Gaza City Under Intense Bombardment as Portugal Prepares to Recognize Palestinian State

GAZA CITY — Overnight Israeli strikes have claimed the lives of at least 14 people in Gaza City, health officials reported, as Israel intensifies its offensive and continues to urge residents to evacuate the area. Among the dead were six members of a single family, killed when their home was hit early Saturday morning.

The escalating military actions unfold against a backdrop of growing international frustration with the protracted conflict. Several Western nations are signaling their intent to recognize Palestinian statehood, with the United Nations General Assembly set to convene next week. Portugal’s Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed Friday its plans to officially recognize a Palestinian state on Sunday, September 21st.

Portugal joins a list of other Western countries, including the U.K., France, Canada, Australia, Malta, Belgium, and Luxembourg, that are anticipated to move towards recognizing Palestinian statehood in the coming days. This diplomatic shift comes as the Israeli military’s operation, which began this week, further deepens a conflict that has ravaged the Middle East for nearly two years.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains catastrophic. Over 65,000 people have been killed since the conflict began in October 2023, with vast areas of the strip destroyed and approximately 90% of the population displaced. Experts continue to warn of famine conditions, particularly in Gaza City.

Further exacerbating the crisis, UNICEF reported on Friday that armed individuals stole life-saving therapeutic food destined for thousands of malnourished children in Gaza City. The aid agency stated that drivers were held at gunpoint, while Israel’s army subsequently blamed Hamas for the theft. Aid groups continue to call for an immediate ceasefire to allow critical assistance to reach those in need, warning that forced evacuations will only worsen the dire situation.

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