The Israeli army continued its advancements in Jabalia and along the Gaza Strip's coastal road on September 19th, 2025, with observed progress toward Tal Al-Hawa and urban areas, according to Arabosint on X. This report comes as Saudi Arabia on September 21st, 2025, welcomed the recognition of the State of Palestine by the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Portugal, viewing these steps as underscoring a commitment to peace and a two-state solution, as per a statement from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These diplomatic developments occurred amidst ongoing tensions, with Israeli Foreign Minister Gidon Saar meeting UK politicians in New York on September 21st, 2025, to express gratitude for their opposition to Portugal's recognition of Palestine. These meetings concluded at 10:04 PM UTC. Portugal's recognition earlier on September 21st joined similar actions by the UK, Canada, and Australia, which Palestinian Authority sources described as primarily moral and symbolic. In parallel, Hamas publicly executed three Palestinians in Gaza City on September 21st, 2025, accusing them of cooperation with Israel. Earlier on the same day, seven Palestinians, including four children, were reported killed by Israeli airstrikes near an UNRWA clinic in the Bureij refugee camp. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had confirmed the release of dozens of ultra-Orthodox defectors on the evening of September 21st, 2025, a decision criticized by some reports for its timing amidst ongoing military deployments. Earlier in the week, French President Emmanuel Macron was scheduled to co-chair a peace conference in New York with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. The Allenby Bridge crossing to Jordan remained closed for passenger traffic following an attack, and Egypt announced border security measures in the Sinai Peninsula.
