Live: Israeli soldiers kill unarmed Palestinians as they surrender in Jenin

A Palestinian man was shot and killed by Israeli forces in the Tuffah neighbourhood, despite the ceasefire that officially began on 10 October, a medical source at al-Ahli Hospital said.

Israeli forces have continued operations across parts of Gaza, with dozens of casualties reported in recent days.

Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, has confirmed the arrival of 30 bodies of Palestinian prisoners handed over by Israel as part of the ongoing exchange deal.

According to the statement, Gaza’s Committee for the Retrieval of Bodies has received a total of 195 bodies from Israel through the International Committee of the Red Cross since the beginning of the ceasefire.

The handovers come amid intensified efforts to implement the terms of the ceasefire agreement and address the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that discussions about the “day after” in Gaza has taken place with US Vice President JD Vance in West Jerusalem, who is currently visiting Israel.

“We’re creating an unbelievable future with a completely new vision for civil governance and security there - who will provide that security and how,” he said.

Acknowledging the challenges ahead, Netanyahu said, “It won’t be easy, but I believe it’s possible. We’re building a peace plan and infrastructure where none existed just over a week ago.”

“This will require a great deal of effort and creativity,” he concluded.

Earlier while standing next to Vance in a press conference, Netanyahu commented on Israel’s commitment to its security, stating, “When it comes to Israel’s security, we do what we must.”

He said, “A strong Israel serves America’s interests in stabilising this very unstable region, and you can’t stabilise it without a strong Israel.” Netanyahu added that decisions are made jointly with the United States, benefiting both countries.

Speaking at a press conference in West Jerusalem alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, US Vice President JD Vance dismissed the notion that Israel functions as a subordinate or "vassal" state to the United States.

“We don’t view Israel as a client state - because it’s not,” Vance said. “We seek a strong partnership, a true ally.”

He added that President Donald Trump believes Israel is capable of taking on a significant leadership role in the region, enabling the United States to adopt a more supportive, less direct, position.

Vance also suggested that the ongoing ceasefire in Gaza could serve as a gateway to broadening the Abraham Accords - a set of normalisation agreements between Israel and Arab states brokered by Washington during Trump’s first term.

“I believe this Gaza agreement is a key to unlocking further progress on the Abraham Accords,” Vance stated. “It has the potential to lay the foundation for a lasting alliance in the Middle East - one that empowers the people of the region to take charge of their own future.”

He added, “That outcome aligns with the interests of the United States and I believe it serves Israel’s interests as well.”

Roland Friedrich, director of Unrwa Affairs in the occupied West Bank, has cautioned against the escalating violence by settlers and the expansion of settlements in the West Bank amid the ongoing Gaza ceasefire.

“A drawdown in Gaza should not become an opportunity to tighten the grip of occupation elsewhere,” Friedrich emphasised, stressing that “the future of Gaza and West Bank are one.”

As fragile hope begins to emerge in Gaza, Friedrich stated that Unrwa is prepared to collaborate with all parties to achieve a comprehensive resolution.

He highlighted that such an outcome could serve as the foundation for lasting peace and stability across the occupied Palestinian territories and the wider region for generations to come.

The Government Media Office in Gaza has stated that 54 bodies of Palestinian bodies, previously held by Israeli forces, will be laid to rest after being returned bearing clear signs of torture.

According to the statement, the Israeli occupation handed over the bodies with visible evidence of abuse. Official forensic examinations confirmed that the deceased had been subjected to brutal violations while in Israeli custody.

Gaza authorities condemned these acts, describing them as "horrific crimes," and called on international organisations to pursue justice. The statement urged global institutions to hold those responsible for these "massacres" accountable under international law.

US Vice President JD Vance is visiting Israel amid ongoing developments related to the Gaza ceasefire.

According to The Times of Israel, Vice President Vance, who arrived yesterday, is set to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday in Jerusalem, followed by a meeting with President Isaac Herzog at noon.

 Vance told reporters that the ceasefire implementation is "exceeding expectations," despite ongoing violations.

Meanwhile, Israel’s Channel 12 reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will arrive in Israel tomorrow for a two-day official visit.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is set to issue its ruling on Wednesday, on whether Israel has violated international law by imposing a months-long blockade on humanitarian aid destined for the Gaza Strip.

