Heavy rainfall on Saturday inundated refugee camps in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, intensifying the suffering of displaced Palestinians already facing dire conditions from ongoing conflict and cold weather. The downpour, triggered by a low-pressure system, submerged many tents in the Al-Mawasi area, prompting emergency responses from Gaza’s Civil Defense. According to Gaza authorities, 93% of the 135,000 tents sheltering displaced people are now uninhabitable due to weather damage and Israeli bombardments. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has urged Israel to allow the entry of essential shelter materials, warning that winter rains are worsening the humanitarian situation. Despite having supplies ready, UNRWA claims Israel is blocking the delivery of tents and mobile homes, violating ceasefire terms. The ceasefire plan, reportedly based on a 20-point proposal by former U.S. President Donald Trump, includes prisoner exchanges and reconstruction efforts. Since October 2023, Israeli strikes have killed over 69,000 people in Gaza, most of them women and children.

Hamas is reasserting its control over Gaza following last month’s ceasefire, despite international calls for it to step aside under a U.S.-backed post-war transition plan. Residents report that Hamas has resumed administrative functions such as regulating prices, levying fees on goods like fuel and cigarettes, and punishing alleged collaborators. While Hamas denies imposing new taxes, it claims to be maintaining order and preparing for a smooth transition to a technocratic administration. The U.S. plan, initiated under President Donald Trump, envisions a multinational security force, Hamas’ disarmament, and reconstruction efforts. However, with Israeli forces still occupying parts of Gaza and no consensus on who will govern, the process has stalled. Analysts say Hamas is using the delay to entrench its authority further. The U.S. State Department insists Hamas “cannot and will not govern” Gaza, while the Palestinian Authority seeks a role in any new administration. Meanwhile, Gazans continue to face severe economic hardship and uncertainty over their political future.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has accused Israel of deliberately obstructing humanitarian aid to Gaza, warning that millions of Palestinians face worsening conditions as winter approaches. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini told the UN General Assembly that Israel’s restrictions and funding shortfalls threaten essential services, including health care and education. The agency, employing 12,000 people in Gaza, is struggling to maintain operations after the United States suspended funding following Israeli allegations—without evidence—that some UNRWA staff were involved in the October 2023 Hamas attack. Despite a ceasefire stipulating 600 aid trucks daily, only about 150 are entering Gaza, leaving displaced families without adequate shelter or food. The UN has warned of catastrophic hunger, particularly in northern Gaza, where famine was declared earlier this year. Meanwhile, Israel has reopened the Zikim crossing for limited aid deliveries, and exchanges of captives and bodies between Israel and Hamas continue under the truce. Gaza health officials report receiving 15 more Palestinian bodies, many of which remain unidentified due to severe decomposition.

Israeli settlers allegedly set fire to the Hajjah Hamida Mosque in Deir Istiya village near Salfit in the occupied West Bank early Thursday, burning several copies of the Quran and damaging parts of the building. Graffiti with anti-Palestinian and racist slogans was found on the mosque walls. The attack comes amid escalating settler violence against Palestinians across the West Bank. The Palestinian Ministry of Religious Affairs condemned the incident as a heinous crime, while the UN, Jordan, and Switzerland expressed deep concern and denounced the act. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric reiterated that attacks on places of worship are unacceptable and urged Israel, as the occupying power, to protect civilians and hold perpetrators accountable. The incident adds to growing international criticism of Israel’s settlement policies and violence in occupied Palestinian territories.

The United States and Russia have taken opposing positions on the future governance of war-torn Gaza. Washington proposed forming an international stabilization force to maintain order and protect civilians, but Russia, China, and several Arab nations strongly objected, stalling the US draft resolution at the UN Security Council. The American proposal envisions an interim governing body called the 'Board of Peace' with a two-year mandate until the end of 2027, alongside an International Stabilization Force (ISF) to disarm non-state armed groups and secure humanitarian corridors. Moscow has introduced an alternative draft, emphasizing a balanced and unified approach to ensure a lasting ceasefire. US officials warned that attempts to undermine their proposal could lead to renewed violence and the collapse of the fragile truce in Gaza.

