The Israeli site "Jewish Daily News" published an analytical report in which it considered that Egypt has a clear interest in the continued presence of Hamas as an active force in the Gaza Strip, noting that Cairo "manages a double and dangerous game" that combines maintaining its security relations with the Israeli occupation and leveraging its influence in the sector to achieve political and economic gains.

In his report, Israeli expert Haim Golubentsets discussed what he described as a "fundamental shift in the Egyptian security landscape," following the appointment of Major General Hassan Rashad as head of the General Intelligence Service, succeeding Major General Abbas Kamel, who had been seen as a "strategic bridge" between Cairo and Tel Aviv for many years.

Golubentsets states that this change has raised questions within Egyptian circles, but security cooperation between Egypt and the Israeli occupation remains intact despite the apparent political tensions in some public stances, as recently manifested at the Doha conference, where Cairo directed sharp criticisms at Tel Aviv.

The report indicates that Egypt has expanded its military presence in the Sinai Peninsula unprecedentedly, with the number of troops rising from a few hundred to over 40,000 soldiers, confirming that this deployment is coordinated with the Israeli occupation and the United States to combat terrorist organizations.

However, Golubentsets believes that ambiguity surrounds the nature of this coordination and its compatibility with the Camp David Accords, raising debates about the legal legitimacy of the increasing Egyptian military presence in the region.

The Israeli analyst states that Cairo's policy towards Gaza is based on national and strategic calculations, as it considers the peace agreement with Israel a "strategic asset" that it seeks to maintain, especially after Egypt witnessed the effectiveness of the Israeli army during the recent war on the sector.

He adds that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's threats to reconsider the $35 billion gas deal have raised significant Egyptian concerns, as the deal represents a huge economic opportunity, but at the same time, it is a political pressure point that Tel Aviv could use against Cairo.

According to the report, Egypt also seeks to enhance its position before Washington through its regional role, especially regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam file, making it an indispensable partner in American calculations in the region.

The report addresses the economic dimension of Egyptian policy towards Gaza, noting that Cairo sees the reconstruction process as a major economic opportunity that could yield direct profits through Egyptian contractors, equipment, and logistical resources.

Golubentsets claims that Egypt has an interest in keeping Hamas as an influential force in the sector, alleging that Cairo "turns a blind eye" at times to the smuggling of military equipment and drones into Gaza, as part of a complex game through which it tries to maintain its regional influence.

The report concludes that Egyptian policy towards Gaza is based on a delicate balance between four objectives: (maintaining the peace agreement with Israel, keeping communication channels open with Hamas, economic benefits from reconstruction projects, ensuring continued American support).

The Israeli army arrested at least 9 Palestinians early Saturday during a raid in various areas of the occupied West Bank.

Israeli forces stormed the city of Hebron in the southern West Bank and arrested young Bilal al-Qawasmi after raiding his home in the Al-Salam Street area west of the city, according to local sources.

The army also invaded the village of Al-Burj south of Hebron, raiding the home of citizen Atiyah Suleiman Al-Talhama and rummaging through its contents, according to the same sources.

In the town of Qaffin north of Tulkarem city in the northern West Bank, the Israeli army arrested citizens Muhammad Ashraf Ajouli and Muhammad Wasfi Harsha after raiding their homes.

The army also arrested young Ma'zoz Jaron following a raid on his home during an incursion into the Shuwayka neighborhood north of Tulkarem, according to local sources.

Cities, villages, and refugee camps in the West Bank are subjected to daily Israeli incursions, which include home raids, searches, field interrogations, and arrests.

In this context, Israeli forces arrested 3 Palestinians from the town of Deir Ballut west of Salfit (north) after raiding and searching their homes.

The agency clarified that the occupation forces stormed the town, raided several homes, and rummaged through their contents before arresting: Muhammad Falah Mousa, Qais Adel Abdullah, and Ibrahim Ramzi Mustafa.

In the town of Anza south of Jenin in the northern West Bank, the Israeli army arrested young Muhammad Ahed Sidqa after storming the town at dawn and raiding his home, according to local sources.

In the city of Al-Bireh in the central West Bank, Israeli forces arrested citizen Ammar Khudairi after raiding his home in the Al-Balou area in the middle of Al-Bireh, according to the sources.

The Israeli army usually does not announce the reasons for the arrests, but they often come as part of what Tel Aviv calls 'security campaigns' against those it considers 'wanted'.

Meanwhile, Palestinians describe them as punitive measures targeting faction activists, released prisoners, students, and political figures, aimed at weakening any organizational or field activity in the West Bank.

This comes amid a wide Israeli escalation in the West Bank, which has resulted in the killing of 1,057 Palestinians and the injury of about 10,000 others over the past two years, in addition to the arrest of more than 20,000 people, including 1,600 children.

On October 8, 2023, Israel began a mass extermination in Gaza that lasted for two years, resulting in the deaths of 68,280 Palestinians and the injury of 170,375 others, ending with a ceasefire agreement that came into effect on October 10.

The New York Times revealed that the U.S. military is operating drones in the skies over the Gaza Strip to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire, as part of a broader effort to ensure that both "Israel" and Hamas adhere to the agreement.

According to Israeli military officials and a U.S. defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss operational details, the drones have been used to monitor ground activity in Gaza, with "Israel's" approval.

The officials stated that they could not share the flight paths of the drones. The three officials added that the surveillance missions were operating to support a new civil-military coordination center in southern "Israel," established by the U.S. Central Command last week, partly to monitor the ceasefire.

