CPC Update September 2, 2025: Israeli Strike Kills Houthi PM, Belgium Recognizes Palestine, Israeli Operation in Gaza City Begins

This week was marked by an Israeli strike that killed the Houthi’s prime minister in Yemen, Belgium’s pledge to recognize a Palestinian state (and Israel’s response to this widespread recognition) and — most recently — the beginning of Israel’s ground operation in Gaza City.

Belgium announced its plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly later in September, the most recent of various European countries to do so. Belgian Prime Minister Prevot did condition the recognition pledge on Hamas releasing all of the remaining Israeli hostages and not exercising any role in the governance of Gaza. Prevot also wrote in his announcement that Belgium would place 12 sanctions on Israel, including a ban on importing products associated with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. As part of these sanctions, Belgium also declared two “extremist” Israeli ministers as “persona non gratae” in Brussels. This designation also applies to “several violent settlers”, and Hamas leaders as well.

In retaliation to the wave of pledges to recognize Palestine this summer, Netanyahu is contemplating annexing parts of the West Bank. According to Israeli officials, in an upcoming meeting, Netanyahu will discuss these annexation plans with top cabinet ministers, including Finance Minister Smotrich. Netanyahu is reportedly weighing various forms of annexation, from a takeover of settlements in the West Bank to an annexation of Area C. However, this has not been confirmed yet by Israel or the US.

Meanwhile, the Houthis, a Yemeni rebel group designated as a terrorist organization, has confirmed the killing of its prime minister, Ahmed Ghaleb Nasser al-Rahawi, by an Israeli airstrike. The airstrike targeted Sana, Yemen’s capital, and also killed other senior Houthi officials. Since October 7th, the Houthis have been launching missiles at Israel and attacking ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Today, Israel began its ground operation in Gaza City, which was authorized by Netanyahu last month. Israel began mobilizing tens of thousands of reservists and reiterated evacuation warnings to Gaza City’s residents. This decision has sparked immense fear in Gaza City of intensified killing and even more displacement. Many Israelis are also concerned for how this operation will impact the hostages and the prospects for a ceasefire deal. Just yesterday, on what was supposed to be their first day of school, Israeli teens participated in a coordinated, nationwide strike for a hostage and ceasefire deal.

It should be noted that all of these updates happen in the context of escalating settler violence and raids in the West Bank, and an atrocious humanitarian crisis in Gaza.