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The smuggling of goods restricted or prohibited by Israel into Gaza has expanded significantly, driving up prices, supplying hospitals with scarce medicines and equipment, and generating millions of dollars for smugglers and intermediaries, according to an Associated Press investigation. The investigation, based on Israeli court records and interviews with traders, merchants, truck drivers, Palestinian officials and residents, found that a wide range of products are entering Gaza through illicit channels. Cigarettes and tobacco are among the most profitable, while other smuggled items include fuel, medicines, solar panels, iPhones and medical equipment. Israel limits the entry of some products and completely prohibits others, including items it classifies as “dual use.” The category includes materials such as concrete, vehicle parts and X-ray equipment, which Israeli authorities say could potentially be used for military purposes by Hamas. AP spoke with several people involved in the trade who requested anonymity because of the risks associated with illegal smuggling. The investigation found that smuggling networks have become an important part of Gaza’s wartime economy, with payments allegedly reaching Israeli soldiers, drivers, warehouse workers and other intermediaries on both sides of the border. “The occupation has left no other option before us. Smuggling has become routine,” one trader told AP, saying some Israeli military personnel are prepared to assist in exchange for money. The Israeli military said it takes allegations of smuggling seriously and investigates suspected involvement by its personnel in accordance with the law. However, it did not respond to detailed questions about the alleged role of soldiers or Gaza authorities in the trade. Gaza’s Hamas-led administration also receives a share of the proceeds from some smuggled goods, according to merchants and Palestinian officials. Mohammad Barbakh of Gaza’s Economy Ministry said authorities can collect up to 20% of the value of goods when merchants declare them, while the amount can rise to 80% if authorities discover undeclared shipments. How the smuggling networks operateSince the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, Israel has maintained strict controls over the movement of commercial goods, humanitarian supplies and food into Gaza. A total blockade last year halted deliveries for nearly three months, contributing to severe shortages and famine conditions in parts of the territory. Although the flow of goods has increased since a fragile ceasefire took effect in October, it remains far below prewar levels. Israel has authorized 12 senior Gaza traders to bring in commercial shipments, but Israeli authorities must approve the contents. Traders and aid workers say the approval process can be unpredictable, with some shipments rejected because they contain items considered dual use. According to documents from COGAT, the Israeli military body overseeing the movement of goods into Gaza, about 150 broad categories are classified as dual use. These include concrete, steel pipes, asphalt and wooden planks. COGAT said some such goods, including generators and X-ray machines, have been permitted in specific cases under strict supervision. When legal imports cannot meet demand, some traders turn to established smuggling networks. Merchants then sell the products inside Gaza. People interviewed by AP said Gaza government agencies, hospitals and tribal communities sometimes rely on smugglers to obtain essential supplies, including fuel, spare parts, medicines and medical equipment. Major traders said they send orders to intermediaries operating in Israel and the West Bank, who arrange the purchase and movement of the goods. Trucks entering through the Kerem Shalom crossing are inspected, but smugglers allegedly use both commercial routes and Israeli military vehicles to move contraband, sometimes paying soldiers to facilitate passage. Humanitarian vehicles have also occasionally been used, according to merchants and Israeli government statements. Smuggling becomes a major source of incomeWith much of Gaza’s economy devastated by the war and millions displaced, smuggling has become an important source of revenue. Several major traders told AP that illicit goods now account for more than half of their business and can generate over 70% of their profits. The costs of bribes and payments at different stages are ultimately passed on to consumers. Residents reported extraordinary price increases. A vehicle battery that once sold for about $140 can now cost more than $2,300, while solar panels have risen from around 16 cents per watt to $3.25. Smuggled food has also become common, including chicken, meat, baby formula and pet food. Cigarettes and tobacco command particularly high prices. Residents said a pack can cost as much as $140, while prices climbed above $1,000 during the complete blockade. According to traders, court records and Israeli statements, cigarette shipments have been concealed in military vehicles, commercial trucks, aid deliveries and even hollowed-out pineapples. Hamas administration accused of collecting revenueMerchants said Gaza’s authorities do not directly operate smuggling businesses but collect money from goods brought in illegally. Two major traders told AP they were summoned by Hamas authorities over