Although the U.S. military has previously flown drones over Gaza to help locate Israeli captives, its recent reconnaissance efforts suggest that U.S. officials want to have their own independent understanding of what is happening inside the territory, separate from "Israel."

Several Trump administration officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations, expressed concern this week about the possibility of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu backtracking on the agreement.

The United States has used MQ-9 Reaper drones in Gaza to support efforts to recover captives, exchanging information derived from those missions with "Israel," indicating potential detention locations.

A former U.S. diplomat and defense official expressed surprise at the recent U.S. surveillance missions in Gaza, given the close military ties between the two parties.

Daniel Shapiro, who served as the U.S. ambassador to "Israel" during President Barack Obama's administration and was a former special envoy to "Israel" regarding Iran, stated, "This is a very intrusive version of U.S. surveillance on a front where Israel sees an active threat."

Shapiro added, "If there were complete transparency and total trust between Israel and the United States, there would be no need for this, but it is clear that the U.S. wants to eliminate any possibility of misunderstanding."

Captain Timothy Hawkins, a spokesman for the Pentagon's Central Command, said in an interview with Israeli i24 television on Thursday that the civil-military coordination center "includes an operational area that enables us to monitor what is happening on the ground in Gaza in real-time."

He added that they are "making diligent efforts" to maintain the ceasefire, acknowledging that the situation is "extremely fragile."

The regional director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for the Middle East and North Africa, Edward Peigbeder, warned of the danger of losing an entire generation of children in Gaza, as the educational process has been halted for the third consecutive year, and the educational infrastructure in the sector has been almost completely destroyed.

Peigbeder said in an interview with Agence France-Presse following his visit to Gaza: "Three years have passed without actual education for children. If we do not begin a real transition to education next February, we will enter a fourth year without schools... and then we can talk about a lost generation."

He added that the devastating war launched by the Israeli occupation on the sector "has turned large parts of Gaza into rubble, displaced the vast majority of the population, and almost completely hindered public services."

He continued: "It is impossible to imagine that 80 percent of the area of the sector has been leveled or completely destroyed."

Peigbeder pointed out that the truce that came into effect in October, mediated by the United States, allowed UNICEF and its partners to establish temporary education centers that managed to accommodate about one-sixth of the number of children who are supposed to be in schools.

He explained that "children receive only three days of education per week in reading, math, and writing, but this is far from the concept of formal education."

These centers, according to Peigbeder, are set up inside damaged schools or near displacement camps, and often consist of metal structures covered with plastic sheets or simple tents, where children sit on mats or wooden boxes, writing on broken boards or plastic pieces.

Despite the truce, the UN official confirms that the education situation in Gaza is "catastrophic," as 85 percent of schools have been destroyed or disrupted.

The few buildings that still stand are being used as shelters for the displaced, making education nearly impossible.

He added that "80 schools out of 300 belonging to the Palestinian Authority need repairs, 142 schools have been completely destroyed, and 38 others have become inaccessible due to the presence of Israeli forces around them."

Last October, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) announced the launch of a "new electronic school year" targeting about 290,000 students, in an attempt to overcome the harsh field reality.

However, the United States, through its Secretary of State Marco Rubio, strongly attacked the agency, describing it as "affiliated with Hamas," asserting that it "will have no role in the post-war phase."

Peigbeder believes that restoring education to the children of Gaza is an existential necessity no less important than food aid, saying: "Food is survival... education is hope."

He pointed out that the priority now is to obtain permits to bring in construction materials and educational supplies through the crossings, to establish semi-permanent schools, after these materials were banned on the grounds that they are "not essential."

He explained that the Israeli blockade during the war exacerbated the humanitarian crisis to the point of famine, according to United Nations reports, while the World Health Organization confirmed that the situation has not seen any significant improvement since the start of the truce, and hunger levels remain high.

Peigbeder concluded by saying: "How can classrooms be rehabilitated without cement? We need notebooks, books, and writing boards... the minimum components of education. Without that, there will be no future for the children of Gaza."

The Slovenian representative to the United Nations Security Council, Samuel Žbogar, called on the Israeli occupation to release the prominent Palestinian pediatrician and director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza, Hussam Abu Safiya, as well as to release Palestinian medical workers who are prisoners.

Žbogar stated in his speech: "The medical needs in Gaza are very great; doctors and medical workers must work without obstacles and without fear. We urge Israel to release the remaining medical staff from Gaza, including Dr. Abu Safiya from Kamal Hospital, from arbitrary detention."

In mid-October, Amnesty International called on the occupation to release Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, who has been detained in its prisons since December 27, 2024.

The organization published a template letter addressed to the Israeli military prosecutor, Yifat Tomer Yerushalmi, demanding the immediate release of Abu Safiya.

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights "Al-Mizan" reported in a statement that "the Israeli Be'er Sheva Court issued a decision to extend Abu Safiya's detention for six months under the law of unlawful combatants."

Amnesty stated in a statement above the letter template: "Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital and a prominent voice in the devastated healthcare sector in Gaza, has been in arbitrary detention by Israeli authorities since his arrest on December 27 of last year."

It quoted a lawyer who visited Abu Safiya and other detainees, stating that "he was subjected to abuse and other forms of mistreatment."

The lawyer added that Abu Safiya "appeared to have lost significant weight, amid the continued imposition of harsh restrictions by the Israeli prison service on Palestinian detainees' access to food, adequate medical care, and personal hygiene supplies."

The organization mentioned that Abu Safiya "managed Kamal Adwan Hospital tirelessly, providing essential healthcare to children, and witnessed the collapse of the healthcare sector in Gaza under the weight of the genocide being carried out by Israel."

