An Israeli military demolition campaign targeting high-rise buildings ahead of a ground assault near the densely populated Gaza City is fueling fears that the destruction was aimed at permanently clearing the population from the city.

Jerusalem

Israel and Iran have agreed a ceasefire after a twelve day conflict. Meanwhile, Israel strikes in Gaza continue with the humanitarian crisis deepening.

Middle East Conflict

Israeli strikes have demolished several high-rise residential buildings in Gaza City, displacing many Palestinian families. The Israeli military states these demolitions target buildings allegedly used by Hamas for military purposes, including observation and attacks on Israeli forces. Residents, such as Shadi Salama al-Reyes, have lost their homes and belongings, with many now living in displacement camps.

International organizations, including the U.N. Human Rights Office and Oxfam, have expressed concerns that the destruction and displacement could amount to ethnic cleansing. Israel denies these claims, asserting that their actions are aimed solely at dismantling Hamas infrastructure. The military says residents are warned before strikes, but some accounts of evacuation orders remain unverified.

Israel's Gaza demolitions fan fears of full removal of Palestinians

This is the moment an Israeli strike brought down Mushtaha Tower, a 15-story residential building in one of Gaza City's prime neighborhoods. It marked the start of an intensified Israeli military demolition campaign targeting high-rise buildings ahead of a ground assault towards the heart of the densely populated city. Mushtaha Tower was home to Palestinian bank worker Shadi Salama al-Reyes, who paid almost $93,000 in mortgage payments for his apartment in the high-rise, where he and his family lived and made memories. But now, the family has been left destitute and among most of the population displaced by Israel's war in Gaza. Life in this camp in central Gaza is a far cry from his old building. This tower honestly represents to me a life journey. It represents to me beautiful memories. It represents to me the birth of my son, Adam, my only son. It represents to me the effort of a young man who got this house not by simple work. In fact, I bought this house through the bank, in installments. Many residents have found themselves picking through the rubble of destroyed buildings in search of personal belongings. Over the past two weeks, Israel's armed forces say they have demolished up to 20 Gaza City tower blocks they say are used by Hamas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said 50 terrorist towers had been demolished. Al-Reyes told Reuters he feared the destruction was aimed at permanently clearing the population from Gaza City, a view shared by the U.N. Human Rights Office. This spokesperson said in a statement that such a deliberate effort to relocate the population would be tantamount to ethnic cleansing. Israel denies that claim. Tower blocks were one of the last forms of shelter in Gaza, according to Bushra Khalidi, who leads policy on Gaza at Oxfam. The high-rises, they have an enormous amount, they're sheltering an enormous amount of civilians. She said there's a ripple effect in targeting Gaza City. The main artery of the Gaza Strip, and now they are cutting off that artery to forcibly displace a million, almost a million people down south again. Israel's military spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Noudath Shoshani, said there's no strategy to flatten Gaza, and that the military's aim was to destroy Hamas, which he said was using tall buildings to observe and attack Israeli forces. Hamas has denied that claim. As for Mushtaha Tower, the Israeli military said Hamas had underground infrastructure beneath it, used to attack Israeli troops. The military declined a request to provide evidence. According to El-Rayyes, a neighbor got a call on September 5th from an Israeli army officer instructing him to spread the word to evacuate the building within minutes. Reuters could not independently verify his account of the evacuation order. An Israeli military spokesperson said they gave residents time to evacuate and ensured civilians had left before hitting the buildings. El-Rayyes described the warning as painful. He said, quote, you are standing in front of your children, who are more precious than anything. You are standing in front of your memories and your possessions, unable to carry anything.

Three Russian military jets violated NATO member Estonia's airspace for 12 minutes on Friday in an "unprecedentedly brazen" incursion, its government said, the latest in a series of recent military actions by Russia that have rattled the alliance.

Tallinn

Russian jets enter Estonia's airspace in latest test for NATO

President Trump said Friday that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping "made progress" on a deal over TikTok ownership, and that he would visit China early next year.

Washington

Trump says he and Xi Jinping 'made progress' on TikTok deal

The apparent remains of Travis Decker, the man suspected of killing his three daughters in Washington state, have been located and are undergoing DNA testing. A manhunt has been underway for Decker since his daughter's bodies were found in June.

Remains of father suspected of killing 3 daughters found

Three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets lingered in NATO-member Estonia's airspace for several minutes on Friday, according to Estonian authorities. Italian F-35s responded.

Moscow

NATO defences triggered amid Russian airspace violation

Fellow comedians Jon Stewart and Jimmy Fallon mocked U.S. President Donald Trump Thursday after Jimmy Kimmel Live! was pulled off the air on Wednesday by ABC following Federal Communications Commission pressure.

New York

Late-night hosts mock Trump as outrage over Kimmel grows

International sanctions imposed on Iran before the 2015 nuclear deal, could be reinstated within days. The United Nations Security Council has voted against lifting sanctions permanently, because of the country's nuclear programme.

Tehran

Sanctions to hit Iran again after UN vote

Washington has accused Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of being involved in drug trafficking - a claim he denies. In recent weeks, the US military has been building up its presence in the Caribbean. Venezuela has responded by holding military drills.

Caracas

Venezuela orders three-day drills amid U.S tensions

A Republican measure to keep the government funded until Nov. 21 stumbled in the Senate after clearing the House, leaving lawmakers without a clear path forward to avoid a funding lapse at the end of the month.

