Hamas deputy chief Khalil al-Hayya stated that the group has a 'legitimate right' to retain its weapons, emphasizing that any post-ceasefire proposal for Gaza must preserve this right. Speaking on Hamas-run Al-Aqsa TV, al-Hayya linked the group’s armament to the broader goal of establishing a Palestinian state. His remarks come amid ongoing Israeli strikes despite a ceasefire that took effect on October 10.

Al-Hayya’s comments directly challenge international and Israeli demands for Hamas’s disarmament under a proposed U.S.-backed peace plan. The plan outlines three stages: prisoner exchanges, Israeli troop withdrawals replaced by an international stabilization force, and Gaza’s reconstruction. Israel insists Hamas must surrender its weapons before progress can be made. Al-Hayya also confirmed the death of the head of Hamas’s weapons production unit in recent Israeli attacks.

The statement underscores deep divisions over Gaza’s future governance and security arrangements. Analysts warn that Hamas’s insistence on keeping its arms could complicate ceasefire negotiations and delay reconstruction efforts in the war-torn enclave.

Israeli forces shot and killed a 23-year-old Palestinian man near Hebron in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The victim, identified as Muhammad Wael al-Sharouf, was reportedly killed after Israeli troops alleged he attempted a stabbing attack. The Israeli military described the incident as the neutralization of a 'terrorist' in the Hebron area.

The killing follows another fatal shooting a day earlier, when Israeli forces killed a 16-year-old boy in the northern West Bank, claiming he had thrown an explosive device. Palestinian authorities identified the teenager as Muhammad Iyad Abahra and accused Israeli forces of withholding his body. The incidents come amid escalating violence across the West Bank since the Gaza war began in October 2023.

According to Palestinian data, at least 1,093 Palestinians have been killed and around 11,000 injured in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since October 2023. The continued clashes highlight the deepening humanitarian and political crisis in the occupied territories.

Israeli forces shot and killed a 16-year-old Palestinian boy during a late-night raid in the Silat al-Harithiya village of the Jenin governorate in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian General Authority of Civil Affairs. The victim, identified as Muhammad Iyad Abahra, was reportedly struck by live fire, and Israeli authorities have not yet released his body to his family.

The official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Israeli troops used live ammunition and stun grenades during the operation. Palestinian statistics indicate that since October 2023, at least 1,093 Palestinians have been killed, around 11,000 injured, and 21,000 detained across the West Bank and East Jerusalem amid escalating Israeli military and settler actions.

The incident comes despite a declared ceasefire and follows a July ruling by the International Court of Justice declaring Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories illegal. The continued clashes underscore the fragility of the truce and the deepening humanitarian and political crisis in the region.

A powerful storm named Byron has struck the Gaza Strip, killing at least 14 people and worsening the already dire humanitarian situation in the war-ravaged enclave. The storm caused widespread destruction, collapsing homes, walls, and makeshift tents that serve as shelters for thousands of displaced residents. Many families are struggling without adequate clothing, fuel, or protection from the cold.

According to Gaza’s Ministry of Interior, several deaths occurred when shelters and structures collapsed under strong winds and heavy rain. Al Jazeera reported that the storm has turned overcrowded shelters into death traps, with nearly 850,000 people at risk across 761 centers. The United Nations estimates that around 800,000 residents are now in extreme danger due to the lack of infrastructure and ongoing Israeli blockade.

The combination of war damage, blockade, and severe weather has pushed Gaza’s humanitarian crisis to new extremes. Aid agencies warn that without immediate international assistance, the situation could deteriorate further as flooding and cold weather persist.

Continuous rainfall triggered severe flooding across southern Gaza on Wednesday, inundating makeshift tents sheltering displaced residents in the Al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis. Arab media reports said many families were trapped inside their tents as floodwaters rose, prompting urgent calls for help to Palestinian Civil Defense units in Rafah.

Officials said the flooding compounded the misery of Gaza’s displaced population, already suffering from months of conflict and destruction. Nearly the entire population has been uprooted by Israel’s military campaign, and reconstruction costs are estimated at around $70 billion. Despite a two-month ceasefire, no significant progress has been made toward building sustainable temporary housing for those left homeless.

