Fiji officially opened its embassy in Jerusalem today, September 17th, 2025, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Fiji's prime minister in attendance, according to X user Amit Segal. This development coincides with continued Israeli ground operations in Gaza City, where significant connectivity disruptions are affecting the northern sector due to the targeting of a main fiber optic route, as confirmed by Netblocks. The activist Hamza Al-Masri also reported continuous targeting in the Al-Karamah neighborhood, west of Gaza City. Earlier in the reporting window, between 4:01 AM UTC and 4:46 AM UTC, Israeli troops were reported to be advancing into the Rimal neighborhood and along Al-Rashid Road. Al Jazeera English reported that Israeli forces destroyed a 13th-century mosque in Gaza City's Tuffah neighborhood on September 17th. Prime Minister Netanyahu stated this morning via a post on X that the Israeli economy remains strong, citing global amazement at its data even during wartime. He also reiterated his stance on Qatar's neutrality and requested a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. False alarms for suspected drone infiltration were reported in Be'er Ora, southern Israel, around 5:05 AM UTC, which the IDF attributed to false identification. The European Commission had previously proposed suspending free trade agreements with Israel and imposing sanctions on settlers and Hamas, a proposal that currently lacks sufficient support among Union member states. Analyses suggest Israel's current fighting methods in Gaza differ from previous operations, focusing on repetitive raids rather than prolonged occupation, impacting Hamas's divisions. Reports mention the emergence of anti-Hamas armed groups in Khan Yunis and unconfirmed reports of an armed militia in Shujaiya creating safe zones.
