Israel-Gaza live updates: 'Highly likely' Israeli troops killed US activist, IDF says

As the Israel-Hamas war continues, the latest round of cease-fire discussions appears to have reached an impasse.

Meanwhile, after six hostages were found dead in Gaza, protests erupted in Israel. Protesters have lashed out at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and demanded the government bring the hostages home.

Latest Developments

_{Sep 10, 9:19 AM}

Blinken condemns 'unprovoked' Israeli killing of American activist

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday that the IDF's initial report into the killing of U.S. citizen Aysenur Ezgi Eygi suggests "her killing was both unprovoked and unjustified."

"No one should be shot and killed for attending a protest. No one should have to put their life at risk just for freely expressing their views," Blinken said, using some of the strongest terms to condemn the killing by any American official yet.

"In our judgment, Israeli security forces need to make some fundamental changes in the way that they operate in the West Bank, including changes to their rules of engagement," Blinken continued, adding that the U.S. was well aware of longstanding allegations concerning Israeli authorities' use of excessive force against Palestinians in the West Bank.

"Now we have the second American citizen killed at the hands of Israeli security forces. It's not acceptable. It has to change, and we'll be making that clear to the senior-most members of the Israeli government," Blinken said.

"Now we're looking carefully at the results of this investigation, but even on an initial read and even accepting it at face value, it's clear that there are serious issues that need to be dealt with, and we will insist that they be dealt with," he added.

-ABC News' Shannon Kingston

_{Sep 10, 8:11 AM}

'Highly likely' Israeli troops killed American activist: IDF

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) published the results of its initial inquiry into last week's killing of American Aysenur Ezgi Eygi in the West Bank.

"The inquiry found that it is highly likely that she was hit indirectly and unintentionally by IDF fire which was not aimed at her, but aimed at the key instigator of the riot," the IDF press release stated, referring to a period of reported unrest at the Beita Junction.

"Israel has sent a request to carry out an autopsy," it added. "The IDF expresses its deepest regret over the death of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi."

Eygi, 26, was a dual Turkish-American citizen and activist working for the International Solidarity Movement in the West Bank, working to protect local Palestinian farmers from attacks by Israeli settlers.

-ABC News' Matt Gutman and David Brennan

_{Sep 10, 6:31 AM}

South Gaza polio vaccine drive reaches 446,000 children: WHO

The polio vaccination campaign in southern Gaza concluded on Monday with more than 446,000 children vaccinated since the drive began on Sept. 1, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

"Five health facilities will continue offering polio vaccination to make sure no child is missed," Ghebreyesus wrote on X. "We are grateful to the families for their cooperation, and to all vaccinators and health workers for their dedication."

The polio vaccination campaign is continuing elsewhere in Gaza, and Ghebreyesus said continued humanitarian pauses are "key" in facilitating the program.

"The children in Gaza deserve lasting peace, not just polio vaccines," Ghebreyesus said.

Israel's COGAT (Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories) organization and local officials confirmed that the polio vaccination campaign in northern Gaza began on Tuesday.

A United Nations Relief and Works Agency convoy carrying personnel to administer the northern campaign was stopped for eight hours at an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) checkpoint on Monday before being sent back to south Gaza.

The IDF said they "questioned a number of suspects" in the convoy before releasing everyone. It is unclear what the personnel were suspected of, or why they were not allowed to pass.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller, Nasser Atta, Victoria Beaule and David Brennan

_{Sep 10, 5:28 AM}

US expects 'transparent' probe into killing of American in West Bank

The State Department is "urgently working to get more information" on the killing of American citizen Aysenur Ezgi Eygi in the West Bank last week, Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told journalists at a Monday briefing.

Eygi, 26, was an activist working for the International Solidarity Movement and was shot dead in the West Bank village of Beita on Friday. The dual American-Turkish citizen was allegedly killed by Israeli troops.

MORE: American activist fatally shot in head in the West Bank: Officials

Patel told reporters that "our partners in Israel are looking into the circumstances of what happened, and we expect them to make their findings public, and expect that whatever those findings are, expect them to be thorough and transparent."

-ABC News' Jordana Miller and David Brennan

_{Sep 10, 5:24 AM}

IDF defends strike on Gaza's Khan Younis humanitarian area

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said a Monday night strike on tents in a designated humanitarian zone in the southern Gaza Strip targeted Hamas figures "directly involved" in the Oct. 7 attack.

The Hamas-run Gaza Civil Defense reported at least 40 people killed and at least 60 injured in the bombing. Search and recovery efforts were underway at the scene on Tuesday.

The IDF said Tuesday that its strike targeted "senior Hamas terrorists" in a "command and control center embedded inside the humanitarian area in Khan Younis."

Among those killed were Samer Ismail Khadr Abu Daqqa, the head of Hamas' aerial unit in Gaza, the IDF said.