Humanitarian agencies warn that without immediate infrastructure and drainage support, further rainfall could worsen living conditions, heighten disease risks, and delay recovery efforts across the enclave.

Hamas has declared it will not accept any foreign force exercising authority inside Gaza, even as Israel and the United States prepare to advance to the second phase of Washington’s ceasefire and stabilization plan. Senior Hamas official Basem Naim said the group is open to UN monitoring forces along Gaza’s borders to oversee truce compliance but rejects any disarmament role for international troops within Palestinian territory.

The statement follows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement that he will meet U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss implementing the next stage of the plan, which aims to dismantle Hamas’s military capacity. The U.S. proposal envisions an international stabilization force and a transitional Palestinian administration, though key details—such as command structure, deployment timeline, and mandate—remain undefined. Indonesia has reportedly agreed to contribute troops, but the overall framework is still unclear.

Analysts warn that the plan’s ambiguity and continued Israeli airstrikes during the truce risk undermining fragile progress. Qatar has cautioned that without full Israeli withdrawal and restored Palestinian mobility, the ceasefire could collapse at a critical juncture.

Hamas has announced it will hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority once Israel ends its occupation of Gaza. Khalil al-Hayya, head of the group’s negotiation team, made the statement on Saturday, emphasizing that Hamas maintains arms solely due to ongoing occupation and aggression. He clarified that the weapons would be surrendered to a sovereign and independent Palestinian state.

Al-Hayya added that Hamas accepts the deployment of a United Nations force to monitor the ceasefire and oversee border surveillance but rejects any international mission aimed solely at disarming Hamas. The announcement comes amid continuing Israeli attacks despite a ceasefire declared on October 10, which has resulted in civilian casualties and infrastructure damage across Gaza.

Meanwhile, leaders of Muslim-majority nations have opposed unilateral plans to open the Rafah border for transferring Palestinians into Egypt, urging instead for both sides of the crossing to reopen under previous agreements. They also called for reconstruction efforts to take place within Palestinian territories, reaffirming support for Palestinian sovereignty.

Yasser Abu Sabab, leader of the pro-Israel armed faction Popular Front in Gaza, has been reported dead, according to Israeli media. A Bedouin tribesman and former prisoner, Abu Sabab had aligned himself with Tel Aviv against Hamas after escaping jail during Israel’s 2023 Gaza offensive. He was accused of multiple crimes, including theft of relief supplies. Following the October ceasefire, Hamas reportedly ordered his capture or killing. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously acknowledged that Israel had armed anti-Hamas groups in Gaza, including Abu Sabab’s faction. Despite the ceasefire, Rafah remains volatile, with frequent gunfire and ongoing clashes. Abu Sabab had recently directed his fighters to “free Rafah of terrorists,” referring to Hamas militants. Israeli Army Radio claimed he died at Soroka Hospital in southern Israel, though the hospital denied this. The exact circumstances of his death remain unclear.

Israeli air and ground attacks continued in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, killing seven Palestinians, including two children, despite an ongoing ceasefire. The Israeli military claimed the strikes were in response to an earlier Hamas attack near Rafah that injured four Israeli soldiers. Israel announced the reopening of the Rafah crossing but restricted it to allow only Gaza residents to leave, barring humanitarian aid entry. Egypt condemned the move as unilateral and contrary to the U.S. peace plan, which called for two-way access. Meanwhile, Hamas handed over the body of another Israeli hostage to the Red Cross under the ceasefire terms. Gaza’s civil defense reported that the Al-Mawasi camp was hit by missiles, igniting fires that destroyed several tents. Local hospitals confirmed the deaths of two children aged eight and ten. Hamas denounced the attacks as war crimes and urged Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S. to pressure Israel to halt its operations. Gaza authorities said Israel has violated the ceasefire at least 591 times since October 10, killing 360 Palestinians and injuring 922.

US President Donald Trump announced that the second phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza will begin soon. The truce, brokered by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, initially started on October 10 but has been violated more than 500 times by Israeli forces, resulting in around 400 Palestinian deaths. Recent Israeli air and artillery strikes in Khan Younis killed at least five displaced people, following claims that Hamas had attacked Israeli troops. Trump commented that despite recent explosions and casualties, the ceasefire is progressing and peace efforts in the Middle East continue. Although no formal agreement has been reached for the second phase, the United States is reportedly working through the UN Security Council to establish mechanisms for implementation. The next phase would see a technocratic government take control in Gaza, with international forces assuming security responsibilities instead of Hamas.