shipments they had brought into Gaza. One said he eventually paid $3.5 million, while another reported paying about $3.75 million. Two senior officials in the Hamas administration estimated that as much as $100 million had been collected from smuggled goods since the ceasefire. They said the money helps pay public-sector workers and support social services. Barbakh said authorities do not have precise figures because smuggling operations are conducted secretly. Ismail al-Thawabta, a government media official, said none of the money collected is transferred to Hamas’ military wing and that the funds are used to maintain public services and facilities. However, several merchants and officials alleged that confiscated cigarettes are sometimes resold by the authorities. Al-Thawabta did not respond to AP questions about that claim. Smuggling coordinators wield influenceThe investigation also identified powerful intermediaries who allegedly coordinate large-scale smuggling operations. Israeli court records refer to a figure known as Abu Bassel, whom prosecutors described as having extensive contacts within the Israel Police. Traders and officials interviewed by AP described him as one of the most influential coordinators in the trade, although his identity remains unknown. Court records describe an incident in which Israeli police raided a warehouse in a West Bank settlement where cellphones and cigarettes were being prepared for shipment to Gaza. One alleged smuggler contacted Abu Bassel, after which police abandoned the raid without making arrests or confiscating the goods. A senior Gaza Chamber of Commerce official described Abu Bassel as a key figure whose approval is needed for many shipments to enter Gaza. Israeli court documents allege that he used a Palestinian aid organization as a cover, though the organization denied any involvement in smuggling. Israeli cases reveal scale of illegal tradeIsraeli authorities have dismantled several alleged smuggling networks since late 2025 and charged more than a dozen suspects, including reserve soldiers serving in Gaza. One major case involves Israeli brothers Eliran and Avi Algarabli, business associate Yaron Peretz and another Israeli. Prosecutors accuse them of paying reserve soldiers to transport contraband into Gaza. According to indictments, the group allegedly paid reserve soldier Bezalel Zini about $120,000 to move three shipments containing roughly 6,000 cigarette packs in his vehicle. Other reservists allegedly made four trips into Gaza in a single day, transporting about 20,000 cigarette packs, hundreds of iPhones and medical equipment. Court records indicate that millions of dollars can be made from such operations. The Algarabli brothers allegedly earned around $2.2 million from smuggling trips between October and December, when they were arrested. Other suspects have been accused of making between $1 million and $3 million. Gaza residents struggle with shortages and high pricesFor ordinary Palestinians, the consequences are reflected in shortages and soaring costs. Residents said products such as electric fans, which previously cost around $100, can now sell for $500. Some merchants say Israeli authorities block the import of fans because they are classified as dual-use items. Mohamed Abu Olwan, a Gaza resident, questioned why such basic products should be restricted. Mohamed Abuel-Enein, a displaced resident of Rafah, said residents living in tents desperately need fans and other basic goods amid the intense summer heat. “I don't understand the harm in allowing fans through the crossings,” he said, describing how families struggle to cope with the heat and limited access to basic necessities.

 The Israeli military said Wednesday it would launch criminal investigations into the deaths of 5-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab and her family, as well as 15 Palestinian paramedics killed in separate incidents during the Gaza war. The decision followed a review of 150 cases involving the conduct of Israeli troops during the conflict. However, the military said it would not open criminal investigations into three other incidents involving the deaths of aid workers from World Central Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders. Rajab was killed in February 2024 when Israeli forces fired on a vehicle carrying her, her aunt, uncle and four cousins as they attempted to escape Gaza City during an Israeli military operation. The incident drew widespread international condemnation. In another case, 15 Palestinian paramedics were killed in March 2025 after Israeli troops opened fire on their emergency vehicles in Rafah. The bodies were later bulldozed into a mass grave. Phone footage and testimony from the lone survivor indicated that troops first fired on an ambulance sent to evacuate casualties and later attacked other emergency vehicles searching for it. Australia criticizes decision over aid workers Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed strong anger Thursday over Israel's decision not to pursue criminal charges in the deaths of seven World Central Kitchen workers, including Australian national Zomi Frankcom. Wong said Australian officials were notified of the decision only shortly before it was made public, leaving them unable to inform Frankcom's family in advance. She said several questions remained unanswered, including why the aid convoy was struck three