In the West Bank, a Palestinian man succumbs to injuries sustained in an Israeli drone strike on Tubas on 9/5. Another Palestinian man succumbs to injuries sustained from Israeli live ammunition during a raid on Jenin on 8/5. Israeli settlers assault and injure 3 Palestinians with sticks during a raid at a school in al-Muarajat. Israeli settlers also assault a Palestinian woman during a raid near Yatta. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers with a military escort raid Beita; no injuries are reported. Israeli forces shoot and injure a Palestinian man during a raid in Dheisheh refugee camp. Israeli forces also violently disperse Palestinian protesters during raids in al-Khader and Fawwar refugee camp, causing tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces assault and arrest a Palestinian man in Dura. Israeli forces also seize a tractor in al-Twana, a concrete pump in al-Taqaba, and several vehicles in al-Fakhari. Meanwhile, Israeli forces arrest 20 Palestinians during late-night raids. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers seize a Palestinian home in at-Tur. Israeli authorities force a Palestinian family to demolish their own home in Jabel Mukaber. Israeli authorities also issue demolition notices for 37 homes and a commercial structure in Silwan. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Rafah, Nuseirat refugee camp, Beit Lahiya, Gaza City, Mawasi, Beit Hanun, and Khan Yunis, killing at least 20 people, including at least 5 at a bakery in Mawasi. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb Houla, killing 1 person and injuring 2 others. Israeli forces also bomb Tayr Harfa, Odaisseh, Blida, and Kfarchouba. Hezbollah forces fire rockets at Israeli military positions in Ramot Naftali and Ramim. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/16; UNOCHA 9/18; UNOCHA 9/20)
More than 41,226 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 16,456 children and 11,088 women, and around 95,413 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 10,000 people are missing in rubble. 695 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 149 children. More than 5,420 people have been injured. Israel reports that 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,400 have been injured in Israel since 10/7/2023, including Israeli soldiers. In addition, 342 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 2,281 injured in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27/2023. Over 1.93 million Palestinians, nearly 85% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7/2023. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12/2023 due to the Israeli blockade. At least 79,000 housing units have been destroyed and 370,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7/2023. (AJ, HA, UNOCHA, WAFA 9/16)
The Israeli military says it has armed 9,000 families in northern Israel with IWI Arad assault rifles. (AJ, HA 9/16)
The Israeli war cabinet convenes, deciding to expand the war objectives to include the “safe return of the residents of the north to their homes.” Before the meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with U.S. deputy assistant to the president Amos Hochstein, discussing the situation along the Blue Line. Netanyahu tells Hochstein that there needs to be a “fundamental change” at the Blue Line to allow Israelis to return to their homes. Hochstein also meets with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant who also tells him military action is required against Hezbollah. Hochstein reportedly tells both ministers that the U.S. is committed to finding a diplomatic solution. Israeli media reports that Netanyahu is planning to fire Gallant, who reportedly is the only member of the security cabinet in favor of a ceasefire deal with Hamas and against expanding the assault on Lebanon to an all-out war, and replace him with National Unity party leader Gideon Sa’ar. (AJ, AP, AX, HA, HA, NYT, REU 9/16; AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, REU 9/17)
UN senior coordinator for humanitarian affairs and reconstruction in Gaza Sigrid Kaag tells the UN Security Council that Israel has attacked humanitarian convoys destined for Gaza and that the humanitarian needs of Palestinians in Gaza are far from being met. U.S. ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield says many of the death and injuries among humanitarian workers in Gaza related to Israeli strikes “were preventable.” Thomas-Greenfield also criticizes Israel for opening fire at UN vehicles “as recently occurred on numerous occasions.” (AP, WAFA, WAFA 9/16; HA 9/17)
U.S. state department spokesperson Matthew Miller says the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar are still working to present a new ceasefire proposal. (AJ 9/16)