Palestinians in Gaza are reacting to a possible shift in the world's attention away from the Israel-Hamas ceasefire to a new regional conflict with Iran. Israel closed all crossings into the territory of over 2 million people in the wake of its new strikes on Tehran. The Israeli military body overseeing civilian affairs in Gaza said it closed the crossings because they cannot not be safely operated under fire. It said crossings would reopen as soon as the security situation allows. Palestinians fear new lack of access to food and other basic necessities from the outside world. Memories of hunger during last year's Israeli blockade remain fresh. The latest conflict comes days after U.S. President Donald Trump rallied billions of dollars in pledges for Gaza's reconstruction.

Hospitals say that Israeli strikes overnight killed at least 57 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Hamas was still considering its response on Thursday to U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal for ending the nearly two-year war. The plan requires Hamas to return all 48 hostages — about 20 of them thought by Israel to be alive — to give up power and disarm in return for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and an end to fighting. Palestinians long for the war to end but many believe the plan favors Israel, and a Hamas official has said some elements were unacceptable, without elaborating.

Activists on board a flotilla of vessels sailing toward Gaza say the Israeli navy has begun intercepting their vessels as they approach the besieged Palestinian territory. The Global Sumud Flotilla, with Greta Thunberg, Nelson Mandela's grandson, Mandla Mandela, and several European lawmakers aboard, consists of nearly 50 boats and 500 activists and is carrying a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid. It has remained undeterred in its mission to break the Israeli blockade of the coastal strip and reach Palestinians. Several activists posted videos on social media late Wednesday in which they said Israeli naval vessels were approaching the flotilla and ordering them to turn their engines off.

Israel's defense minister has ordered all remaining Palestinians to leave Gaza City, saying it is their "last opportunity." Israel's defense ministry said Wednesday that anyone who stays will be considered a militant supporter and face the "full force" of Israel's latest offensive. At least 21 Palestinians were killed across the territory, according to local hospitals, as Hamas weighed a new proposal from U.S. President Donald Trump aimed at ending the war and returning the remaining captives taken in Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered it. A senior Hamas official says there are some points in the proposal that are unacceptable and must be amended, without elaborating.

The Gaza Health Ministry says the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 63,000 as Palestinians face the start of Israel's expanded offensive in Gaza City. The count does not distinguish between fighters and civilians killed in the 22-month war between Israel and Hamas. The ministry says five people have died from malnutrition-related causes over the past day, raising the toll to 322, including 121 children, since the war began. A military official says Israel intends to continue helping aid reach Gaza City during the offensive, but a U.N. humanitarian group fears "a horrific impact" on people already deprived of basic needs.

The world's leading authority on food crises says the Gaza Strip's largest city is gripped by famine, and that it is likely to spread without an immediate ceasefire and an end to restrictions on humanitarian aid. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification said on Friday that famine is occurring in Gaza City and could spread south to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis by the end of next month. This comes after months of warnings by aid groups that Israel's restrictions of food and other aid into Gaza, and its military offensive, were causing high levels of starvation among Palestinian civilians, particularly children. Israel called the report an "outright lie."

A key mediator on Gaza is stressing the urgency of brokering a ceasefire after Hamas showed a "positive response" to a proposal. But Israel has yet to weigh in as its military prepares an offensive on some of the territory's most populated areas. The prospect of an expanded assault on areas sheltering hundreds of thousands of civilians has sparked international outrage. Palestinians say nowhere is safe, and many Israelis fear for the remaining hostages held in Gaza. Qatar on Tuesday warned that even if a ceasefire deal is reached, it will not be "instantaneously implemented."

Local health officials in Gaza say Israeli forces have killed at least 55 people overnight, including a well-known journalist who Israel said was a militant and people who witnesses say were seeking humanitarian aid. The Al Jazeera correspondent and others were killed by an Israeli airstrike as they sheltered outside a Gaza City hospital. Al Jazeera has denied Israeli allegations that Anas al-Sharif was a militant. Hospital officials and witnesses say 12 of those killed by Israeli gunfire were trying to reach an aid distribution site. Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced plans to recognize Palestinian statehood, joining France, Britain and Canada.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says Germany won't authorize exports of military equipment to Israel that could be used in Gaza "until further notice." The decision came after the Israeli Cabinet announced plans to take over Gaza City. Merz said Friday that Israel "has the right to defend itself against Hamas' terror." He stated that the release of Israeli hostages and negotiations toward a ceasefire in the nearly two-year war are "our top priority." Merz added that the recent military actions by Israel make it difficult for Germany to see how these goals will be achieved.

Witnesses and health officials say dozens of Palestinians have been killed or wounded as desperate crowds headed toward food distribution points or airdrops in Gaza. Israel's blockade and military offensive have made it nearly impossible to safely deliver aid. That's contributing to the territory's slide toward famine nearly 22 months into the war with Hamas. Aid groups say Israel's week-old measures to allow more aid in are far from sufficient. Families of hostages in Gaza fear starvation affects them too, but blame Hamas. The U.N. says several hundred Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since May while seeking food aid.