Live: Israeli forces detonate 20 homes in Jenin

The Gaza ceasefire agreement, landing on the eve of Donald Trump’s inauguration, reflected the high priority of this deal for the Trump administration.

But in Israel, it has caused heated debate, with far-right politicians baulking at the prospect. Settlements Minister Orit Strook, who has called for a long-term occupation of Gaza, called the exchange deal a “reward for terrorism”.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s opposition has reportedly held up final approval of the agreement, while National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has resigned over what he termed a “surrender deal”.

In a last-minute meeting with Smotrich recently, Netanyahu emphasised that Israel must ensure Trump’s continued support, asserting that it is absolutely forbidden to damage our relationship with Trump.

Netanyahu’s position appears to be increasingly aligning with that of the Israeli military, acknowledging that continued bloodshed in Gaza does not enhance Israel’s strategic stance, particularly given the rising number of Israeli casualties. 

Read more: Gaza ceasefire: Will Trump end Netanyahu’s rule?

French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, expressing gratitude for Qatar’s efforts in facilitating the ceasefire deal, particularly in the case of Ofer Kalderon, who holds French citizenship.

During their conversation, the two leaders also stressed the importance of restoring stability in the Middle East and the urgent need for a ceasefire in both Gaza and Lebanon.

The revised death toll in Gaza comes as no surprise to those who have closely monitored events over the past 15 months, says Amnesty International Secretary-General Agnes Callamard.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Callamard noted that even the previously reported figures were enough to warrant an International Court of Justice case and potential arrest warrants for Israeli leaders from the International Criminal Court.

“But it should have prompted a stronger response from governments much earlier. The revised death toll only underscores the urgency and gravity of what has been inflicted on Palestinians in Gaza,” she said.

She added that while the new figure of nearly 62,000 deaths may not have an immediate legal impact, it does not change the definition of genocide.

“Genocide is not about numbers; it is about the acts committed, such as deliberately creating conditions that lead to a population’s destruction, and the intent behind them,” said Callamard, whose organisation has concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

The official death toll from the Palestinian Health Ministry stands at 47,487. On Monday, the head of Gaza’s information office stated that at least 14,222 people are missing and presumed buried under the rubble. While these figures have been included in the overall death toll, they have not been officially confirmed by the Palestinian Health Ministry.

The Palestinian presidency has issued a stark warning against Israeli efforts to “escalate aggression” in the occupied West Bank, accusing Tel Aviv of plotting to forcibly displace Palestinian families from their homes.  

In a statement, officials condemned what they called a “dangerous expansion of the conflict”, urging the US administration to step in and halt the violence before it triggers an “explosion” across the region.

An Israeli negotiator has slammed Benjamin Netanyahu for “flagrantly violating” the terms of a fragile truce after the prime minister delayed critical peace talks set to begin on Monday.

According to CNN, the negotiator claimed Netanyahu’s refusal to send a delegation to Doha on the agreed date has thrown the ceasefire into jeopardy.  

Under the terms of the Hamas-Israel agreement, negotiations for the second phase of the deal were scheduled to start on the 16th day of the ceasefire – which fell on Monday. However, Netanyahu reportedly postponed dispatching his team until after his return from Washington, sparking outrage among mediators and negotiators.  

“Israel demands that Hamas adhere to all the terms of the agreement, while simultaneously violating it in a significant way. Once again, Netanyahu is abandoning the hostages and endangering them,” the Israeli negotiator told CNN.

Tehran has launched an attack on President Donald Trump after he demanded Palestinians be uprooted from Gaza – branding the idea a “sinister scheme to erase a nation”.  

Esmail Baqaei, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, blasted the controversial suggestion as a violation of international law, declaring: “This is ethnic cleansing in disguise.” He demanded global powers “stop appeasing Zionist greed” and instead protect Palestinians’ “sacred right to defend their ancestral lands”. 

Dozens of Israeli settlers, escorted by Israeli police, stormed the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque, carrying out provocative tours.

The Palestinian News Agency reported that occupation forces imposed strict restrictions on Palestinian worshippers at the gates of the Old City and Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Since Israel’s assault on Gaza and the West Bank began in October 2023, more than 68,000 settlers have stormed the holy site amid intensified Israeli measures, reported Al Jazeera Arabic.

