In the early hours of September 27, 2025, the Gaza Strip was rocked by a series of Israeli airstrikes and gunfire that left at least 38 people dead, including nine members of a single family. The attacks, which targeted residential areas in central and northern Gaza, came just a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a defiant speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, vowing that Israel "must finish the job" against Hamas.
According to officials at Al-Ahly Hospital, where the victims’ bodies were brought, the strikes hit the Nuseirat refugee camp, the Shati refugee camp, and the Tufah neighbourhood. Many of the casualties were killed inside their homes, underscoring the devastating impact of the ongoing conflict on Gaza’s civilian population. The hospital’s staff described scenes of chaos and grief as families searched for loved ones amid the rubble.
The timing of the strikes, coming so soon after Netanyahu’s high-profile speech, has drawn sharp international attention. In his address to the UN, Netanyahu did not mince words about his government’s intentions. "Tel Aviv must finish the job against Hamas," he declared, reiterating Israel’s commitment to its military campaign. He also used the platform to criticize countries such as Australia, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom for recognizing Palestine as a state, arguing that such moves "encourage terrorism against Jews and against innocent people everywhere."
Netanyahu, who is often referred to by his nickname ‘Bibi,’ went even further, making a provocative comparison: recognizing Palestine, he said, was akin to "giving Al-Qaeda a state one mile from New York." He insisted that while the West might yield to international pressure, Israel would stand firm. "Antisemitism dies hard. In fact, it doesn't die at all," Netanyahu remarked, reflecting the deep sense of siege and defiance that has characterized much of his recent rhetoric. (As reported by OneIndia and other outlets.)
The prime minister’s comments have not gone unnoticed on the world stage. The European Union, which has been increasingly vocal in its criticism of Israeli policy in Gaza, is now considering imposing tariffs and sanctions on Israel. Earlier this month, the EU passed a nonbinding resolution urging Israel to commit to an independent Palestinian nation—a proposal that Netanyahu has flatly rejected as a "nonstarter." The mounting pressure from European leaders signals a possible shift in diplomatic dynamics, as frustration with the ongoing violence grows.
Meanwhile, the legal and moral scrutiny of Israel’s actions has intensified. In 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu, accusing him of crimes against humanity. The charges are grave: the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber I stated that there are "reasonable grounds to believe that Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Gallant bear criminal responsibility as co-perpetrators for committing acts including the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare and crimes against humanity such as murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts." Netanyahu has consistently denied all allegations, dismissing them as politically motivated attacks on Israel’s right to defend itself.
The ICC’s move has added another layer of complexity to an already volatile situation. For many Palestinians and their supporters around the world, the arrest warrant represents a long-overdue acknowledgment of suffering in Gaza and the West Bank. For Netanyahu and his allies, however, it is seen as an affront to Israel’s sovereignty and security. The divide could hardly be starker.
The latest round of violence has once again put Gaza’s civilian population in the crosshairs. The strikes on the Nuseirat and Shati refugee camps, as well as the Tufah neighbourhood, have left entire families mourning. Hospitals, already stretched thin by months of conflict, are struggling to cope with the influx of casualties. Local officials and aid workers have described the situation as "dire," with many residents lacking access to basic necessities and facing the constant threat of further attacks.
International reactions have been swift but divided. Some Western governments have echoed Netanyahu’s warnings about terrorism and the dangers of recognizing a Palestinian state, while others have called for immediate de-escalation and renewed efforts toward a two-state solution. The European Union’s consideration of sanctions marks a notable escalation in diplomatic pressure, but it remains to be seen whether such measures will have any tangible impact on the ground.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has long been a flashpoint in Middle Eastern and global politics. Each new round of violence brings renewed calls for accountability, but also deepens entrenched divisions. The ICC’s involvement is unprecedented in its direct targeting of a sitting Israeli prime minister, and the charges—starvation as a method of warfare, murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts—are among the most serious in international law.
Netanyahu’s speech at the UN was, in many ways, a reflection of the political pressures he faces at home and abroad. Domestically, he has been under fire from both hardliners demanding a tougher stance against Hamas and moderates urging restraint to avoid further civilian casualties. Internationally, Israel’s military actions in Gaza have drawn condemnation from human rights organizations, world leaders, and, now, the ICC.
Yet, as the events of September 27 have shown, the cycle of violence continues. For those living in Gaza, the prospect of peace seems as distant as ever. Families who lost loved ones in the latest strikes are left to pick up the pieces, even as the world debates the legality and morality of the conflict. The humanitarian situation in the enclave remains bleak, with infrastructure in ruins and little hope for immediate relief.
In the coming weeks, all eyes will be on how Israel responds to mounting international pressure, the threat of EU sanctions, and the ongoing legal proceedings at the ICC. Netanyahu’s insistence that Israel "must finish the job" against Hamas suggests that, for now, the government is unlikely to alter its course. But with each new strike, the cost—in lives lost and communities shattered—continues to rise.
The story of Gaza’s suffering is, sadly, not a new one. But the combination of military escalation, international legal action, and diplomatic maneuvering has brought the situation to a critical juncture. Whether this moment leads to meaningful change or simply more of the same remains to be seen. For the families mourning their dead in Gaza, the stakes could not be higher.