Reports from Al Jazeera and BBC indicate that Israel has violated the Gaza ceasefire more than 600 times within 50 days since it was declared on October 10. Despite the truce, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have carried out extensive airstrikes, artillery attacks, and ground operations, destroying over 1,500 buildings and killing at least 357 Palestinians. The Gaza government’s media office reported that Israel conducted 164 shootings at civilians, crossed the ‘Yellow Line’ 25 times, and bombed residential areas 280 times. Additionally, 35 Palestinians were detained during this period. The ceasefire, agreed upon under a 20-point plan brokered by former U.S. President Donald Trump, was supposed to halt all military actions, including air and artillery strikes. However, humanitarian aid remains blocked, and destruction of homes and infrastructure continues across Gaza, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the ceasefire and the worsening humanitarian crisis.

The United Nations has warned that the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire and could worsen as winter sets in. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the ongoing conflict continues to complicate relief efforts, with displacement rising in both Gaza and the occupied West Bank. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and its partners are increasing aid, particularly for children who have suffered greatly over the past two years. In preparation for winter, thousands of essential items such as shoes, clothes, blankets, and towels have been distributed, along with 160 tents and mental health support for thousands of children. The World Health Organization (WHO) has evacuated 18 patients and 54 companions for treatment abroad but says over 16,500 patients still need life-saving care outside Gaza. The UN has urged the opening of all border crossings and corridors to allow medical evacuations and ensure international medical teams can access Gaza freely.

Israeli Apache attack helicopters opened heavy machine-gun fire over the northern West Bank cities of Tubas and Kabatiya, according to local reports. The U.S.-made helicopters reportedly fired multiple rounds over Tubas throughout the evening, though no casualties have been confirmed and the targeted areas remain unidentified. In Kabatiya’s Al-Zakaranah hills, helicopters also fired into open, uninhabited areas, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported. The strikes come amid an intensified Israeli military campaign in the Tubas governorate that has caused extensive infrastructure damage, hundreds of injuries, and numerous arrests. On Tuesday, Israeli forces imposed an indefinite full curfew in Kabatiya, while movement restrictions and road closures were enforced across Hebron, Ramallah, Nablus, and Tubas, disrupting public services and schools. Since October 2023, Israeli operations in the occupied West Bank have killed about 1,100 Palestinians, injured over 10,700, and detained more than 20,500. The International Court of Justice previously declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories illegal and called for the removal of all settlements.

Israeli forces launched renewed attacks on Gaza despite an ongoing U.S.-brokered ceasefire, killing at least five Palestinians, including a journalist and a child, and injuring 15 others. Medical sources reported that shelling in Gaza City’s Al-Tuffah area killed two people, while another was shot dead in Zaytoun. In Khan Younis, photojournalist Mahmoud Wadi was killed in a drone strike in an area not designated under Israeli control. Witnesses said Israeli tanks and drones continued to bombard several areas, including Beit Lahia, destroying multiple buildings. Gaza’s Health Ministry stated that since the ceasefire began on October 10, at least 356 Palestinians have been killed and over 900 injured. Since October 2023, more than 70,000 Palestinians have died in Israeli attacks, most of them women and children. Gaza’s Government Media Office said Wadi’s death raised the number of journalists killed to 257, accusing Israel of deliberately targeting Palestinian reporters.

Two Palestinian brothers, Juma and Fadi Tamer Abu Asi, were killed in an Israeli drone strike near Al-Farabi School in Bani Suhaila, east of Khan Younis, southern Gaza, on Saturday, according to Al Jazeera. The attack occurred despite a ceasefire agreement that has been in effect since October 10. Witnesses reported that the drone targeted a group of civilians, and the injured children were later pronounced dead at Nasser Medical Complex. Israeli forces also carried out ground, naval, and air strikes in several parts of Gaza, injuring at least three others in Al-Qarara. Hamas condemned the attack, calling it further evidence of ongoing aggression against Gaza’s population. The group urged Qatar, Turkey, Egypt, and the United States to take concrete steps to ensure Israel’s compliance with the ceasefire terms.