ministry of Health reported that 77 Palestinians were killed and 265 wounded in the past 24 hours due to Israeli airstrikes. Since hostilities resumed on 18 March, 13,060 people have been killed and 55,742 injured. The overall death toll since the war began in October 2023 has now climbed to 65,926, with 167,783 wounded. In New York, Colombian President Gustavo Petro described the situation in Gaza as "genocide in every sense of the word" during a pro-Palestine rally in Times Square. He reiterated his call for the formation of an "international army to protect humanity and liberate Palestine," declaring, "The goal is to eradicate the Palestinian people. There is no other way to interpret what is happening." In a potential sign of a policy shift, US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law Jared Kushner told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that "the time has come to end the war," according to Israel's public broadcaster Kan 11. The meeting, held in New York, centred on amendments Netanyahu requested to Trump's proposed plan to end the conflict. Citing informed sources, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported that Hamas had given initial approval to Trump's proposal, which includes the immediate release of all detainees. Qatar is said to have played a pivotal role in persuading Hamas to accept the framework. Trump aims to finalise the agreement during his upcoming meeting with Netanyahu on Monday. Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reported that former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected to head an "International Transitional Authority" under Trump's plan. The authority would govern Gaza with Palestinian technocrats under UN oversight, supported by an Arab-led international force for several years before transferring full control to the Palestinians. A separate Reuters investigation cast doubt on Israel's account of an airstrike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis on 25 August, which killed 22 people, including five journalists. Israel claimed the strike targeted a Hamas-operated camera identified via drone footage. However, Reuters' findings suggested the equipment belonged to a news agency and had long been operated by one of its journalists. Amid a worsening financial crisis caused by Israel's withholding of tax revenues, 12 countries — including France, the UK, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Spain — announced a coalition to provide direct financial support to the Palestinian Authority. Spain's Foreign Ministry said the initiative aims to "preserve the PA's ability to deliver essential services, maintain security, and ensure regional stability while safeguarding the two-state solution." In a related development, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights released a report revealing that more than 150 companies — including four major online accommodation platforms — are conducting business in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, which the UN deems illegal. The report urged these companies to "address or cooperate in addressing the adverse impacts they have caused through appropriate measures," noting that many are registered in the United States, Canada, China, France, and Germany.
