Gaza Strip

Mashaal to Al Jazeera Forum: Hamas disarming risks making Gazans ‘easy victims to be eliminated'

“In the context that our people are still under occupation, talking about disarmament is an attempt to make our people an easy victim to be eliminated," Hamas’s political leader, Mashaal, said.

HAMAS TERRORIST KHALED MASHAAL speaks during an interview in Doha.
Bezalel Zini, brother of Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) chief David Zini, suspected of smuggling cigarettes into Gaza, February 3, 2026.

Zini affair highlights the security and political costs of Gaza smuggling - opinion

An IDF soldier operating in the West Bank, published on February 6, 2026.

IDF conducting scans in Karmei Tzur after infiltration alert sounds, seizes West Bank weapons

MOURNERS PRAY during the funeral of Palestinians in Gaza, who, according to medics, were killed by an Israeli strike, on Wednesday. While Hamas was flooding the world with unverified figures, Israel made no systematic effort to challenge them, the writers say.

Israel's negligent ‘hasbara’ failure in Gaza could have been avoided - opinion


Netanyahu releases pre-Oct. 7 intel documents, claims defense echelon urged keeping Hamas in power

The documents, spanning from February 2023 to an hour before attack, show how Israel's defense echelon misread Hamas’s intentions, and characterized the terror group as deterred.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Ministers and MK's attend a Special Session in his Honor of Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, January 26, 2026.

'What is happening in Gaza is a complete failure by IDF,' military expert says - interview

"We do not need to be dragged after Hamas. We need to act all the time. Our military approach is not right," Maariv correspondent Avi Ashkenazi said in an interview.

IDF soldiers operate in the Khan Yunis area of the Gaza Strip, February 1, 2026.

'Systematic, sophisticated operation': How millions of goods were smuggled into Gaza - explainer

According to the Southern District Attorney’s Office, this was an “organized, systematic, and sophisticated smuggling operation of various goods into the Gaza Strip in exchange for financial gain.”

Two suspects arrested after smuggling 80,000 cigarettes disguised as tissues.

Trump declines to take sides between Vance, Rubio in 2028 successor debate

Trump also endorsed a MAGA prosecutor in Georgia against Marjorie Taylor Greene, stepped back from a major media merger fight between Netflix and Warner Bros, and faced Human Rights Watch criticism.

US President Donald Trump (C), Vice President JD Vance (L) and Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) pictured in the White House, November 6, 2025; illustrative.

Hind Rajab Foundation asks US Justice Dept. to probe IDF veteran over alleged Gaza war crimes

The IDF veteran served as a combat engineer during the Israel-Hamas War and is due to speak at Boston University on Wednesday.

IDF combat engineer veteran holding a public event at Boston University. The Hind Rajab Foundation seek a criminal investigation, accusing him of war crimes in Gaza. Pictured in February 2026.

IDF confirms killing of top Islamic Jihad Gaza commander

Also on Wednesday, the IDF and Shin Bet announced the killing of Muhammad Issam Hassan al-Habil, who murdered IDF Cpl. Noa Marciano. 

Profile of the terrorist Ali Raziana, who served as the Commander of the Northern Gaza Brigade in the Islamic Jihad terror organization.

Cost of cigarettes in Gaza skyrockets to NIS 100 amid smuggling operation scandal - report

"Sometimes the cost reaches thousands of shekels," a source told Walla, explaining that the skyrocketing cost is due to decreased supply and high demand. 

 CIGARETTES ON display at a convenience store in Safed carry warnings that smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke and other harm to smokers and their children.

Human Rights researchers resign over ‘pulled’ report accusing Israel of 'crimes against humanity'

HRW said they concluded “aspects of the research and the factual basis for our legal conclusions needed to be strengthened to meet Human Rights Watch’s high standards.”

 A Human Rights Watch flag is pictured on the Mont-Blanc bridge in Geneva, Switzerland, November 7, 2024.

IDF admits civilians likely killed in retaliatory strike on Hamas commander after soldier wounded

"The strike targeted the terrorist Bilal Abu Assi, a Hamas Nukhba Platoon Commander who led the infiltration into Kibbutz Nir Oz on the brutal October 7th massacre," the IDF stated.

Smoke rises from the Gath shelter, housing displaced Palestinians, after an Israeli air strike in the west of Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip on January 31, 2026.

Palestinian women describe harsh questioning, 'journey of horror’ crossing back into Gaza

Of the 50 people waiting to leave Gaza, mostly for medical treatment, only five patients with seven relatives escorting them managed to cross into Egypt on Monday.

A woman carrying a child boards a bus as Palestinians get ready to leave Gaza for treatment abroad through the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, February 2, 2026.