times despite operating in a designated humanitarian area and why a senior brigade officer involved in the operation had signed a letter calling for restrictions on aid entering Gaza. Australia also had not received drone footage from the incident despite repeatedly requesting it, Wong said. She argued that removing two officers from their posts and reprimanding three others did not amount to adequate accountability for the deaths. Wong had earlier summoned Israel's ambassador to Canberra, Hillel Newman, but said Australia would not expel him because diplomatic engagement remained important. Newman expressed sympathy for Frankcom's family but stopped short of apologizing for her death. He defended the military's findings, saying the decision followed two years of independent investigation. Israeli strikes kill 10 in Gaza At least 10 Palestinians were killed Wednesday in two Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, according to local hospitals and the Palestinian Red Crescent. The strikes raised further concerns over efforts by the United States to revive a fragile ceasefire. Two days after U.S. negotiators reportedly urged Israel to reduce attacks in Gaza, Israeli troops allegedly crossed the ceasefire line in southern Gaza and detained a Hamas police colonel, according to witnesses and a Hamas official. Iranian parliament speaker visits Iraq Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf arrived in Iraq for a three-day visit, where he is expected to meet senior Iraqi officials and leaders of an Iran-backed political alliance. Qalibaf praised Iran-aligned Iraqi militias, calling them an important part of Iraq's national strength. His remarks came as Baghdad continues efforts to bring the militias under greater state control. Iraq has also asked Iran to provide special arrangements for its oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been heavily disrupted by the Iran-U.S. war. Iraq depends on oil revenues for about 90% of its government budget and has been forced to use more costly alternative export routes. France, Iran expel diplomats France said it would expel two employees of Iran's embassy in Paris in retaliation for Tehran's expulsion of two French diplomats earlier this week. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot accused Iranian authorities of failing to investigate what he described as a deliberate attack on French diplomatic personnel last month. He rejected Iranian allegations that the two French diplomats had attended a secret meeting involving people suspected of foreign interference, calling the claims fabricated. The two Iranian diplomats are expected to leave France in the coming days.

Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip killed at least six people on Saturday, including two children and an Al Jazeera cameraman, Palestinian health officials said. The latest attacks came despite a ceasefire reached in October between Israel and the militant group Hamas. According to Gaza's Health Ministry, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in near-daily Israeli strikes since the truce took effect. The first strike occurred around 2 am and targeted an apartment building in Gaza City, the ministry said. The victims included two sisters, four-year-old Zina and 14-year-old Lana, whose bodies were taken to Shifa Hospital. An Associated Press reporter at the scene saw blood-stained rubble and chunks of concrete scattered around the damaged building. Mohammad Safadi, a cousin of the girls who sustained a forehead injury in the attack, said his wife was also wounded. "I was sitting at home. The rocket fell on us without a warning," he said, questioning the effectiveness of the ceasefire. The Israeli military said it was investigating the incident. Later in the day, three separate Israeli strikes killed four more people and injured at least a dozen others. One of the strikes hit a house in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, killing three people, including Al Jazeera cameraman Ahmed Wishah, according to Al-Aqsa Hospital. The broadcaster later confirmed his death. Ahmed Wishah's brother, Mohamed Wishah, who also worked as an Al Jazeera correspondent, was killed in an Israeli strike in April. Another strike targeted a group of people in the Muwasi tent camp in southern Gaza, killing one person and injuring eight others, according to Nasser Hospital. A third attack in Gaza City wounded at least four people after striking a group gathered in the area, Shifa Hospital said. In a statement, the Israeli military said Ahmed Wishah had been killed in a "precise strike," alleging that he was a member of Hamas' military wing and posed a threat to Israeli forces. No evidence was immediately provided to support the claim. Israel says its military operations target Hamas fighters and other militants who pose a threat to its security. Since the ceasefire, five Israeli soldiers have reportedly been killed. The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. According to Gaza's Health Ministry, Israel's subsequent military campaign in the territory has killed 73,018 Palestinians, including those killed since the ceasefire came into effect. The ministry, which operates under the Hamas-run government, says women and children account for about half of the fatalities. Its casualty figures are generally regarded as credible by United Nations agencies and independent experts, although it does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

