Palestinian Authority will not be part of Gaza governance ‘in any way’, Netanyahu tells Witkoff

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told US envoy Steve Witkoff during a meeting in Jerusalem that “the Palestinian Authority will not be involved in governing the Strip in any way”, according to the statement issued by Netanyahu’s office.

He also said Hamas must be disarmed before Gaza’s reconstruction begins, the office said.

Amnesty demands Israel drop death penalty bills ‘entrenching apartheid’

Amnesty International has called on Israel to abandon legislation that would expand the use of the death penalty, warning that the measures would violate international law and “further entrench Israel’s apartheid system” against Palestinians.

In a statement on Tuesday, the human rights group said two bills under discussion in the Knesset would mark a major reversal of Israel’s longstanding opposition to capital punishment and would disproportionately target Palestinians.

The proposals, championed by government figures, including far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, would make the death penalty “another discriminatory tool in Israel’s system of apartheid”, Amnesty International said.

“These amendments mean that the most extreme and irrevocable punishment is being reserved for, and weaponised against, Palestinians,” it said.

“If adopted, these bills would distance Israel from the vast majority of states which have rejected the death penalty in law or in practice, while further entrenching its cruel system of apartheid against all Palestinians whose rights Israel controls.”

Guterres calls for scaled up aid into Gaza

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for “rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief at scale”, including through the Rafah crossing, at the opening session of the UN’s Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.

“The continued suspension of international NGOs providing vital aid defies humanitarian principles, undermines fragile progress, and worsens the suffering of civilians,” Guterres said.

“Shelter, food, education materials, and other basic needs must reach those in need.”

• Gaza must remain an integral part of a Palestinian state.
• Any sustainable solution must be consistent with international law, and the occupied Palestinian territories must be run by “a unified, legitimate, and internationally recognised Palestinian Government”.
• The E1 settlement expansion project – which includes 3,401 additional housing units – is “profoundly alarming” and would deliver a “severe blow” to the two-state solution. Such actions are unlawful as deemed by the International Court of Justice.
• The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is part of the UN and, as such, is “inviolable and immune from any form of interference”. States must continue to politically and financially support its mandate.
• The Israeli occupation “must end” and “the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people must be realised”.
• The only viable route is a two-state solution. The international community must act in accordance “with clarity, unity and determination”.

Israel-Palestine head of Human Right Watch quits over ‘blocked’ report

The Israel-Palestine director of Human Rights Watch (HRW) has resigned in protest, saying the organisation’s new chief blocked a report accusing Israel of committing “crimes against humanity” in its denial of Palestinian refugees’ right of return.

Omar Shakir, who has worked for the rights group for more than 10 years, told Al Jazeera on Tuesday that the report “sought to connect the erasure of camps in Gaza with the emptying of camps in the West Bank, with the full assault led by the Israeli government against UNRWA, the [United Nations] aid agency for Palestinian refugees and underscoring how in the midst of this Nakba 2.0 that we’re seeing unfold beyond us, it’s critical that we learn the lessons from Nakba 1.0”.

A breakdown of Israel’s deadly attacks on Gaza this morning

At least 10 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza today:

Israel not providing any reason for rejecting those wanting to cross Rafah

There has been a surge in Israel’s military activities across Gaza in the past few hours. In Khan Younis, Israeli drones have been actively operating for the last 30 minutes, and they are concentrating over the central parts of the city.

Israel has been relying on a bizarre combination of military tactics that are also accompanied by clear political pressure, as well, showing the world that the Rafah crossing has been reopened. But on the ground, Israeli attacks are still ongoing without any respite.

Until now, Israel has not given any clarification regarding why it has been rejecting Palestinians from leaving or returning to Gaza, but we can see a blatant disparity in the numbers of people who have been allowed to leave Gaza and those who have recently returned.

This morning, more people are arriving in ambulances, waiting to leave.

Israel continues to block Palestinians from exiting Gaza via Rafah crossing

Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary, reporting from Khan Younis yesterday, said only 16 Palestinians were allowed to cross into Egypt via Rafah to seek medical treatment on Tuesday. That is far below the 50 Palestinians who Israeli officials said would be allowed to travel in each direction via the crossing.

A day earlier, only five people were permitted to leave, while 12 were allowed back into Gaza. About 150 people were due to leave the territory on Monday, and 50 were to enter, according to Egyptian officials.