It added that he "continued his work despite the tragedy that befell him after the killing of his son in an Israeli airstrike," noting that he "was detained while caring for his patients and performing his medical duties, as happened to many health workers before him."

The organization emphasized that "the detention of Dr. Abu Safiya and his ongoing arbitrary detention without charges or trial – based on the abusive unlawful combatants law – represents a manifestation of Israel's systematic targeting of Palestinian health workers and its destruction of the healthcare system in Gaza, with the aim of imposing living conditions intended for the physical destruction of Palestinians."

For its part, the Prisoners' Media Office affiliated with Hamas quoted Abu Safiya's family as saying that "the occupation has extended Dr. Abu Safiya's administrative detention for an additional six months."

The family expressed "great concern regarding his continued detention without any charges or fair trial," affirming that "the extension of detention constitutes a significant psychological and humanitarian burden on them, his colleagues, and his loved ones around the world."

Abu Safiya was arrested on December 27, 2024, following the Israeli occupation army's raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, where he was forcibly removed under threat of weaponry after the hospital was destroyed and rendered out of service.

Results of a public opinion poll conducted by "Channel 12 Hebrew" on Saturday showed clear divisions among settlers regarding the Prime Minister of the occupation, Benjamin Netanyahu, and his willingness to run in the upcoming elections.

According to the poll, 52% of settlers expressed their rejection of Netanyahu running again, reflecting a decline in his popularity within the traditional support base he has relied on over the past years.

In contrast, the poll confirmed that only 41% of settlers expressed their support for Netanyahu, while the remaining 7% did not provide a specific opinion or preferred to abstain from answering.

This division presents a new challenge for Netanyahu, who is trying to maintain his political position amid changes in the internal landscape of the Israeli occupation entity, especially after the judicial and political pressures he faced in the recent period.

Israeli political analysts indicate that the rising level of opposition within the settlements could affect the results of the upcoming elections, especially if tensions within the Likud party or between it and other right-wing parties continue.

The poll also highlights the state of political instability within the settler community, which could lead to shifts in electoral alliances and changes in political campaign strategies.

The poll results come at a time when the Israeli political scene is witnessing various parties preparing for the upcoming elections, with intensified media campaigns and attempts to attract the traditional voter base, including settlers in the West Bank.

Observers note that Netanyahu heavily relies on the settler base to support his policies in the West Bank, and thus any division within this segment is an indicator of challenges he faces in the upcoming elections.

The poll results indicate that Netanyahu's support is no longer decisive among settlers, and there is a noticeable decline in the loyalty of a large portion of this segment, with only 41% remaining supportive of him, reflecting the need for new strategies to win their votes and reinforce his political image.

The newspaper considered that the visit of Steve Witkoff, the envoy of U.S. President Donald Trump, and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, to Riyadh and Abu Dhabi did not go as expected in the United States, after the Saudis set two conditions for participating in the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

The newspaper quoted a Saudi diplomatic source as saying that the Saudis rejected the U.S. request in a meeting to take a central role in implementing Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza, including participation in security forces, civil administration, and investment in reconstruction.

According to the Saudi source, the response conveyed to the American envoys was clear: Saudi Arabia will not participate as long as two fundamental conditions are not met: the first is the disarmament of Hamas and its handover of authority; the second is the involvement of the Palestinian Authority from an early stage in the reconstruction and taking on governmental responsibilities.

The source added: "The discussion on this topic was brief, and the second issue raised, which is the security agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia, took up most of the time."

A senior Saudi official added that Gulf countries are very concerned about the comprehensive security agreement signed between the United States and Qatar, saying: "This means that Qatar will ensure the survival of Hamas in Gaza and its return to power at the first opportunity."

The newspaper noted that it "previously published sharp criticisms of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates regarding the Americans' efforts to enhance Qatar's leading role in the region."

The Saudis are now demanding at least a parallel security agreement, but with better conditions, expressing their concern over Qatar's continued support for branches of the Muslim Brotherhood throughout the Middle East, which undermine stability in Arab countries.

It added, "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sees the first Saudi condition regarding dismantling Hamas as acceptable, while the second condition, concerning the involvement of the Palestinian Authority, raises significant concern."

It is worth noting that the Saudis also condition their support for the Palestinian Authority on implementing wide-ranging reforms, including combating extremism, but these conditions were not raised in the recent meeting.

The newspaper pointed out that "Kushner and Witkoff also conveyed messages from Israel to the Saudis regarding the post-war phase, normalization, and expanding the Abraham Accords."

The meeting clarified that without a real horizon for establishing a Palestinian state, according to the Saudi plan, there will be no political progress - meaning joining the agreements.

It stated that "in the UAE, as usual, the statements are more diplomatically toned, although they carry a similar message, as the UAE is already involved in rehabilitating and building infrastructure in humanitarian areas being constructed in territories under Israeli control."

According to the official statement, the conversation between the American envoys and Tahnoun bin Zayed, advisor to Governor Mohammed bin Zayed, focused on ways to establish stability and the necessity of ending the war.

It added, "But the statements of Anwar Gargash, the political advisor to bin Zayed and one of the prominent figures in Emirati foreign policy, clarify that their extensive intervention also awaits Hamas's exit from the scene, even if the organization's name is not explicitly mentioned."

Gargash said: "Returning to the situation before October 7 would not be correct and would not contribute to the solution... The UAE supports American moves, but with two conditions: clarifying the future political situation and the need for a stable security ground.

