Live Blog Update| Israel's genocide in Gaza
This is an entry from: Live: Israel delays release of 602 Palestinian prisoners

Evening recap

6 February 2025 23:34 GMT

Good evening Middle East Eye readers, 

Our blog will soon be closing for the day. Here are some of today's main developments: 

  • US President Donald Trump authorised economic and travel sanctions targeting people who work on International Criminal Court investigations of US citizens or US allies, such as Israel,  the White House has confirmed.

  • Sources close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it is uncertain whether an Israeli delegation will travel to Qatar this weekend, Haaretz reported.

  • Israel's defence minister Israel Katz ordered the military to prepare for "voluntary" departures from Gaza, following Trump's proposal to "clear out" the territory.

  • Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem warned that US President Donald Trump's plan to "clear out" Gaza and displace its people was a "declaration of intent to occupy" the Palestinian territory.

  • Gaza's Civil Defence has condemned "Israeli intransigence and procrastination" over bringing essential equipment into the strip.

  • Human Rights Watch warned that should US President Donald Trump's plan to "clear out" Gaza become state policy, "it would potentially amount to state cleansing".

  • The death toll of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in Gaza since 7 October 2023 reached 47,583, the enclave's health ministry said on Thursday.

  • Israel has informed the United Nations Human Rights Council that it will follow the US in withdrawing its participation, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said.

  • Donald Trump said that Israel would turn the Gaza Strip over to the United States after the fighting ends and that no US soldiers would be needed there.