An Israeli airstrike on an apartment in Gaza City early Saturday killed at least two children, Palestinian health officials said, as deadly violence continued in the Gaza Strip despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. According to Gaza's Health Ministry, the strike occurred around 2 a.m. local time and hit a residential apartment in Gaza City. Rescue teams were still searching through the rubble, with authorities expecting the death toll to rise. No immediate information was available on the number of injured. The victims were identified as two sisters, four-year-old Zina and 14-year-old Lana. Their bodies were taken to the morgue at Shifa Hospital, where grieving family members gathered. An Associated Press journalist at the scene reported seeing scattered debris and bloodstained chunks of concrete following the attack. Mohammad Safadi, a cousin of the two girls, said he and his wife were also injured in the strike. “I was sitting at home. The rocket fell on us without a warning,” he said, questioning the effectiveness of the ceasefire and insisting that the family were civilians. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the incident but said it was looking into the matter. Israel has repeatedly said its operations target Hamas and other militants it considers security threats. Despite a ceasefire that took effect in October, Israeli attacks have continued almost daily in Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry said more than 1,007 Palestinians have been killed in the enclave since the truce began. The ministry also reported that the overall Palestinian death toll from the war has risen to 73,018, including those killed after the ceasefire. The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched an attack on southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage, according to Israeli figures. Israel says five of its soldiers have been killed since the ceasefire took effect. The Gaza Health Ministry, which operates under the Hamas-run government, does not differentiate between civilian and militant deaths but says women and children account for around half of those killed. The ministry's casualty figures are generally regarded as credible by United Nations agencies and independent experts.

A seven-month-old Palestinian baby was killed and his parents wounded after Israeli troops opened fire on their vehicle in the occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian health officials. The Palestinian Health Ministry said the incident occurred Friday evening in the Tel Rumeida area south of Hebron. The infant, identified as Sam Fahd Abu Haikal, was struck in the face by a bullet and later died. His father, Fahd Abu Haikal, a lecturer at Bethlehem University, was shot in the hand, while his mother was also injured. According to the family, they were travelling to visit relatives in Hebron when the shooting occurred. The father said a bullet pierced the child’s face before hitting his wife. The Israeli military said soldiers fired at a vehicle they believed was accelerating toward them in the Hebron area. It added that troops fired several shots, wounding three Palestinians, and that an initial inquiry indicated the occupants were uninvolved civilians. The incident is under review. Family members said the mother remains in critical condition, with shrapnel lodged near her heart. During the funeral, the infant’s body was wrapped in a Palestinian flag as mourners gathered to pay their respects. The father called for accountability, rejecting suggestions that the shooting could be dismissed as a mistake. The British Consulate in Jerusalem expressed shock over the child's death and called for an immediate, transparent investigation. The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the West Bank, where violence has surged since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023. According to the United Nations, more than 1,000 Palestinians, including at least 240 children, have been killed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since the conflict began. Separately on Saturday, the Palestinian Red Crescent reported that eight people were injured during clashes involving Israeli settlers and Palestinians in the town of Huwara near Nablus. Israel’s military said the violence erupted following a reported livestock theft and that troops intervened to disperse the confrontation. It also said footage showing a soldier using force against a Palestinian was under review. Meanwhile, in Gaza, an Israeli airstrike on a tent near a school in Gaza City killed at least six people, including two women, according to officials at Shifa Hospital. Israel’s military said it had targeted militants operating in the area. At the same time, Hamas announced that a new round of ceasefire negotiations had begun in Cairo with mediators from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey. The talks are aimed at advancing implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement and addressing issues related to a possible second phase of the deal. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said discussions would focus on ending Israeli attacks in Gaza, advancing ceasefire arrangements and exploring proposals related to an international stabilization force and the future of weapons held by Palestinian armed groups.