We will not send our sons to a battlefield without a clear understanding of the situation on the ground.

The newspaper considered that "the clear message is that the UAE will likely continue to provide assistance and funding for reconstruction in safe humanitarian areas, but it will remain with the Saudis outside the political scene, at least for now.

The influence of Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey will remain dominant - which is exactly what the Gulf countries feared.

On July 22nd, the residents of the town of Beit Oula, west of Hebron, woke up to an unusual scene; a settler was setting up a tent on their land adjacent to the 1949 armistice line.

In the following week, Mahmoud Al-Amleh and his father were tending to their land, which they inherited from their ancestors, but the settler blocked their way.

After a long argument and the presence of the occupation forces, everyone temporarily left the area. Mahmoud returned with his father in the following days, and within minutes, the army arrived accompanied by the same settler, but this time the latter was wearing the full uniform of the occupation army.

A report by The Guardian, prepared by diplomatic editor Patrick Wintour, highlights the pursuit of British individuals who fought alongside the occupying army in Gaza.

The report states that a Palestinian rights advocacy organization in Britain is seeking ways to prosecute British citizens who fought with the Israeli army in Gaza.

It added that a human rights organization has launched a campaign to file a special lawsuit claiming that British citizens went to fight in the ranks of Israel illegally.

A summons was issued to a magistrate's court on Monday against a person whose name has been identified, and the International Center for Justice for Palestinians has presented this unusual lawsuit.

The human rights organization intends to argue in court that identified British citizens joined a foreign army in a state of war with a country, Palestine, with which Britain was not at war.

The organization claims that participation in a war with a foreign power constitutes a violation of Article 4 of the Foreign Enlistment Act of 1870, which criminalizes the acceptance or consent of any person to enlist or engage in military service for any foreign state at war with another foreign state but at peace with the Government of Britain.

The International Center for Justice for Palestinians has named one individual in the attempt to prosecute, but it has gathered evidence against more than 10 British citizens.

To enhance the chances of success in the prosecution and to prevent jeopardizing the case, the International Center for Justice will not name those it wishes to arrest.

The International Center for Justice for Palestinians accuses the Israeli army of waging a war not limited to Hamas, but against all Palestinians and Palestine itself, a state that it now recognizes according to The Guardian.

The center clarified that it needs to prove that the defendant is a British citizen, that he accepted a mission or engaged in the Israeli armed forces, that Israel was at war with Palestine, that Palestine is a foreign state, and finally that Palestine was at peace with Britain.

Israeli law does not require anyone outside its territory, including British Israeli citizens, to accept or consent to any mission or engagement in the army, which means that British citizens who fought in the ranks of the Israeli army did so voluntarily according to the newspaper.

The International Center for Justice for Palestinians pointed out that there is a large and recurring number of military activities directed against civilians and civilian institutions in the West Bank and Gaza, showing that Israel was at war with all Palestinians.

It also confirms that Israel is illegally occupying the West Bank, including East Jerusalem and Gaza, as determined by the International Court of Justice in its advisory opinion last July and again this week.

Israeli settlers set fire, on Friday evening, to Palestinian vehicles in the village of al-Mughayer, east of Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank.

Local sources reported that a group of settlers stormed the western area of al-Mughayer village and burned a number of Palestinian vehicles.

The sources clarified that the young men of the village attempted to confront the settlers, while the Israeli army stormed the village and fired sound bombs and tear gas, leading to clashes whose outcomes are still unclear.

The sources indicated that the settlers attacked the home of Muhammad Khamees Abu Aliya and a farm belonging to a resident of the village before the young men confronted them.

According to data from the Palestinian Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, settlers carried out 7,154 attacks against Palestinians and their properties in the West Bank during the two years of genocide in Gaza.

The attacks resulted in the martyrdom of 33 citizens and the displacement of 33 Palestinian Bedouin communities, as well as the establishment of 114 settlement outposts.

The settlers' attacks fall within a broad wave of Israeli escalation in the West Bank, which has resulted in the killing of 1,057 Palestinians and the injury of about 10,000 others over the past two years, in addition to the arrest of more than 20,000 people, including 1,600 children.

On October 8, 2023, Israel began a genocide in Gaza that lasted for two years, resulting in the deaths of 68,280 Palestinians and the injury of 170,375 others, ending with a ceasefire agreement that came into effect on October 10 of this month.

A Palestinian source confirmed on Friday that the Fatah movement did not attend the meetings of the Palestinian factions held in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, noting that it is not bound by any of the outcomes of these meetings.

The source clarified that any agreement to hold direct meetings between Fatah and Hamas is not currently on the table, and there are no anticipated meetings between the two movements or with other factions in the foreseeable future.

The source emphasized that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has set clear conditions for any dialogue with Hamas, the most important of which is the recognition of the Palestine Liberation Organization as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.

Informed sources have reported that the U.S. military has begun operating drones over the Gaza Strip, with the aim of ensuring compliance with the terms of the recently reached ceasefire agreement.

This decision comes as part of efforts to monitor the implementation of the agreement between the occupation and Hamas, as both parties seek to achieve stability in the region.

This step is considered part of the United States' commitment to supporting security in the region and monitoring the situation in Gaza.

The U.S. Department of State announced the appointment of the current ambassador to Yemen, Stephen Fagin, as the "civilian leader of the Civil-Military Coordination Center to support the stability of the Gaza Strip." This was stated in a press release from the department issued on Friday following a visit by Secretary of State Marco Rubio to the center located in the Kiryat Gat settlement in the southern part of the occupied territories.

