Israel has banned the operations of the medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Gaza and ordered the organization to leave the enclave by February 28, according to TRT World. Israeli authorities said the decision followed MSF’s refusal to submit a list of its staff to Tel Aviv, a requirement applied to all humanitarian organizations operating in the region.

Citing the newspaper Maariv, Israel stated that the measure aims to ensure legitimate relief activities and prevent the misuse of humanitarian aid for terrorism. MSF responded that it would not provide the names of its Palestinian and international staff because Israel had refused to guarantee their safety or the organization’s operational independence.

MSF is one of the largest humanitarian organizations working in Gaza. Observers fear that halting its activities could severely threaten medical services in the territory, already devastated by two years of war that have killed about 71,800 Palestinians, injured more than 171,400, and destroyed nearly 90 percent of civilian infrastructure.

Israel has reopened the Rafah crossing after two years of closure, allowing only limited movement of people between Gaza and Egypt. The Israeli military stated that the reopening is part of a ceasefire agreement in the blockaded Palestinian enclave. According to the announcement, the crossing was opened on Sunday for restricted two-way movement under political directives.

Coordination for departures from Gaza and entries into the territory will be carried out with Egypt, and travelers will require prior Israeli security clearance under the supervision of a European Union mission. Residents who left Gaza during the conflict will be allowed to return, subject to Israeli approval and coordination with Egypt.

The crossing had remained closed since Israeli forces took control in May 2024. It was initially scheduled to reopen under the first phase of the ceasefire agreement signed in October, but Israel delayed implementation until the recovery of the last hostage’s body, causing several months of postponement.

Israel has decided to partially reopen the Rafah border crossing between the war-torn Gaza Strip and Egypt after a prolonged closure. Israeli authorities announced that starting Sunday, the crossing will allow limited movement of people following sustained pressure from humanitarian organizations. The reopening comes even as violence continues in Gaza, where Israeli airstrikes on Saturday reportedly killed dozens, according to Gaza’s Civil Defense. The Israeli military said the strikes were in response to ceasefire violations.

The Rafah crossing is a vital entry and exit point for Gaza’s residents and humanitarian aid. It was seized by Israeli forces in May 2024 during the ongoing conflict with Hamas and has remained mostly closed since then, except for a brief reopening in early 2025. Israel had previously stated it would not reopen the crossing until the body of its last hostage, Ran Givili, was recovered; his remains were found and buried earlier this week.

According to Israel’s COGAT agency, the crossing will reopen under EU supervision and coordination with Egypt, though the number of people allowed to cross remains unclear.

Israel will reopen the Rafah border crossing with Gaza on Sunday, February 1, after two years of closure. The Israeli military announced on Friday that limited movement of people will be allowed in both directions as part of a ceasefire agreement in the blockaded Palestinian enclave. The reopening will be coordinated with Egypt and supervised by a European Union mission, with prior Israeli security clearance required for travelers.

According to the military statement, residents who left Gaza during the war will be permitted to return, subject to coordination with Egypt and Israeli approval. No immediate comments were available from Palestinian or Egyptian authorities. The crossing had been closed since May 2024, when Israeli forces took control of it.

The Rafah crossing was originally scheduled to reopen under the first phase of the ceasefire agreement reached in October, but Israel delayed implementation until the recovery of the last hostage’s body. This condition caused several months of delay in enforcing the agreement.

A US military ship is preparing to anchor in the Gulf of Aqaba, south of Israel’s port city of Eilat, as part of enhanced military readiness amid growing regional tensions and the possibility of an attack on Iran, Israel’s state broadcaster KAN reported on Thursday, citing Anadolu Agency. According to unnamed security sources, the move is part of US-Israel military and security coordination, which includes naval deployment and increased defensive and offensive preparedness.

The report said Israeli security agencies are closely monitoring US movements, anticipating potential actions related to Iran. Concerns have also been raised about possible regional reactions if the situation worsens. During Israel’s weekly military security review on Thursday, the Iran issue was discussed in detail.

Meanwhile, Israeli and Saudi defense and intelligence officials are visiting the United States this week to discuss Iran. Axios reported that Israel’s military intelligence chief, General Shlomi Binder, held several high-level meetings with Pentagon, CIA, and White House leaders, while Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman is expected to emphasize diplomatic solutions in his meetings with US officials.