The court is expected to issue a non-binding legal advisory opinion, but it could increase international pressure on Israel to cooperate with the United Nations and allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza.

This will be the ICJ’s third decision regarding Israel’s actions since the war in Gaza began more than two years ago.

The US Central Command (Centcom) announced on Wednesday the opening of a civil-military coordination centre in Israel, aimed at supporting stability in the Gaza Strip.

Centcom stated that the centre was inaugurated on 17 October, to mark what it considers to be the main coordination aid hub for Gaza.

Centcom Commander Brad Cooper said the centre will be responsible for monitoring the implementation of the ceasefire agreement through an operations room that allows staff to assess developments in Gaza in real time.

Good morning Middle East Eye readers.

Here are the latest updates from Israel's war on Gaza:

• Israeli forces raided towns in Qalqilya and Hebron, carrying out raids and home searches as part of ongoing operations in the occupied West Bank.

• The Palestinian Centre for Prisoners’ Defence reported that the conditions of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons are extremely critical, stating that around 1,300 detainees from the Gaza Strip have been enduring severe living and health conditions for two years due to ongoing violations, abuse, and the denial of basic human rights.

• The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor stated that its investigations revealed the bodies handed over by the Israeli army to Gaza came from the Sde Teiman detention centre, suggesting the individuals were likely alive before being killed.

• The Israeli army has notified the families of two captives that they may proceed with their burial, following the confirmation of their identities.

• Palestinian media outlets quoted Dr Ahmad Al-Farra, head of the Paediatrics and Maternity Department at Nasser Medical Hospital, as saying that 80 percent of medical tests at the hospital are currently unavailable.

Good evening Middle East Eye readers,

US Vice President JD Vance arrived in Israel on Tuesday, where he said that he believes the ceasefire in Gaza will hold, but more work remains to be done. Notably, Vance refused to say how the US saw the future governance of Gaza. 

Meanwhile, Hamas released a statement after meeting with Qatari and Turkish officials accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire by keeping the Rafah border crossing closed. Hamas said it was still committed to the agreement. 

Here is what else you need to know:

• At least 660,000 children are out of school in Gaza, the United Nations agency for Palestinian Refugees (Unrwa) said on X

• Israeli soldiers raided the Islamic Charitable Society in Hebron in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, according to Arabic media reports

• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to visit Israel later this week, according to multiple Israeli media reported

• The Red Cross has received the bodies of two additional captives in Gaza

At least 660,000 children are out of school in Gaza, the United Nations agency for Palestinian Refugees (Unrwa) said on X. 

“I wish our house had not been destroyed. I used to have a desk for studying," Unrwa quoted Kinan, a child in Gaza, saying.

"Like 660,000 girls and boys, Kinan is out of school for a third year in a row," Unrwa said. "Returning to learning is not only about education, it's about starting to heal from deep trauma".

The agency added that it has the "ample capacity to support a phased return to formal education in Gaza. We must be allowed to do so unimpeded". 

Israeli soldiers raided the Islamic Charitable Society in Hebron in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, according to Arabic media reports. 

Israeli soldiers detained staff for hours and seized computers and other equipment before closing the trust that provides services for orphans.

A video posted on social media showed its doors sealed shut. Middle East Eye could not immediately verify the video's authenticity. 

The Islamic Charitable Society is well-known throughout the occupied West Bank and supports around 6,000 students. Its charitable work has been featured in English-language media.  

In a meeting with Turkish and Qatari officials, Hamas said that Israel is not abiding by the ceasefire agreement, citing its refusal to open the Rafah border crossing, according to a statement shared by the group on Tuesday.

Hamas said that Israel's closure of the Rafah crossing for "the travel of sick and injured people, and its prevention of the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza” is a violation of the ceasefire. 

Despite the Israeli violation, Hamas said it is still committed to the ceasefire. 

Israel's military forcibly displaced two families from their houses in the village of Burin near the city of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian news agency Wafa on Tuesday.

Israeli troops then established a checkpoint at one of the entrances to the village, Wafa added. 

The attack on Burin comes as settlers escalate their violent attacks against Palestinians in the occupied territories.