Pope Francis expressed profound closeness to the Palestinian people in Gaza on September 17th, 2025, calling for a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and a negotiated diplomatic solution respecting international humanitarian law. The appeal, made via X at 1:03 PM UTC, highlights the unacceptable conditions and forced displacement of Gazans. His statement comes as journalist Islam Badr is monitoring details of an alleged massacre in Gaza City's Al-Shati camp, with individuals still missing under rubble. This follows reports from earlier in the day and previous windows of continued Israeli ground operations in Gaza City, including advances in the Rimal neighborhood and along Al-Rashid Road, and the reported destruction of a 13th-century mosque in the Tuffah neighborhood. Fiji officially opened its embassy in Jerusalem today, September 17th, 2025, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Fiji's prime minister in attendance. This diplomatic development occurs amid the ongoing conflict and connectivity disruptions in Gaza, as reported by Netblocks, affecting the northern sector. Prime Minister Netanyahu stated this morning that the Israeli economy remains strong 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, attributed by the IDF to false identification. Earlier, the European Commission 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 focus on repetitive raids rather than prolonged occupation, impacting Hamas's divisions, with reports of emerging anti-Hamas groups in Khan Yunis.