Israel has shifted its stance on the Gaza ceasefire after recovering all hostages taken to the enclave. The Israeli government now insists that Hamas must fully disarm before any further progress can be made toward the next phase of the ceasefire. This marks a tougher position from Israel following the hostage recovery.

Hamas has publicly refused to surrender its weapons. Two Hamas officials told Reuters that neither the United States nor mediators have presented any detailed or concrete disarmament proposal. Israeli minister and former intelligence chief Avi Dichter warned that disputes over disarmament could reignite conflict in Gaza, saying the issue might have to be resolved by Israeli forces through military means.

A White House document released last week indicated that the Trump administration seeks the immediate elimination of heavy weapons in Gaza and a phased registration and removal of personal arms under an interim technocratic administration to ensure local security.

Israel’s High Court has ordered the forced eviction of Palestinian residents from the Batn al-Hawa area of Silwan in occupied East Jerusalem. The court also directed that the properties be transferred to Israeli settlers, according to Middle East Monitor. The ruling has raised fears among Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem of further forced displacement.

Silwan, located near Jerusalem’s Old City, has long been a focal point of Israeli settlement activity and demolition policies. Thousands of Palestinians live in the area, which has seen accelerated house demolitions and evictions. In the nearby al-Bustan neighborhood, Israel plans to build a park called “King’s Garden,” demolishing dozens of homes and threatening many more.

Human rights organizations have stated that Israel’s actions in Silwan are part of a broader policy aimed at displacing Palestinian residents. East Jerusalem remains surrounded by concrete walls and barbed wire, much of it built on West Bank land. Israel claims the barrier is for security, while Palestinians and the United Nations view it as part of a land seizure strategy.

The Israeli military announced that the body of Ran Gavili, the last hostage held in Gaza, has been recovered. Gavili, an Israeli police officer, was killed during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, and his body had remained in Gaza for over 840 days. The army said the body will be returned to Israel for burial. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the recovery as an “incredible achievement” for the state and called Gavili a “national hero.”

The recovery fulfills a key condition in the initial phase of a U.S.-proposed plan to end the Gaza war, potentially paving the way for a limited reopening of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt. A U.S.-supported Palestinian technocrat committee indicated the crossing could reopen this week, though Israel has not commented. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said the group provided information that aided the recovery and reaffirmed its commitment to uphold all aspects of the agreement.

Gaza’s health authorities reported that more than 71,000 Palestinians have been killed during nearly two years of Israeli attacks. Israeli officials had previously opposed reopening Rafah until the last hostage’s body was returned.

Israel announced on Monday that it will reopen the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on a limited basis following the recovery of the last hostage’s body in Gaza. The Rafah crossing, a key route for humanitarian aid into Gaza, will initially allow only pedestrian movement under full Israeli inspection. The reopening decision follows U.S. pressure within the framework of the October ceasefire agreement and will take effect once all living hostages are returned and the bodies of the deceased are identified and repatriated.

Gaza administrator Ali Shaath said the crossing will open this week for limited two-way movement, describing Rafah as a lifeline for Palestinians. Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida stated that information about the hostage’s body had been shared with mediators, guiding Israel’s search. The family of the recovered hostage, Ran Givili, opposed the reopening plan, demanding his return first.

The 2023 Hamas attack killed 1,221 people in Israel, while Israeli counterstrikes devastated Gaza, displacing millions and causing over 70,000 deaths, according to Gaza authorities.

Israeli Settlement Affairs Minister Orit Strock has called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to take control of Gaza, dismissing former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recently signed ‘Peace Board’ as a “bad plan.” Speaking to an Israeli radio station on Sunday, Strock said the plan should not endanger Israeli soldiers. Her remarks came just days after Trump signed the peace initiative during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Strock opposed transferring Gaza’s administration to the Palestinian Authority, warning that such a move would come at a high cost. She stated that after disarmament and the defeat of Hamas, only Israel should have authority over Gaza. The second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement reportedly includes disarming Hamas and other Palestinian groups, withdrawing additional Israeli forces from the enclave, and beginning reconstruction efforts.

The minister’s comments highlight divisions over post-war governance in Gaza and reflect ongoing debate within Israel about the future of the territory following the ceasefire process.