The U.S. State Department said: "Ambassador Stephen Fagin will be the civilian leader of the Civil-Military Coordination Center that supports the implementation of President (Donald Trump)'s 20-point peace plan for the Gaza Strip," according to the Anadolu Agency.

It noted that Fagin is a "seasoned member of the diplomatic corps with the rank of Minister Counselor, and has served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Yemen since May 2022." It added that "Fagin previously served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad from 2020 to 2021, a senior official at the U.S. Consulate General in Erbil from 2018 to 2020, and Director of the Office of Iranian Affairs at the State Department from 2015 to 2018," according to the statement.

The Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) is the first international operational platform established by the U.S. Central Command in Israel to monitor developments in Gaza following the ceasefire agreement that came into effect on October 10.

The U.S. Central Command opened this center earlier this week with the aim of "supporting the stability of Gaza," and appointed Central Command leader Patrick Frank as its military commander.

The Central Command stated in an earlier announcement that the center "is designed to support stabilization efforts and that U.S. military forces will not be deployed inside the Gaza Strip, but will help facilitate the flow of humanitarian, logistical, and security assistance from international partners to the area."

It clarified that the center "was established by about 200 U.S. personnel with expertise in transportation, planning, security, logistics, and engineering, under the command of General Patrick Frank, the leader of the U.S. Central Command."

According to the statement from the U.S. Central Command, "the center will monitor the implementation of the ceasefire agreement through an operations room that allows the staff to assess developments in Gaza moment by moment."

The ceasefire agreement that the center will monitor came into effect on October 10, based on a plan from President Donald Trump, which, alongside ending the war, includes a gradual withdrawal of the Israeli army, mutual release of prisoners, and immediate entry of aid to the region.

Before this agreement, "Israel," with U.S. support, committed acts of genocide since October 7, 2023, lasting two years, resulting in the martyrdom of 68,280 Palestinians and injuring 170,375 others, most of whom were children and women, causing destruction that affected 90 percent of civilian infrastructure.

145 Palestinians released as part of a prisoner exchange between Hamas and the occupation found themselves in exile inside a hotel in Cairo, instead of returning to their homes in the West Bank.

According to the ceasefire agreement in Gaza signed on October 10, all detainees held by the resistance were released in exchange for about 2000 Palestinian prisoners.

However, 154 prisoners serving life sentences were deported to Egypt, where they have been residing since mid-month in a luxury hotel, without identification papers or freedom of movement.

The occupying army continues its aggressive operations in the Gaza Strip, having bombed the vicinity of the Qastal Towers east of Deir al-Balah in the center of the strip.

Palestinian media reported the martyrdom of two individuals and injuries to others as a result of the bombing.

This bombing comes after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the commencement of the American Center for Monitoring the Ceasefire's operations in the strip.

Amnesty International stated today, Friday, that there have been more than 860 violent attacks by settlers in the occupied West Bank during the year 2025.

The international organization clarified that settlers "enjoy near-total impunity for their attacks on Palestinians," emphasizing that world leaders have a legal obligation to dismantle the Israeli occupation and end the "apartheid system" in the West Bank.

Previously, Agnes Callamard, the Secretary General of Amnesty International, stated in an earlier report that the organization "documented the genocide committed by Israel against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip," explaining that the apartheid system and illegal occupation practiced by Israel in the West Bank have escalated into increasing acts of violence.

This comes as the West Bank has witnessed a wide escalation from the occupation army and settlers since the beginning of the genocide in Gaza about two years ago, where 1,057 Palestinians were martyred and 10,000 were injured, and Israeli forces arrested more than 20,000 Palestinians, including 1,600 children, according to official Palestinian data.

The Israeli army, according to United Nations data, carried out 83 "punitive demolition" operations in the West Bank over two years, coinciding with the genocide in Gaza.

Attacks by settlers on Palestinian farmers in the West Bank increase every year with the onset of the olive-picking season, as the Palestinian Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission documented 158 attacks since the beginning of the current season.

Israeli soldiers and a settler assaulted an elderly Palestinian farmer on Friday, beating him before arresting him while he was picking olives in the town of Nahalin, west of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank.

A video circulated by Palestinian media platforms showed several Israeli soldiers along with a settler attacking the Palestinian farmer, throwing him to the ground, while a woman accompanying him tried in vain to defend him.

This coincides with a noticeable increase in settler assaults in the West Bank against Palestinians as the olive-picking season begins, which typically starts in the second third of October each year.

Nahalin Mayor Jamal Najajra stated that the Palestinian farmer Ahmad Shakarneh, in his sixties, was assaulted while picking olives on his land in the Ain al-Balad area north of Nahalin.

He explained that the Israeli soldiers confiscated the olives that the Palestinian farmer had harvested and took him to an unknown location, forcing the woman who was assisting him in the picking to leave the area.

Najajra pointed out the existence of a "fierce attack" by the Israeli army and settlers against olive pickers in the town, which includes assaults and preventing them from accessing their lands, in addition to stealing the fruits.

According to the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, settlers carried out more than 7,000 assaults against Palestinians and their properties in the West Bank during the two years of the genocide war on Gaza, including 158 attacks targeting olive pickers since the beginning of October.

Commission head Muayad Shaaban clarified that the assaults have resulted in the destruction of about 795 olive trees since the beginning of the season.

Shaaban described the current season as "the hardest in decades" amid the expansion of the policy of "closed military zones" on agricultural lands in the West Bank.

These attacks are part of a wide Israeli escalation in the West Bank that has resulted in the deaths of more than a thousand Palestinians and injuries to about 10,000 others, as well as the arrest of over 20,000 people, including 1,600 children, since the beginning of the genocide war.

