23 Palestinians killed by Israel since dawn amid Israeli insistence to reoccupy Gaza City

CAIRO – 23 August 2025: Since dawn today, Israeli occupation forces have killed 23 Palestinians in the famine-stricken Gaza Strip as part of Israel's ongoing war, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to push for the reoccupation of Gaza City under what Israeli media are calling “Operation Gideon's Chariots 2.”

Egypt’s state-owned Al Qahera News reported that 23 Palestinians have been killed as a result of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip since early morning, amid worsening health conditions due to severe shortages of medical supplies and the blockade imposed by Israel.

Israeli media reported that Netanyahu has no intention of halting “Operation Gideon's Chariots 2,” in an effort to prevent the collapse of his extremist government.

Meanwhile, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority, citing a security source, reported that the Israeli army has begun mobilizing and expanding military operations in the Zeitoun and Jabalia areas, in the northern Gaza Strip. It added that a total of 60,000 reserve force recruitment orders have been issued as part of Operation Gideon 2.

According to the latest update as of August 22, 2025, the total number of Palestinians killed since October 7, 2023, has reached 62,263, with 157,365 injured. The toll reportedly does not include those who died due to hunger.

Among the fatalities, 10,717 people have been killed and 45,324 have been wounded since March 18, when Israel ended a two-month ceasefire with Hamas.

Rescue efforts remain severely hindered. Health officials report that many victims remain trapped under rubble or lying in the streets, unreachable due to continued bombardment and the collapse of civil defense and ambulance services.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military announced on Wednesday the launch of a widely condemned operation to seize control of Gaza City, which had a population of around one million before the offensive, raising grave concerns about the worsening humanitarian situation.