Israel has extended its ban on Al Jazeera Media Network’s operations and offices in the country for another 90 days. The order, signed by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi and announced on Sunday, prolongs restrictions first imposed in May 2024 when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet voted to shut down the network’s activities during the Gaza war.

The move follows a 2024 Knesset law allowing temporary closure of foreign broadcasters deemed threats to national security. In September that year, Israeli forces raided Al Jazeera’s Ramallah office, seizing equipment and documents. In December, the Knesset extended the law’s validity for two more years, a measure widely referred to as the “Al Jazeera law.” According to Al Jazeera Arabic’s bureau chief Walif al-Omari, Israeli authorities claim the network’s broadcasts harm national security.

Al Jazeera has long faced Israeli restrictions, including threats to close its Jerusalem office in 2017 and the destruction of its Gaza building in 2021. The network has also lost several journalists in Israeli attacks, including reporter Shireen Abu Akleh in 2022.

US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have visited Israel to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for discussions on Gaza and Iran. According to the White House, the meeting included talks on President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan. The visit took place amid growing concerns about a possible US strike on Iran. Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the meeting.

Israeli media reported that US Central Command chief Brad Cooper also arrived in Israel and is expected to meet senior Israeli security officials, including Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi and Air Force Commander Tomer Bar. The timing of these visits coincides with heightened regional tensions and speculation over potential US military action against Iran.

Iran has accused the United States of attempting to incite unrest, impose sanctions, and pursue regime change through pressure and destabilization efforts, according to reports from Israeli and international outlets.

Israel has gradually advanced efforts to close the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestinian refugees in occupied East Jerusalem, according to Al Jazeera. Since mid-2024, the process has involved a series of legal, administrative, and military actions aimed at removing the agency from the city. On May 9, 2024, the UNRWA headquarters in East Jerusalem was set on fire, forcing a temporary suspension of operations. Later, on October 28, Israel’s parliament passed a law banning UNRWA activities within what it calls its sovereign territory, including East Jerusalem.

Following the law’s enforcement on January 30, 2025, UNRWA vacated its headquarters for staff safety. Israeli authorities then ordered the closure of six UNRWA-run schools in April, affecting about 800 Palestinian children. In December, police entered the headquarters, removed the UN flag, and seized property, while new legislation allowed cutting utilities and seizing land. On January 12, 2026, police shut a health center for 30 days, and on January 20, Israeli forces began demolishing UNRWA structures.

Analysts cited in the report said the campaign to remove UNRWA undermines Palestinian refugees’ access to education and healthcare and represents a move to entrench occupation in violation of international law.

Israeli media reported that the country’s once-profitable agricultural export industry is facing a severe crisis as international opposition to Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza begins to affect trade. Orders for Israeli lemons and mangoes from Europe and Asia have nearly stopped, leaving farmers fearing a total collapse of this key economic sector. Some farmers, including orchard managers and former military officials, said they are operating at a loss since the war began.

According to reports from Kan 11 and Middle East Monitor, many farmers acknowledge that the main reason for the export decline is global outrage over Israel’s actions in Gaza, despite citing supply disruptions and Red Sea blockades. Some farmers have refused to sell produce to Gaza’s Palestinian market, even at the cost of heavy financial losses, citing ideological opposition to Hamas. The Citrus Growers Organization confirmed that no containers have been exported since the war started.

The crisis has left hundreds of tons of fruit rotting in northern Israel and forced producers to rely on local markets. Analysts noted that this agricultural decline reflects a broader economic downturn, with Israel’s overall economic activity dropping 26 percent in late 2023.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will join the proposed 'Peace Board' formed to oversee governance and reconstruction in Gaza. The announcement was made Wednesday by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office through social media. The invitation came from U.S. President Donald Trump, who initiated the board to monitor the ceasefire and post-war rebuilding process in the war-torn Gaza Strip.

According to the report, Trump announced the creation of the 'Peace Board' comprising world leaders to manage Gaza’s administration and reconstruction. He will serve as the board’s chairman indefinitely, continuing even after his presidential term ends. Permanent membership will be granted to countries contributing one billion dollars. The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have already confirmed their participation, while invitations have also been extended to other global leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The initiative aims to coordinate international involvement in Gaza’s recovery and governance following the conflict, though specific operational details of the board remain undisclosed.