The World Food Programme of the United Nations announced on Friday, October 24, 2025, a significant step in humanitarian relief efforts in the Gaza Strip, represented by the commencement of operations of bakeries supported by the programme in parts of northern Gaza.

This long-awaited step aims to provide the essential staple of bread to the population that has suffered from a suffocating blockade and severe food shortages during two years of devastating war.

The resumption of bakery operations comes at a time when Gaza is still slowly recovering from the effects of a destructive war that lasted for two years, which began in October 2023.

Norway has called for urgent international action to assist the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, emphasizing the importance of exerting real pressure to expedite the delivery of humanitarian aid to the population there.

Andreas Krafvik, Norway's Deputy Foreign Minister, stated that there is an urgent need to bring in trucks and equipment necessary for clearing rubble in the Gaza Strip, noting that the time available to provide assistance to the residents of Gaza is extremely limited.

Krafvik stressed that the international community must take responsibility for aiding Gaza and addressing what is happening in the occupied West Bank, explaining that this requires resources from countries in the region to provide healthcare for the Palestinians.

He pointed out that Israel has systematically targeted hospitals and healthcare workers during its war on the Gaza Strip, necessitating the establishment of new hospitals and increasing the number of relief teams and workers within Gaza.

According to the Norwegian official, Israel has a legal obligation to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, and no country has the right to punish civilians under the pretext of targeting military objectives.

Regarding the role of United Nations agencies, Krafvik referred to the recent International Court of Justice ruling, which confirmed that the role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is indispensable.

He expressed his belief that there is a clear alignment between U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to stop the war and rebuild, and the International Court of Justice's decision.

Two days ago, the International Court of Justice stated that there is no evidence of UNRWA violating the principle of neutrality or practicing discrimination in the distribution of aid in the occupied Palestinian territories, as Israel has repeatedly claimed.

The court, which is the highest legal body of the United Nations, also emphasized that Israel is obligated to facilitate the delivery of aid to Gaza—especially that provided by UNRWA—and not to use starvation as a weapon and means of warfare in the region.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has committed genocide in the Gaza Strip, resulting in 68,234 Palestinian martyrs and 170,373 injured, most of whom are children and women, along with widespread destruction affecting 90% of the civilian infrastructure in the area.

The Gaza Strip continues to experience a worsening humanitarian crisis despite the ceasefire, amid a severe shortage of water, the collapse of the health sector, and the prohibition of equipment to remove rubble and recover the bodies of martyrs from under the destroyed homes.

The Civil Defense in Gaza stated that there has been no real change on the ground except for the entry of a limited number of trucks that do not meet the minimum needs of the affected population since the agreement came into effect on October 10, 2023.

It added in a statement that homes remain destroyed and bodies are still under the rubble, while roads remain blocked by debris, noting that Civil Defense teams are working with almost no resources amid massive destruction covering various areas of the strip.

The Civil Defense called on the international community and humanitarian organizations to take urgent action for reconstruction, debris removal, and to allow the necessary equipment to recover the bodies of the victims and alleviate the suffering in Gaza.

It pointed out that the prohibition of entering the necessary equipment and machinery to remove the rubble exacerbates the humanitarian disaster and hinders rescue efforts, leaving thousands of families under extremely difficult living and health conditions.

The Civil Defense confirmed that its personnel are working with very limited resources amid total destruction of infrastructure and residential areas.

The statement demanded the urgent entry of engineering equipment and machinery through the crossings without restrictions, emphasizing that their use has become essential to save lives, recover bodies, and open roads throughout the strip.

In a related context, the Gaza Municipality appealed to international and humanitarian organizations for urgent action to provide essential needs to alleviate the humanitarian disaster in the city.

The Gaza Municipality stated that since the ceasefire, no construction materials, heavy machinery, or essential spare parts have reached it to enable it to carry out its vital work.

The Gaza Municipality clarified that the most pressing needs include construction materials, heavy machinery for waste collection and rubble removal, spare parts for vehicles, generators, and pumps, in addition to water and sewage pipes.

The water crisis in the Gaza Strip continues despite the end of the war.

The Gaza Municipality revealed a severe shortage of drinking water exceeding 80% of the daily needs of the population.

It attributed the cause of the crisis to the systematic destruction by the Israeli occupation of 56 central wells in Gaza City, in addition to the destruction of water and sewage networks.

For its part, the Palestinian Water Authority stated that losses in the water sector have exceeded one and a half billion dollars.

It indicated that more than 90% of water and sewage facilities in the strip have been destroyed.

In another development, Israel allowed the entry of commercial trucks and others loaded with aid into the Gaza Strip through the Karem Abu Salem and Kissofim crossings today, Friday.

However, the number of trucks allowed to enter the strip is still far less than what the ceasefire agreement stipulated, which called for the entry of 600 trucks daily.

Israeli forces continue to close the Zikim crossing at the far north of the Gaza Strip, which was used to bring in aid to the Gaza and northern governorates.

On October 16, the Gaza government office announced that the strip is an environmentally and structurally disaster-stricken area due to the Israeli genocide that left about 70 million tons of rubble and nearly 20,000 unexploded shells and rockets posing a constant danger to civilians.

Palestinian factions and forces announced on Friday that they agreed during a meeting held in Cairo to hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a temporary committee of technocrats from the region.

This was stated in a joint statement published via the "Telegram" platform by the "Hamas" movement, which participated in the meeting.

