September 21, 2025; Israel Begins Ground Invasion of Gaza City, Countries Formally Recognize Palestinian Statehood, Israel Strikes Lebanon

Months of escalating violence in Gaza City culminated this week in the beginning of Israel’s ground invasion of the area. In other news, Israel launched a strike on Lebanon that killed American citizens, including children. Additionally, a string of powerful Western countries formally announced their recognition of Palestinian statehood.

Israel’s move to begin its ground invasion of Gaza City occurred on Tuesday, following a period of heavy Israeli bombing intensifying by the day. Last week, Israel issued an evacuation order for Gaza City residents, indicating the imminence of a major assault. The invasion a few days ago generated widespread terror in the city among Palestinians, already exhausted from nearly two years of brutality. According to the Israeli military, approximately 400,000 Gazans have evacuated from northern Gaza, including Gaza City, as of the beginning of the invasion, heading to the South where most displaced Palestinians are concentrated. However, half a million Palestinians are estimated to remain in northern Gaza, with hundreds of thousands in Gaza City alone.

On the same day, independent experts commissioned by the UN Human Rights Council joined a growing number of international organizations accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. It should be noted that the Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, which issued the report, does not speak for the UN itself. Of course, the Israeli government vehemently denied the allegation, maintaining that it is targeting Hamas. In addition to its conclusion, the report called for international intervention to put a stop to the war.

Although tangible international intervention against the war has yet to meaningfully take place, Britain, Canada, and Australia have followed up on their recent pledges to recognize a Palestinian state with formal recognition today. Their announcements were joined later today by Portugal. This week, countries will convene at the 80th UN General Assembly, where France and various other countries are expected to issue their formal recognitions as well. These actions drew forceful condemnation from Israeli government officials, including Netanyahu, who accused the countries of rewarding Hamas and terrorism. Netanyahu declared that “there will be no Palestinian state.” The coordinated announcements and Israel’s defiant remarks represent both a growing willingness among Western countries to express sympathy for Palestinians and a growing Israeli indifference towards international perception.

Also today, Israel killed five people in a strike on Lebanon, including a father and three of his children, who were American citizens. The mother was left in critical condition. The strike took place in Bint Jbeil, located in the south of Lebanon. Israel claimed it was targeting a Hezbollah operator, who it said was also killed in the strike. The IDF said it “regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals” and that the strike is under review. Despite the current ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah negotiated last year, Israel has continued to carry out strikes in Lebanon.

While international leaders recite decades-old incantations of a two-state solution, the on-the-ground situation remains hopeless.