Government shutdown looms after GOP funding bill fails in Senate

In suburban Chicago, tensions boiled over as authorities unleashed tear gas and pepper balls to break up a crowd that was trying to block vehicles outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building.

Chicago

Tensions boil over as protesters clash with authorities outside Chicago ICE facility

Gunfire struck the building that houses the ABC 10 TV station in Sacramento on Friday afternoon. No one was injured.

Sacramento

Gunfire strikes Sacramento ABC TV station building

President Trump signed two executive orders at the White House on Friday night. The first established the Trump Gold Card as a path to U.S. citizenship for $1 million. The second adds a $100,000 fee for skilled worker visas called H-1B worker visas.

Trump signs $1M gold card visas, adds fee for skilled workers

With Jimmy Kimmel off the air for a third straight day, the fallout is growing. Film and TV writers protested outside ABC headquarters in New York, even as President Trump warned he may go after other networks next. Nancy Cordes reports.

Fallout grows after Jimmy Kimmel taken off air

President Trump on Thursday suggested that networks should have their licenses pulled for negative coverage of him. His comments come amid ABC's suspension of Jimmy Kimmel over remarks about the Charlie Kirk shooting suspect.

Trump floats revoking TV licenses over negative coverage

State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, can hold more than 63,000 people, but on Sunday, police are anticipating more than 100,000 people will try to attend Charlie Kirk's memorial service.

Orem

Security preparations underway for Charlie Kirk memorial

Three Russian fighter planes flew into Estonian airspace, and NATO scrambled Italian, Swedish and Finnish aircraft to repel them. Russia last week sent drones into Romania and Poland, two other NATO members.

Ukraine Invasion

NATO scrambles jets to repel Russia incursions

Protesters are clashing with federal agents outside an ICE detention facility near Chicago. Video shows what appears to be tear gas being deployed and some physical altercations.

Video shows ICE protesters being dragged by agents near Chicago

U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed agriculture, tech and trade during a call about potential deals on Friday (Sept. 19). Trump says he and Xi made progress on a TikTok deal.

Trump, Xi Jinping discuss trade, tech on latest call with China

An AI-generated government “minister” made its debut with an address in the Albanian parliament on Thursday (September 18), with Prime Minister Edi Rama presenting the bot as a symbol of his government’s push for transparency and innovation.

Tiranë

Rise of AI

Albania unveils AI-generated 'minister'

A spokesperson for the Taliban Foreign Ministry said the couple "violated Afghan law" and were released from prison on Friday after a court hearing but didn't say what law they were alleged to have broken.

Kabul

Taliban releases British couple held for months in Afghanistan

Three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets lingered in NATO-member Estonia's airspace for several minutes on Friday, according to Estonian authorities.

Russian fighter jets violated Estonia's airspace, authorities say

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a short-term spending bill to avert a government shutdown that would fund the government until Nov. 21. CBS News' Nikole Killion reports.

House passes short-term spending bill to avert shutdown

ABC preempted Jimmy Kimmel Live! indefinitely after U.S President Donald Trump's appointed Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr threatened action following Kimmel's comments surrounding the killing of Charlie Kirk. Now Trump is suggesting that networks that 'only give him bad press' should have their licenses suspended.

Trump suggests revoking licenses of networks that are ‘against' him

French President Emmanuel Macron tells "Face the Nation" moderator Margaret Brennan that France's decision to recognize a Palestinian state is necessary "to isolate Hamas" and help stop the war.

Paris

Macron: Recognizing Palestinian statehood necessary 'to isolate Hamas'

U.S. President Donald Trump celebrated the suspension of talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel from the airwaves and said TV broadcasters should lose their licenses over negative coverage of his administration, adding fuel to a national debate over free speech.

Trump applauds comedian Jimmy Kimmel's suspension

A much-awaited announcement about a deal to keep Chinese-owned App TikTok online in the US is likely in the coming hours. It will be one of the main items on the agenda of a phone-call between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. The two men will also discuss a standoff over trade tariffs.

Beijing

Xi, Trump set to discuss TikTok deal in Friday call

The US blocked a UN Security Council resolution demanding a ceasefire in Gaza, drawing condemnation from members. Algeria’s UN ambassador Amar Bendjama apologized to Palestinians after the vote.

U.S. vetoes UN Gaza ceasefire resolution for sixth time

U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a joint news conference to conclude Trump’s state visit to the U.K. Trump acknowledged a disagreement with Starmer over Gaza and Palestinian statehood.

London

Trump, Starmer disagree over Palestinian state as visit wraps

A group of 22 young climate activists is suing the Trump administration in hopes of blocking three executive orders promoting the use of fossil fuels.

Missoula

Young climate activists sue Trump over fossil fuel orders

A CDC advisory panel voted to shift its guidance on immunising children under 4 with the combined measles, mumps, rubella, varicella vaccine. Instead of the combined shot, the advisory panel voted to recommend the age group get an MMR vaccine and a varicella vaccine separately.

Atlanta

CDC updates guidance on MMRV vaccine for young children

ABC confirmed that the popular late-night show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" has been "preempted indefinitely" following comments Kimmel made on the show in response to the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Israel's Gaza demolitions fan fears of full removal of Palestinians

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