The statement added that during the meeting, which took place on Thursday, it was also agreed to call for an urgent national meeting involving all forces and factions to discuss a comprehensive national strategy and to activate the role of the Palestine Liberation Organization as the legitimate and sole representative of the Palestinian people.

The factions confirmed their support and continuation of the implementation of the ceasefire agreement procedures in what is considered the most important step since the end of the war. The Palestinian factions announced at the conclusion of their meeting in Cairo their agreement to hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a "temporary Palestinian committee of independents (technocrats)."

This agreement, which was sponsored by Egypt, paves the way for a comprehensive national dialogue aimed at restoring national unity and protecting the Palestinian national project, as well as discussing the second phase of the international ceasefire plan.

At the invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and as a continuation of the efforts of mediators in Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, the meeting of the Palestinian factions was held in Cairo on October 23 and 24, 2025.

These discussions come as a subsequent step to the "Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit," aimed at addressing the repercussions of the devastating war on the Gaza Strip.

The meetings coincided with a serious escalation in the West Bank, represented by the preliminary reading approval of the occupation parliament on the "application of sovereignty" law over the West Bank, which was condemned by the attendees, who also appreciated U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to halt this move and his promise not to repeat it.

The attendees began their meeting by paying tribute to the steadfastness of the Palestinian people in Gaza, the homeland, and the diaspora, as well as to the martyrs, prisoners, and the wounded.

After extensive discussions, the Palestinian forces confirmed that the current phase requires a unified national stance, and they agreed on the following points: First, the factions emphasized their support and continuation of the implementation of the ceasefire agreement procedures.

They stressed the necessity of the complete withdrawal of occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, the comprehensive lifting of the imposed siege, and the opening of all crossings, including the Rafah crossing.

They called for the immediate commencement of a comprehensive reconstruction process to restore normal life to the sector and end the suffering of citizens, ensuring the entry of all humanitarian and health needs without obstacles.

Second, which is the most prominent item, it was agreed to "hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a temporary Palestinian committee composed of independents (technocrats) from the sector."

This committee will manage the affairs of life and basic services, in cooperation with Arab brothers and international institutions, based on transparency and national accountability.

It was also decided to establish an international committee to oversee the financing and implementation of the reconstruction of the sector, with a strict emphasis on the unity of the Palestinian political system and the independence of the national decision.

Third, the factions agreed to take all necessary measures to preserve security and stability throughout the sector.

In this context, the attendees emphasized the importance of issuing a UN resolution regarding the "temporary international forces" proposed to monitor the ceasefire.

Fourth, the attendees condemned all forms of torture and violations against prisoners in the occupation's prisons, emphasizing the necessity of holding the occupation accountable to relevant international laws and treaties.

They stressed that the issue of prisoners will remain a top national priority until they achieve their freedom.

Fifth, the factions agreed to continue joint work to unify visions to confront challenges.

They called for an urgent meeting of all Palestinian forces and factions to agree on a national strategy, and most importantly, to "activate the Palestine Liberation Organization" as the legitimate and sole representative of the Palestinian people, expanding it to include all components of the Palestinian people and its living forces.

This statement represents an important step towards ending the Palestinian division, as the "Cairo Declaration" provides a unified national vision for managing the "next day" after the war in Gaza.

The agreement on a "technocratic" administration for the sector meets a fundamental international and regional demand as a condition for starting reconstruction, while the call to activate the PLO to include all forces (including Hamas) represents an internal political development that could reshape the entire Palestinian scene.

The attendees concluded their dialogue by affirming that "time is of the essence" and that the current moment is "crucial," pledging before the Palestinian people to make this meeting "a real turning point towards national unity."

This unity aims to defend the Palestinian people's right to life and dignity, establish their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital, and ensure the right of return for refugees.

The attendees also expressed their gratitude to the Arab Republic of Egypt, led by President Sisi, and the mediators for their efforts in supporting the Palestinian cause.

Two Lebanese citizens were killed due to an Israeli bombardment on the town of Tull in the Nabatieh district, in a new and ongoing violation of the ceasefire agreement.

According to the official Lebanese agency, the Emergency Health Operations Center of the Ministry of Public Health reported that the Israeli enemy's airstrike on a vehicle in the town of Tull, Nabatieh district, resulted in two martyrs and injuries to two citizens.

An Israeli drone carried out a strike with a guided missile targeting the vehicle near the Hasib Awaadah shops, which led to a fire erupting in it.

For its part, "Hezbollah" called on the Lebanese state to take immediate action using all available means to put a swift end to the ongoing assaults despite UN Resolution 1701 and the ceasefire agreement.

This came according to Ibrahim Al-Moussawi, a member of the "Loyalty to the Resistance" bloc affiliated with "Hezbollah."

Al-Moussawi stated that "the Israeli enemy's forces continue to escalate their criminal assaults deep within Lebanese territory, which constitutes a serious violation, an open and blatant aggression, and a continuation of breaching the executive measures of Resolution 1701."

He added that this "places the responsible parties concerned and the guarantors of the implementation of the agreement before their responsibilities to firmly confront the enemy's violations of Lebanese sovereignty."

UN Security Council Resolution 1701, issued on August 11, 2006, calls for a cessation of hostilities between "Hezbollah" and Israel, and the establishment of a weapons-free zone between the Blue Line and the Litani River in southern Lebanon, except for the Lebanese army and the "UNIFIL" forces.

Al-Moussawi continued: "The Lebanese state, represented by the presidency, the government, and the army, is required to take immediate action using all available means to swiftly put an end to the impunity of Zionist criminality and to stop this ongoing violation of the blood of Lebanese citizens and the state's sovereignty over its territory."