Forty-one Palestinians returned to Gaza on Tuesday through the Rafah crossing with Egypt, becoming the seventh group to enter the enclave since the partial reopening earlier this month, amid continued Israeli attacks and humanitarian challenges. The returnees, transported in World Health Organization buses, were taken to the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, according to reports from Al Jazeera correspondents. Many described undergoing humiliating searches and interrogations by the Israeli military, which controls the Palestinian side of the crossing. The Rafah crossing, the only gateway for most of Gaza’s more than two million residents, remained largely closed during Israel’s military campaign and was reopened partially on February 2 under a US-brokered ceasefire agreement. Since then, 172 Palestinians have returned to Gaza, while only 250, mostly patients needing medical treatment abroad with their companions, have been allowed to leave, far below the numbers outlined in the ceasefire deal. Gaza’s healthcare system has been severely damaged during the conflict, with 22 hospitals out of service and 1,700 medical staff killed, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported. Despite the ceasefire, Israeli air strikes and shelling continue. On Wednesday, areas east of Khan Younis were targeted, following at least seven deaths from Israeli attacks the previous day, including three in central Gaza and one north of Khan Younis. Meanwhile, Israel announced the forced expulsion of two Palestinians convicted of crimes in Israel to Gaza, a move widely condemned by human rights groups. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed orders revoking their citizenship, marking the first implementation of a 2023 law allowing deportation of Palestinian citizens convicted of “terrorism”. The legal group Adalah described the deportations as “unprecedented” and said they violate international law, leaving the men effectively stateless and unable to access hospitals or register children in schools. The humanitarian and political situation remains tense as Israeli military operations and restrictions continue to affect daily life in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.   With inputs from ALJAZEERA

Palestinians, several Arab countries, Israeli anti-occupation groups and the United Kingdom have strongly condemned newly approved Israeli measures in the occupied West Bank, warning that the steps amount to a de facto annexation of Palestinian land. The measures were announced by far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich following approval by Israel’s security cabinet. Smotrich said the decisions would make it easier for Jewish settlers to take over land in the West Bank and declared that Israel would continue efforts to block the creation of a Palestinian state. All Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are regarded as illegal under international law. The new steps, which are expected to receive final approval from Israel’s top military commander in the West Bank, are designed to expand Israeli control over land administration, including property law, planning, licensing and enforcement. The announcement came just days before a scheduled meeting in Washington between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump.According to the United Nations, settlement expansion in the West Bank reached its fastest pace on record last year. Among the measures is the removal of a long-standing ban on the direct sale of West Bank land to Jewish buyers and the declassification of local land registry records. Until now, settlers were generally limited to purchasing property through registered companies on land administered by the Israeli state. Israeli ministers described the move as a step to increase transparency and facilitate land acquisition. Israel’s foreign ministry later said the changes corrected what it called discriminatory rules that restricted property purchases by non-Arabs in what Israel refers to as Judea and Samaria. The cabinet also voted to repeal a requirement for special transaction permits for real estate purchases, a mechanism previously used to maintain oversight and prevent fraud. Palestinians expressed fears that the changes would intensify pressure on landowners to sell and could lead to forgery and deception. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas described the measures as dangerous, calling them an open attempt to legalise settlement expansion, land confiscation and the demolition of Palestinian property, including in areas under Palestinian Authority administration. He urged the United States and the UN Security Council to intervene immediately. The Israeli rights group Peace Now warned that the decisions could destabilise the Palestinian Authority and effectively cancel existing agreements, accusing the government of paving the way for widespread land seizure and de facto annexation. The United Kingdom said it strongly condemned the move and called on Israel to reverse the decision, warning that any unilateral action altering the geographic or demographic character of Palestinian territory would violate international law. Foreign ministers from Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar also issued a joint statement condemning the measures. They said the decisions accelerated illegal annexation efforts and the displacement of Palestinians, warning that such policies would fuel further violence and instability. Additional steps announced by Smotrich and Defence Minister Israel Katz include transferring building and licensing authority at sensitive religious sites in Hebron exclusively to Israeli bodies. These include areas surrounding the Cave of the Patriarchs, also known as the Ibrahimi Mosque, one of the holiest sites in both Judaism and Islam. Israeli authorities would also be granted enforcement powers over environmental and archaeological matters in areas administered by the Palestinian Authority. A committee would be revived to allow the Israeli state to make what it described as proactive land purchases in the West Bank to secure land for future settlements. Under the 1993 Oslo Accords, the Palestinian Authority was given full control over major Palestinian urban areas, known as Area A, which make up about 20 percent of the West Bank. Israel retained full administrative and