The United States and Russia have taken opposing positions on the future governance of war-torn Gaza. Washington proposed creating an interim governing body called the 'Board of Peace' with a two-year mandate until 2027, alongside an International Stabilization Force (ISF) to disarm non-state armed groups, protect civilians, and secure humanitarian corridors. However, Russia, China, and several Arab nations strongly objected to the plan, effectively stalling the US draft resolution in the UN Security Council. Moscow has presented an alternative proposal emphasizing a balanced and unified approach to ensure a lasting ceasefire. A US mission spokesperson warned that attempts to undermine Washington’s proposal could lead to serious consequences for Palestinians, including the possible collapse of the ceasefire and renewed Israeli attacks. Discussions on the draft’s language and content are still ongoing among the 15 Security Council members.

The health ministry in Gaza reports that Israeli forces continue military strikes in the enclave despite a ceasefire agreement, pushing the death toll since 7 October 2023 to 69,169. According to Al Jazeera, more than 240 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire took effect last month. On Saturday, two more deaths were confirmed following Israeli fire along the northern “yellow line,” a loosely defined boundary that residents say is invisible and unclear. This ambiguity has led to repeated civilian casualties. Explosions from planted devices have also killed children. Local authorities estimate that Israel has dropped nearly 200,000 tons of explosives on Gaza, with around 70,000 tons still unexploded. Environmental and health hazards are worsening, particularly in Sheikh Radwan, where contaminated water is spreading after pumping stations and drainage systems were destroyed. The UN reports severe groundwater pollution. Violence is also rising in the West Bank, where settlers—reportedly backed by Israeli forces—have carried out over 126 attacks in 70 villages since September, burning more than 4,000 olive trees.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that Islamabad may resort to military action if cross-border infiltration from Afghanistan persists. In an interview with Independent Urdu, Asif reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to peaceful dialogue but stressed that the country would not hesitate to defend itself if hostile activities continue. He urged the Afghan Taliban to prevent their territory from being used for attacks against Pakistan, noting that no written assurance has yet been received. Asif also accused India of exerting influence in Kabul to undermine peace efforts and destabilize Pakistan. Despite regional tensions, he expressed cautious optimism about possible progress in ongoing talks aimed at easing border tensions and restoring stability in the region.

Even as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas continues in Gaza, humanitarian agencies report that aid deliveries remain severely restricted, worsening an already dire food crisis. According to the UN and the World Food Programme (WFP), only a fraction of the pledged relief has entered the enclave due to limited border openings and ongoing Israeli controls. The WFP says it has distributed food to more than one million people since the truce began on October 10, yet this number remains far below actual needs. Northern Gaza, where famine conditions were identified months ago, remains largely inaccessible. Aid convoys are forced to take long, dangerous routes through the south because northern crossings remain closed. UN officials warn that without full access, Gaza’s population faces a humanitarian catastrophe as winter approaches, with widespread hunger, fuel shortages, and inadequate shelter. Despite the truce, sporadic Israeli attacks continue to claim lives, adding to the despair of displaced civilians. The UN and aid groups have urged Israel to fully open all border crossings and allow unhindered delivery of food, fuel, and medicine to avert mass starvation and further loss of life.

In a move tied to the ongoing ceasefire arrangement, Israel has released five Palestinian prisoners and handed over the bodies of 45 Palestinians, according to a report by Al Jazeera on Tuesday. The freed detainees were taken to Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, for medical checkups and treatment after their release on Monday evening. Human rights organizations report that thousands of Palestinians remain detained in Israeli prisons, many held without formal charges under administrative detention.

Gaza’s Health Ministry confirmed that with this latest handover, the total number of returned bodies now stands at 270. Of these, 78 have been identified, while examinations continue for the remaining bodies before their release to families. Some returned corpses reportedly bore signs of torture, with tied hands, blindfolds, and facial disfigurement, raising further concerns about mistreatment.