“There is no explanation as to why crossings are being delayed at Rafah,” Khoudary said. “The process is taking extremely long.” The crossing, which is Gaza’s only gateway to the outside world that does not lead to Israel, had been largely closed since Israeli forces seized control of it in May 2024.

Evacuations via Rafah crossing cancelled for today: Red Crescent

Raed al-Nims, spokesperson for the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), says the organisation was informed this morning that the evacuation of patients and wounded via the Rafah crossing has been cancelled for today.

“Unfortunately, a few minutes ago, we were … informed that the evacuation process for today has been cancelled,” he told Al Jazeera from Khan Younis.

He said the procedure should have seen sick and wounded arrive at the Red Cross Society hospital for preliminary medical checkups before being transferred by ambulance to the Rafah crossing, then to Egyptian hospitals or elsewhere.

Israel claims Rafah crossing open ‘as usual’

COGAT, the Israeli military agency that controls aid to Gaza, has claimed that the Rafah crossing “has opened this morning as usual”.

“The World Health Organization (@WHO), which is responsible for coordinating the arrival of residents from the Gaza Strip to the Rafah Crossing, has not submitted the required coordination details at this stage for procedural reasons,” COGAT said in a post on X.

“Once the coordination details are submitted as agreed upon, the transfer of patients and their companions into Egypt via the Rafah Crossing will be facilitated.”

Israeli military erects collection points for Hamas weapons along “yellow line”: Report

Israeli media outlet Haaretz is reporting that the army has recently established collection points along the “yellow line”, marking the area where Hamas is expected to surrender its weapons to the International Stabilization Force under the Trump-brokered “ceasefire” plan.

Hamas has refused to disarm, given ongoing Israeli violations of the “ceasefire”.

Patient evacuation through Rafah crossing to resume: PRCS

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has told Al Jazeera that the evacuation of patients from Gaza through the Rafah crossing will resume shortly, adding that preparations were under way for a group of patients to travel.

Earlier today, Raed al-Nims, a PRCS spokesperson, said the organisation was informed this morning that the evacuation of patients and wounded via the Rafah crossing has been cancelled for today.

Israel destroyed Gaza’s healthcare system ‘deliberately and methodically’

After the partial reopening of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt this week, the world’s attention turned to the process of allowing a small number of wounded and sick Palestinians out of the besieged territory.

But while these medical evacuations are necessary, advocates say the core priority must be to rebuild the healthcare system in Gaza, which has been ravaged by Israel’s genocidal war against Palestinians in the Strip.

“The Israeli occupation has deliberately and methodically destroyed the health system,” Palestinian Health Ministry spokesperson Zaher al-Wahidi told Al Jazeera.

Israeli screening process for medical evacuations slow by design

Movement through the Rafah crossing remains controlled, remains very strict, particularly for medical evacuation. Only limited number of patients have been allowed so far. This is the third day the medical evacuations are going to be happening through the Rafah crossing.

Many victims of Israeli attacks within the ‘yellow line’

A spokesman for the Palestinian Civil Defence in Gaza has told Al Jazeera that many of the victims of Israel’s continued attacks are within the so-called yellow line, which is the demarcation line where the Israeli army withdrew to under the first phase of the Gaza “ceasefire” that came into effect in October.

The spokesperson said there are also many reports of missing people from the same area.

Israeli forces attack Palestinians on beach in southern Gaza

Israeli naval boats have opened fire on the beach in southern Gaza, our correspondent is reporting.

Israeli army claims to have killed Hamas fighter in southern Gaza

The Israeli military has issued a statement, claiming its forces killed a Hamas fighter in southern Gaza. It identified the man as Bilal Abu Assi, saying the killing came in response to an earlier attack that injured an Israeli soldier in the northern part of the Strip.

I guess Hamas fighters have mastered the art of teleportation... For all we know, the Israeli soldier could have simply been injured in friendly fire or stupidity. It has happened plenty times before with the IDF claiming it was Hamas to later retract it as an 'accident' while clearing or running over unexploded ordnance. 

Any excuse will do to indiscriminately kill more Palestinians. 

Palestinian woman struggles in flood-soaked tent

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has shared a video from central Gaza’s Deir el-Balah, where Palestinian woman Wafaa Khodeir wades through her water-soaked tent.

“It’s a swamp under me. How am I supposed to manage? How am I supposed to put my children to sleep?” Khodeir says.

She is among hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who remain displaced across the enclave. “For many, survival is now a daily struggle against the freezing winds and rising floods,” ICRC said.