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived today, Friday, at the Civil-Military Coordination Center in "Kiryat Gat" (south of Tel Aviv), to follow up on the implementation of "President Trump's plan" regarding the cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip.

In press statements from the center, Rubio outlined the U.S. position on the agreement and the future of the region, describing the progress made in 12 days as "historic."

Rubio expressed pride in "the early days of implementing President Trump's plan," acknowledging the "difficulties in implementing the Gaza agreement," but affirmed that "there are also reasons for optimism" after achieving "progress in maintaining the ceasefire."

The U.S. Secretary of State emphasized full commitment to the success of the plan, stating: "There is no alternative plan to Trump's plan for peace in Gaza, and we are working to ensure its success," adding: "We must ensure that the ceasefire holds without obstacles."

Regarding the future administration of the region, Rubio was decisive, confirming that "all parties agreed that there would be no role for Hamas in Gaza in the future."

He added: "We expect the complete disarmament of Hamas, and we do not want any threat to Israel from the areas where Hamas currently exists."

He warned that "if Hamas refuses to disarm, it will be a violation of the ceasefire agreement," noting that the goal is "to help the people of Gaza live better lives without Hamas" and to ensure "that what happened on October 7 does not happen again."

Rubio revealed that Washington is working on "establishing an international force to maintain stability in the Gaza Strip," explaining that "the force has not yet been formed, and many countries have expressed their desire to participate."

However, he set a fundamental condition for its formation, stating: "The international security force regarding Gaza must consist of countries that Israel feels comfortable with."

Concerning the humanitarian situation, Rubio emphasized the "necessity of coordinating with all international organizations and charities regarding the distribution of aid in Gaza" to ensure it reaches those in need.

The American minister also referred to the stance on the Palestinian leadership, saying: "We have expressed our concerns regarding the current situation of the Palestinian Authority."

The American newspaper "The Wall Street Journal" revealed that the United States is discussing with Israel a plan to divide the Gaza Strip into two separate areas as part of ongoing discussions about the post-war future.

The newspaper reported in a report published on Thursday that the plan stipulates that the first area would be under the control of the Israeli army and would include reconstruction projects, while the second area would remain under the rule of Hamas and would be economically isolated until its "disarmament."

Israeli broadcasting authority reported from the report that "the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is discussing with Israel a plan to reshape the reality in the Gaza Strip by dividing it into two separate areas."

It added: "According to the report, reconstruction projects and international investments will be limited to the part controlled by the Israeli army, which currently constitutes about 53 percent of the area of the strip, while the part managed by Hamas will be left in complete economic isolation until the movement is dismantled and its weapons are surrendered."

With the ceasefire agreement coming into effect on October 10, the Israeli army withdrew to new positions inside the Gaza Strip east of what is known as the "yellow line," which according to military estimates covers more than 50 percent of the area of the strip.

The broadcasting authority continued: "Jared Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law, is leading the push for this project in collaboration with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff, as the three arrived in Israel to discuss mechanisms for solidifying the ceasefire and exploring opportunities to create what has been termed the new Gaza in the safe area controlled by Israel."

It noted that the idea is based on "transforming the part under the army's control into an economically and security-stable area that can attract international support, while keeping the other part under economic and political pressure aimed at forcing Hamas to relinquish its weapons."

During the two years of genocide initiated by Israel on October 8, 2023, Israel destroyed 90 percent of the civilian infrastructure in the strip, while UN estimates indicate that the cost of reconstructing the strip is around 70 billion dollars.

The broadcasting authority mentioned that these discussions come "amid escalating U.S. efforts to rearrange the scene in Gaza after the war, ensuring that Hamas does not return to rule the entire Gaza Strip and replacing it with international administration."

No immediate comment has been issued from Washington or Tel Aviv regarding this report.

Recently, mediators have begun discussions with Israel and Hamas regarding the implementation of the second phase of Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza.

The extremist Israeli National Security Minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, demanded that the occupying army kill children who are riding "donkeys" in Gaza if they approach the yellow withdrawal line.

In a discussion about the implementation of the yellow line in the Gaza Strip, a military official in the occupying army's General Staff explained, saying: "The forces shoot at adult suspects who approach the line, and they arrest children who come close on a donkey."

In response, the National Security Minister asked: "Why don't you shoot at the children?" The Israeli minister David Amsalem replied: "Who do we shoot at first, the child or the donkey?"

So the Israeli Minister of War, Israel Katz, ended the debate by stating: "Anyone who approaches the fence should know that they may be harmed."

According to the map of the American plan that underpins the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, the "yellow line" extends from the majority of the southern edges of the North Gaza Governorate to the outskirts of the city of Rafah in the south.

The withdrawals initiated by the Israeli army coincided with the implementation of the agreement, including the city of Gaza except for the Shuja'iyya neighborhood and parts of the Tuffah and Zaytoun neighborhoods.

The army also withdrew from the center and parts of the eastern city of Khan Younis in the southern sector, while continuing its deployment in the towns of Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia, the city of Rafah, and the sea of the sector.

Katz stated that "the yellow line covers more than 50 percent of the Gaza Strip."

Meanwhile, Hamas confirmed on Sunday that the Israeli army is committing violations regarding its forces' activities that exceed the limits of what is known as the "yellow line."

It stated that the army "imposes its fire control over a strip extending along the temporary withdrawal line known as the yellow line, at distances ranging from 600 to 1500 meters south, east, and north of the Gaza Strip, preventing citizens from returning to their homes."