Despite the truce, Israeli attacks persist. Sources from Nasser Medical Complex told Al Jazeera that three Palestinians were killed in an Israeli strike north of Rafah on Monday. Israel’s military claims the attack targeted individuals who crossed the “yellow line,” considered a ceasefire breach. Meanwhile, gunfire in Gaza City injured three more people, including

Hamas, the Palestinian resistance movement, has strongly condemned Israel for violating the Gaza ceasefire, warning that it will not remain silent amid continued Israeli attacks. The group accused both Israel and the United States of responsibility for the ongoing violence. Hamas emphasized that recent assaults represent a serious breach of the Sharm El-Sheikh ceasefire agreement, signed under U.S. supervision. The resistance movement reaffirmed its commitment to unity and adherence to the truce but warned that Israel will not be allowed to alter the status quo through military force. Hamas also denied involvement in the Rafah incident and criticized U.S. support of Israel, describing it as encouragement for further aggression. The warning comes after reports that Israel has killed at least 100 Palestinians in violation of the ceasefire.

Hamas, the Palestinian nationalist group, said it would disarm only if Israeli occupation ends and a sovereign Palestinian state is established. Senior spokesman Khalil al-Hayya said decisions about the movement’s weapons are tied to the presence of Israeli occupation and aggression. AFP reported Israel has demanded Hamas disarm as part of ending the two-year war, and the United States has made progress on a twenty-point plan conditional on surrendering arms. Al-Hayya said that if occupation ends, weapons could be transferred to a state authority, though he did not name one. Hamas also signalled it will not resume direct governance of Gaza after the conflict and rejected Western calls for fighters to disarm immediately. The group insists fighters would surrender arms only after an independent Palestinian state is formed and be integrated into its military. Separately, Hamas agreed to hand administration to a proposed technocratic committee but refused to relinquish weapons.

U.S. President Donald Trump praised Qatar for its crucial role in implementing the Gaza ceasefire agreement and promoting peace in the Middle East. During a meeting aboard Air Force One in Doha on Saturday, en route to the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia, Trump met with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. Trump highlighted the “incredible progress” made together over the past year toward establishing regional peace, thanking Qatar for its leadership. He hinted that Qatari forces could participate in ensuring a lasting ceasefire in Gaza. The Qatari Emir later posted on X that the meeting provided a valuable opportunity to discuss peace plans, the Gaza truce progress, and bilateral strategic cooperation. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested that forming a multinational peacekeeping force in Gaza might require UN or international authorization.

Palestinian political groups, including Gaza’s ruling Hamas, have agreed to transfer administrative control of the Gaza Strip to a temporary independent technocratic committee. The decision, announced after a Cairo meeting, aims to manage basic services and livelihoods with the support of Arab and international institutions. The factions also pledged to work together to form a unified stance against challenges facing Palestinians and called for convening all parties to revive the Palestine Liberation Organization as the sole legitimate representative of the people. Hamas, not part of the PLO, met with rival Fatah representatives to discuss the second phase of a U.S.-backed ceasefire plan. Egypt’s intelligence chief also held talks with other major Palestinian groups, including Islamic Jihad and the Democratic and Popular Fronts for the Liberation of Palestine.

Two weeks after the ceasefire in Gaza, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that hunger and malnutrition remain at catastrophic levels. The agency said that Israeli restrictions are preventing sufficient humanitarian aid, including food, from reaching the besieged population. The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) revealed it can deliver only 750 tons of food daily—far below its 2,000-ton goal—due to limited entry points. A UN report noted that a quarter of Gaza’s population, including 11,500 pregnant women, faces hunger, while 70% of newborns are premature or underweight. Aid groups, including Oxfam and the Norwegian Refugee Council, accused Israel of indiscriminately blocking relief shipments. Local NGOs report rising food prices and shortages of nutritious items like seeds and olives. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the situation remains dire as aid entering Gaza is far below what’s needed.