Authorities in Gaza have updated the death toll from Israel’s war to over 61,700, following a reassessment that included thousands previously listed as missing under the rubble.

Last week Gaza’s death toll was considered to be 47,487, widely believed to be a underestimate.

The official death toll from the Palestinian Health Ministry stands at 47,487.

On Monday, the head of Gaza’s information office stated that at least 14,222 people are missing and presumed buried under the rubble.

While these figures have been included in the overall death toll, they have not been officially confirmed by the Palestinian Health Ministry.

With the enforcement of the Gaza ceasefire deal and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Netzarim Corridor, both the Israeli government and the opposition find themselves in a complex position. 

For the past year and three months, there has been an Israeli consensus – encompassing the government’s supporters and opponents alike – around the rhetoric of genocide in Gaza and the need to ethnically cleanse the territory.

Now, unexpectedly, the new Trump administration in the US has forced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into a ceasefire agreement, creating a crisis among the political elites and within Israeli society itself.

On one hand, the Israeli public was surprised to find that Hamas still maintains control over Gaza, despite a 15-month campaign in which the Israeli media relentlessly echoed state propaganda about the army’s tactical successes above and below ground, including complex underground combat strategies. 

On the other hand, Israeli society is paying a heavy price for the war economically, psychologically and in human lives. After 15 months of combat and countless bombings, as well as the military’s inhumane practices, Israel has still failed to eliminate Hamas. 

Read more: Gaza ceasefire: Israel’s failure has the nation in crisis mode

Palestinian civil defence teams have recovered the remains of 20 people killed by Israeli forces in northern Gaza, Anadolu Agency reported.

Many remains were badly decomposed or dismembered, with some reduced to just a few bones, which rescue workers placed into small bags.

Israeli forces detained five Palestinians in the city of Hebron and the nearby town of Halhul in the occupied West Bank, on Monday.

Troops raided several homes in Halhul, detaining four young men – Muhammad Rateb Abu Ramishan (18), Malek al-Baba (21), Ayman Mujahid Masalma (37), and Anas Muhammad al-Bu – after conducting searches, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.

Israel may have been unable to eliminate Hamas from the Gaza Strip, but it is pressing ahead with its plan to eradicate another declared enemy: the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (Unrwa), UN officials and humanitarian workers tell Middle East Eye. 

On Thursday, two laws took effect that effectively limit Unrwa’s ability to work in the war-ravaged enclave. One prohibits the agency’s work within “areas under Israeli sovereignty”, while the other bans any contact with the agency. COGAT, the Israeli military unit responsible for coordinating aid deliveries to Gaza, has said it will comply with the law.

Israel pilloried the UN agency for years. 

Its first attempt to ban Unrwa began at least two decades ago when Unrwa built a complex in Jerusalem. Palestinians insist that Israel sees Unrwa as an existential threat because the organisation recognises Palestinian refugees, and has stated its support for the right of return of their descendants.

After 7 October, Israel accelerated its campaign against Unrwa. The organisation, which provides aid, health and education to millions in the Palestinian territories and neighbouring Arab countries was dealt several body blows.

Read more: Unrwa decries ‘disinformation campaign’ as Israeli ban sets in

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is set to embark on a three-day diplomatic tour of the Middle East starting on Monday, his office has confirmed.

Originally scheduled for November, the trip was delayed due to political turmoil in Berlin following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s centre-left coalition.

Steinmeier will meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Talks are expected to focus on Syria, the Gaza ceasefire, Iran, and Washington’s evolving Middle East strategy under the second Trump administration.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has called for an urgent UN Security Council session to halt what he described as Israel’s relentless assault on the Palestinian people and the destruction of entire residential areas in the refugee camps of Jenin and Tulkarm, in the occupied West Bank.

A statement from Abbas’ office accused Israeli forces of forcing civilians from their homes in Tammun and the al-Faraa refugee camp in Tubas, systematically dismantling infrastructure, and committing widespread atrocities—including killing dozens, injuring hundreds, detaining thousands, and enabling settler violence that has torched Palestinian homes and property in an attempt to drive them from their land.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is using his Washington summit with US President Donald Trump to push for full American support in eliminating Hamas, according to a member of his delegation.

The Israeli daily Haaretz reported that the Israeli source made it clear that Israel is not committing to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, which requires a full withdrawal from Gaza and the Philadelphi Corridor, unless Hamas is completely defeated.