📍 Gaza | Over the past months, winter has been finishing what the conflict started; tents submerged, livelihoods lost.

For many, survival is now a daily struggle against the freezing winds and rising floods. pic.twitter.com/g9M29kMUBi

— ICRC (@ICRC) February 4, 2026

Greece, Israel boost military ties amid Gaza genocide

Greece is interested in jointly developing weapons with Israel, Greek officials have told Al Jazeera.

“We’re an excellent customer of Israeli systems,” Angelos Syrigos, chairman of the Greek parliament’s Defence Affairs Committee, said. “The leap in our defence relationship will happen when there’s co-production of defence systems and common planning.”

The relationship is strengthening as Israel stands accused of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

On December 4, Greece’s Defence Affairs Committee approved the purchase of 36 PULS rocket artillery systems at a cost of $760m, the largest Greek acquisition of Israeli weapons to date.

UK pro-Palestinian activists not guilty of aggravated burglary at Israeli firm’s factory

Six British ‍pro-Palestinian activists ‍have been acquitted of aggravated burglary relating to a 2024 raid on ⁠a factory operated by ​Israeli defence firm Elbit, with ‍a jury unable to reach verdicts on charges of criminal damage.

Prosecutors ‍at ⁠London’s Woolwich Crown Court said the six defendants, whose trial began in November, were members of the now-banned group Palestine ​Action, which organised ‌the assault on the Elbit Systems UK facility in Bristol, southwest England, in ‌August last year.

The six – Charlotte Head, ‌29, Samuel Corner, ⁠23, Leona Kamio, 30, Fatema Zainab Rajwani, 21, Zoe Rogers, 22, and ‌Jordan Devlin, 31 – all denied charges of aggravated burglary, violent disorder ‍and criminal damage.

Calling them terrorists while they can't even get them on burglary... Vandalism at best.

‘Our loved ones dared to poke the beast,’ mother of acquitted activist says

Clare Rogers, the mother of one of the six British ‍pro-Palestinian activists acquitted today of aggravated burglary relating to a 2024 raid on ⁠a factory operated by the Israeli defence firm Elbit, says the “brutal response” to her daughter’s actions has “exposed the true values” of the UK government.

She said Westminster is “determined to do business with Israel and protect its weapons industry at any cost”.

“Our loved ones dared to poke the beast – and no expense has been spared in policing, prosecuting and imprisoning them without trial. Imagine if the government had put the same amount of money, resources and political will into preventing a genocide,” Rogers said in a statement.

Manchester City’s Guardiola says he will continue to stand up for Palestine

Manchester City manage Pep Guardiola has voiced his support for the people of Palestine once again, saying he will continue to speak out on Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza to help bring justice and peace.

On Tuesday, Guardiola used a pre-match news conference as a platform to highlight the plight of people affected by wars across the world, especially in Gaza.

“Never ever in the history of humanity have we had the information in front of our eyes watching more clearly than now,” Guardiola told reporters ⁠in Manchester. “The genocide in Palestine, what happened in Ukraine, what happened in Russia, what happened all around the world – in Sudan, everywhere.”

Israeli energy minister will ‘personally’ oversee cutoff of utilities to UNRWA offices

Israel’s energy minister, Eli Cohen, says he will “personally” oversee the cutoff of water and electricity to the offices of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in occupied East Jerusalem. Speaking to Israel’s Radio 103FM, Cohen said he was heading to East Jerusalem to witness the disconnection of utilities to UNRWA-run facilities.

Israeli authorities have long accused the UN agency of having ties with Hamas, a claim UNRWA has repeatedly denied. Late last year, the Knesset made a decision to cut water and electricity to UNRWA facilities in East Jerusalem after a decision at the end of 2024 to bar the agency from operating in the occupied city and in Israel.

UNRWA was established in 1949 by a vote of the UN General Assembly and is mandated to provide assistance and protection to Palestinian refugees across Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, the occupied West Bank and Gaza.

HRW found it ‘inconvenient’ to publish a report on the Palestinian refugees’ right of return

The former Israel-Palestine director of Human Rights Watch (HRW), Omar Shakir, has told Al Jazeera that the reasons given by the organisation for blocking a report accusing Israel of committing “crimes against humanity” in its denial of Palestinian refugees’ right of return are “completely bogus”.

“It was completely reviewed and finalised. We briefed external partners. I’ve been in HRW for a decade, a report like that doesn’t reach that stage … without it being fully signed off and approved,” Shakir said following his resignation.

