Morning update

Good morning Middle East Eye readers,

On the 44th day since the truce deal came into effect, Israel continues to violate the terms of the ceasefire agreement. From demolitions of residential buildings to the bombardment of various areas across the Gaza Strip, the army has committed nearly 500 violations since October.

In a statement released by Gaza's government media office in the besieged enclave, officials said 497 documented violations have been recorded during the truce period, with at least 27 of them committed on Saturday.

These ongoing Israeli violations have resulted in the killing of 342 Palestinians - the majority of them are children, women and the elderly - and have wounded over 875 others. Meanwhile, 35 Palestinians have been arbitrarily arrested during incursions across the blockaded territory.

Here are the latest updates:

Gaza's government media office reported that Israeli authorities continue to bar the entry of heavy machinery needed for search and recovery operations.
The World Food Programme indicated that much of Gaza's population is unable to meet their basic needs despite the ceasefire. It confirmed the entry of some goods, such as vegetables and fruits, but said prices are severely inflated as many Palestinians struggle financially.
Israeli security cabinet member Zeev Elkin said he "doubts the ability of any international force to disarm Hamas", as quoted by the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation. His remarks come amid rising Israeli scepticism over the formation of international forces to take over the besieged territory.
On the other hand, Palestinians in the West Bank continue to face violent military incursions and settler attacks, with reports sighted in Tubas, Hebron, Ramallah, Bethlehem and Nablus.
Amid Israeli attacks in the occupied territory, Israeli authorities also confiscated 1,042 dunams (104 hectares) of land in the Jordan Valley to construct a 22km-long settlement road.