security control over Area C, which covers about 60 percent of the territory and contains most Israeli settlements. More than 700,000 Israeli settlers currently live in the occupied West Bank and Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem, territories captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war. Palestinians seek these areas for a future independent state along with the Gaza Strip. While the Trump administration has ruled out formal annexation of the West Bank, it has not moved to halt Israel’s rapid settlement expansion. Smotrich, himself a settler and leader of a pro-settler party, has pledged to double the settler population. In December, Israel’s cabinet approved plans for 19 new settlements and is preparing to advance construction of the controversial E1 settlement project near Jerusalem, a move that would effectively split the West Bank in two. The United Nations says more than 37,000 Palestinians were displaced in 2025 alone, alongside record levels of settler violence. Netanyahu’s governing coalition includes strong pro-settler factions that openly support annexation. The prime minister, who faces elections later this year, has repeatedly said he would not allow the establishment of a Palestinian state, describing it as a security threat. In 2024, the International Court of Justice issued a non-binding advisory opinion stating that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal and should be brought to an end.   With inputs from BBC

Palestinians in Gaza on Sunday watched with cautious hope as preparations got underway to reopen the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, the territory’s main gateway to the outside world, with Israel saying limited travel would resume from Monday under the ongoing ceasefire with Hamas. Workers were seen readying the crossing, which has been largely shut since Israel seized control of it in May 2024. Many Gazans welcomed the move but voiced frustration over strict limits on the number of people allowed to cross. “Opening the crossing is a good step, but setting a cap on how many people can pass through is a real problem,” said Ghalia Abu Mustafa from Khan Younis. Others stressed the urgent need for medical travel. Suhaila Al-Astal, displaced from Rafah, said her sick daughter required treatment abroad and called for the crossing to be opened permanently and in both directions. Israel said the crossing had been opened on a trial basis and that Gaza residents would be allowed to begin crossing from Monday, though only in small numbers initially. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will allow 50 medical patients to leave Gaza each day. According to an official familiar with the talks, each patient will be permitted to travel with two relatives, while up to 50 Palestinians who left Gaza during the war will be allowed to return daily. Zaher al-Wahidi, head of documentation at Gaza’s Health Ministry, said the ministry had not yet been officially informed about the start of medical evacuations. Around 20,000 Palestinians in need of medical care are hoping to leave Gaza via Rafah, while thousands more outside the enclave are seeking to return. Under the new arrangement, Israel and Egypt will vet those entering and leaving through the crossing, which will be overseen by European Union border monitors. Israeli officials say the number of travelers could increase gradually if the system functions smoothly. The announcement came a day after Israeli airstrikes killed at least 30 Palestinians, including several children, according to hospital officials, marking one of the deadliest days since the ceasefire began on Oct. 10. Israel accused Hamas of violating the truce. Nicolay Mladenov, head of US President Donald Trump’s newly established Gaza peace board, urged all sides to exercise restraint and said efforts were under way with a newly selected Palestinian committee to prevent further incidents. Meanwhile, Israel’s Diaspora Ministry said it was moving to end the operations of Doctors Without Borders in Gaza by Feb. 28. Israel had suspended the medical charity’s activities in December after it declined to comply with new registration rules requiring aid groups to submit lists of local staff, arguing the measures could put Palestinian employees at risk. Doctors Without Borders warned that the decision would have a devastating impact on health services in Gaza, where it supports six hospitals, runs two field hospitals, eight primary health centers and clinics, and operates two of the enclave’s five stabilization centers for severely malnourished children. Israel has suspended more than two dozen humanitarian organizations under the new rules, saying they are needed to prevent militant infiltration, while aid groups say the restrictions harm civilians in desperate need. Palestinian security officers crossed through the Egyptian side of Rafah on Sunday to join the EU mission supervising the crossing, according to an Egyptian official. Ambulances were also seen passing through the Egyptian gate. Before the war, Rafah was Gaza’s primary crossing for people traveling in and out of the territory. Israel says its takeover of the crossing last year was aimed at stopping weapons smuggling by Hamas. The crossing was briefly opened for medical evacuations during a temporary ceasefire in early 2025 but remained closed afterward until recent developments, including the recovery of the remains of the last hostage in Gaza. Under the ceasefire terms, Israeli forces continue to control the area between the Rafah crossing and densely populated parts of Gaza. Egypt has repeatedly said the crossing must operate in both directions, amid concerns it could otherwise be used to force Palestinians out of the enclave. The ceasefire paused more than two years of fighting that began with the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and led to the capture of 251 hostages. Israel’s subsequent offensive has killed 71,795 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, including 523 since the ceasefire began. The first phase of the truce includes hostage and prisoner exchanges, increased humanitarian aid and a partial Israeli troop withdrawal. A more complex second phase envisions new governance arrangements for Gaza, the deployment of an international security force, the disarmament of Hamas and steps toward reconstruction.