Osama Tabesh, the head of the observation and targets department in Hamas' military intelligence headquarters, and Ayman Mabhouh, another "senior Hamas terrorist" were also hit, the force said.

"According to an initial review, the numbers published by the Hamas-run Government Information Office in Gaza, which has consistently broadcast lies and false information throughout the war, do not align with the information held by the IDF, the precise munitions used, and the accuracy of the strike," the IDF statement added.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller and David Brennan

_{Sep 9, 7:55 PM}

At least 40 killed in strike on humanitarian area: Gaza Civil Defense

At least 40 people were killed and at least 60 people have been wounded after an Israeli strike in a designated humanitarian area of Khan Yunis, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Civil Defense.

The strike hit "a gathering of displaced persons' tents consisting of at least 20 inhabited tents," a Gaza Civil Defense spokesperson said early Tuesday morning local time.

The Israeli Air Force "struck significant Hamas terrorists who were operating with a command and control center embedded inside the Humanitarian Area in Khan Yunis," the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement.

-ABC News' Sami Zyara, Diaa Ostaz and Dana Savir

_{Sep 9, 3:39 PM}

Hamas changed 'some of the terms' of the hostage exchange: White House

The White House is remaining hopeful that talks for a cease-fire in Gaza and release of the remaining hostages can be salvaged after Hamas proposed new amendments to the deal following the killing of six hostages.

"Hamas did change some of the terms of the exchange. And that has made it more difficult for us to get there," National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby said at Monday’s press briefing.

"We still believe that, even for the new amendments that Hamas has made, that it's still worth an effort to try to see if we can't get back into a cease-fire negotiation," he added. "But we're not there right now."

Kirby would not say if President Joe Biden will be increasing pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept a deal and potentially hold the transfer of weapons to Israel in order to secure a deal, similar to the recent decision by the United Kingdom.

"I can't think of anything we haven't put more pressure on ourselves than to try to get this deal," Kirby said. "We know how urgent this is. And we're working night and day to try to see if we can get a deal in place. Hamas is the main obstacle to this right now."

-ABC News' Justin Ryan Gomez

_{Sep 9, 7:27 AM}

US general shown Israel’s plans for Lebanon, IDF says

The commander of U.S. Central Command was presented with Israel Defense Forces (IDF) "operational plans for Lebanon" during his weekend visit, the IDF said.

Gen. Michael Kurilla met with the Chief of Israel's General Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi for a "situational assessment" and visited the Northern Command, which is responsible for the frontiers with Lebanon and Syria.

The general's visit had "an emphasis on threats from Lebanon and Iran in the northern arena," the IDF wrote on social media.

Kurilla met with Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin -- Northern Command's commanding officer -- "conducted a situational assessment in the command's underground operations center and received an operational briefing, during which he was presented with the IDF's operational plans for Lebanon," the force said.

Cross border skirmishes between the IDF and Hezbollah -- which is aligned with Iran -- have been near constant since Oct. 8, 2023, the uptick in fighting prompted by Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel and the subsequent IDF response.

Israeli leaders have threatened a significant military operation into southern Lebanon unless Hezbollah withdraws its forces north of the Litani River, some 18 miles north of the shared border.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller and David Brennan

_{Sep 9, 5:46 AM}

Aerial attack targets northern Israel, officials say

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported "a hostile aircraft infiltration" in the north of the country on Monday morning.

"Two suspicious aerial targets were identified crossing from Lebanon into Israeli territory," The IDF said in a statement. "An aerial target fell in the area of Nahariya. No injuries were reported."

The Magen David Adom (MDA) -- Israel's emergency services -- said in a social media post that its personnel "located the site of the impact, as of now no casualties have been found."

Israeli media reported that a drone detonated after crashing into an apartment block.

-ABC News' Dana Savir and David Brennan

_{Sep 9, 5:20 AM}

Hundreds gather in Central Park for hostage vigil

The Hostages Families Forum Headquarters organized twin protests in Tel Aviv and New York on Sunday, as pro-cease-fire activists look to build pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and American politicians.

Hundreds of people rallied in Central Park "to mourn six Israeli and American hostages murdered after 11 months in captivity," the Forum said in a press release.

Among the speakers were Gilad and Nitza Korngold -- the parents of hostage Tal Shoham who was abducted into Gaza on Oct. 7.

"The Red Cross has refused to help our loved ones while shamelessly requesting better conditions for the terrorists in Israel's imprisonment," they said, per the Forum's press release. "We ask everyone here to call your representatives and demand the release of our loved ones from captivity."

Moran Stela Yanai -- released in November 2023 after 54 days as a hostage in Gaza -- also spoke, telling attendees: "My brothers and sisters in captivity are hungry and in pain and in constant danger."

"We must find the strength to keep fighting for them and bring them home," she added, as quoted in the Forum's press release.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller and David Brennan

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