“I think at the end of the day, senior leadership found it inconvenient to have a report that was focused on the right of return.”

He said the issue “remains the third rail in many ways, in progressive Western institutions, organisations like HRW, which have called the genocide, apartheid and ethnic cleansing, when it comes to the right of return, hesitate and in this case … willing to upend decades of human rights, watches, policies and practices because they were afraid of the consequences.”

Conditions in Israeli prisons inhumane with overcrowding, shackling, deliberate starvation: Report

More than 9,000 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli prisons, according to a report by the Israeli rights organisation B’Tselem that describes the inhumane treatment they endure.

The report said at least 84 Palestinians have died in Israeli detention centres since October 2023. Israel has yet to hand over 80 of the bodies.

According to testimonies gathered by B’Tselem, Palestinians face systematic physical, psychological and sexual abuse. The organisation described Israeli prisons as a network of torture camps.

It said the denial of medical care for prisoners is a method of torture itself and leads to irreversible harm, such as amputations and loss of hearing and eyesight.

The report stated living conditions in Israeli prisons remain inhumane with overcrowding, prolonged shackling, deliberate starvation and the denial of basic hygiene.

Israeli forces make dozens of arrests across occupied West Bank

The Palestinian Prisoners’ Club has told Al Jazeera that Israeli forces have arrested 25 Palestinians from the occupied West Bank and are currently interrogating dozens of Palestinians in the Nablus district.

Israeli forces kill young Palestinian in West Bank

Israeli forces shot dead Saeed Na’el al-Sheikh, 24, last night during a raid on the city of Jericho, east of the occupied West Bank, Wafa news agency reported.

The Health Ministry said three other Palestinians were wounded.

Six more Palestinians were wounded in other attacks, including three who were shot, two who were beaten up by Israeli soldiers and a woman who was run over by a military vehicle.

Cancer cases in West Bank on the rise: Health Ministry

The Palestinian Health Ministry said data suggest an increase in the number of newly reported cancer cases of all types in the occupied West Bank.

The ministry said in a statement that 3,926 new cases were recorded in 2024 – an incidence rate of 130 per 100,000 people – compared with 3,590 cases in 2023.

It added that 1,969 new cases were registered among males, equivalent to 50.2 percent of all new cancer cases in the occupied West Bank in 2024. Breast cancer remained the most common type of cancer, with 584 new registered cases.

Jury frees Palestine activists who smashed Israeli arms factory

Six Palestine Action protesters have been found not guilty of aggravated burglary at an Elbit weapons site near Bristol.

Zoe Rogers, Fatema Zainab Rajwani, Charlotte Head, Samuel Corner, Leona Kamio and Jordan Devlin were also not convicted of any other charges by a jury at Woolwich Crown Court on Wednesday. The group were on trial for a break-in at an Israeli-owned arms factory on 6 August 2024 at the height of the genocide in Gaza. Keir Starmer’s Labour government only placed partial restrictions on arms exports to Israel the following month.

The activists spent 18 months on remand before their trial began in November 2025. Jurors did not convict them of any charges despite the judge trying to limit defences available to the activists. A spokesperson for Defend Our Juries said: “These verdicts are a huge blow to government ministers who have tried to portray Palestine Action as a violent group to justify banning it under badly drafted terrorism legislation. “Despite government efforts to prejudice this trial, citing the allegations of violence to justify treating Palestine Action as ‘terrorists’, as if they were already proved, the jury which heard the evidence has refused to find the defendants guilty of anything, not even criminal damage. “It shows how out of step this government is with public opinion, which is revulsed by the Government and Elbit’s complicity in genocide.”


Good to see normal humans in the UK still value life over profiting from genocide.

Footage seen by Palestine Action jury shows Israeli quadcopters being smashed

Trump caught off guard by Iran's sudden condition to hold talks on its terms

Iran on Wednesday surprised the US administration headed by Donald Trump by announcing that it was not willing to discuss its ballistic missile programme during the scheduled talks on Friday. Tehran also said it would like to hold these talks in Oman rather than in Turkey. Iran's sudden aggressive posturing has left the US perplexed, as was evident from Secretary of State Marco Rubio's reactions.

In the UK, Keir Starmer is facing the biggest test of his political career after it emerged that the man he appointed as the UK ambassador to the US had shared government information with Jeffrey Epstein. Rifat Jawaid analyses these developments and also the jury's decision to acquit members of the Palestine Action Group.