Israel handed over the bodies of 15 Palestinians to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Thursday in exchange for the last Israeli captive, whose remains were recovered earlier this week, marking the completion of one phase of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Palestinian authorities are assessing whether the bodies will be released at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis or al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. (Al Jazeera) The transfer comes more than two years after hostilities escalated, including the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which left 251 Israelis, including policeman Ran Gvili, captured. Gvili’s remains were the last to be held by Palestinian groups. At his funeral on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed him as a “hero” and warned Israel’s adversaries of severe consequences for future attacks. The return of captives and bodies unfolded through ceasefire arrangements, prisoner-swap deals, and limited military rescue attempts. While all Israeli captives have now been repatriated, thousands of Palestinians remain imprisoned in Israel, often without formal charges or trial. According to a July 2024 UN Human Rights Office report, Israel holds approximately 9,400 Palestinians as “security detainees,” with documented cases of torture, sexual assault, and other abuses. Human rights group Physicians for Human Rights–Israel reported that at least 94 Palestinian prisoners have died in custody due to mistreatment, medical neglect, or malnutrition. (Al Jazeera) Meanwhile, violence continues in Gaza. On Thursday, Israeli forces killed two Palestinians and injured dozens near Makki roundabout in the central Maghazi camp. Since the ceasefire took effect on October 10, at least 490 Palestinians have been killed due to airstrikes, tank shelling, and gunfire, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. (Al Jazeera) The prisoner exchange also paves the way for a political transition in Gaza. Hamas has agreed to transfer governance to a committee of Palestinian technocrats, which will oversee daily administration under the supervision of a U.S.-led Board of Peace. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said protocols and committees are in place to ensure a full handover. Gaza’s Civil Defence spokesman Mahmoud Basal warned that the territory faces an “unprecedented catastrophe” due to shortages of food, shelter, and medical supplies caused by the ongoing blockade.   With inputs from ALJAZEERA

Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania says her new film about six-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab, who was killed during the war in Gaza, was made as a way to confront helplessness and bear witness to her story. Ben Hania said she decided to make the film after hearing an emergency phone call recording of Hind pleading for help while trapped in Gaza City in 2024. “They’re shooting at me. Please come get me. I’m scared,” the girl is heard saying in the recording, which forms the centrepiece of the docudrama The Voice of Hind Rajab, released in UK cinemas last week. The two-time Oscar-nominated director said the recording deeply affected her and prompted her to pause another project she was working on. “It haunted me,” Ben Hania told the BBC. “I was angry, sad and felt helpless. I asked myself what I could do. I am a filmmaker, so I make films.” She said the project was a way “not to accept, to bear witness” and to ensure Hind’s voice is heard beyond borders. Hind Rajab was travelling with her family when their car was hit during Israeli military operations in Gaza. Several relatives were killed. Hind later spoke by phone with volunteers from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, who tried to guide an ambulance to reach her. The ambulance was also struck, and Hind, her family members and two paramedics were killed. Independent investigations by Forensic Architecture, Earshot and journalists from Al Jazeera concluded that damage to the car and ambulance was consistent with Israeli tank fire. The Israel Defence Force said the case is still under review by its Fact-Finding Assessment Mechanism. The film tells the story from the perspective of Red Crescent call centre workers in Ramallah who tried to keep Hind calm as they worked to secure a safe route for rescuers. It combines real audio from Hind’s final calls with a dramatized reconstruction using actors. Ben Hania said the film is “based on true events” and is intended to provoke empathy rather than serve as an investigation. “Cinema can do something better, which is provoking empathy,” she said. The film has received strong reactions from critics and audiences, including a record 23-minute standing ovation at its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival. It has also been nominated for best foreign language film at the Golden Globe Awards and is shortlisted for an Academy Award nomination. Ben Hania said she hopes the film will ensure that Hind Rajab is not forgotten. “This is not just a story,” she said. “This is history in the making.”   With inputs from BBC