Live: Israel delays release of 602 Palestinian prisoners

Approximately seven out of ten Israelis support the idea that “Arabs from Gaza should relocate to another country,” according to a poll conducted by the Jewish People Policy Institute.

According to the poll, 43 percent of all Israelis believe former US President Donald Trump’s proposal to transfer Palestinians in Gaza elsewhere is “practical” and should be pursued. Among Jewish Israelis, this view is held by a narrow majority of 52 percent.

An additional 30 percent of Jewish Israelis described the plan as “not practical, but desirable”.

Meanwhile, Arab Israelis largely oppose the idea. More than half (54 percent) of Arab respondents described the plan as “immoral,” compared to just 3 percent of Jewish Israelis. Overall, 13 percent of all Israelis consider the proposal immoral.

At least 380 Palestinians have been detained in the occupied West Bank since the Gaza ceasefire agreement took effect, according to the Palestinian Prisoners' Society (PPS).

The figure includes both those who remain in Israeli custody and those who were later released.

The PPS stated that the surge in arrests is part of a systematic policy that has intensified to unprecedented levels following the recent military offensive. It also highlighted the increasing mistreatment and abuse of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons.

In Jenin and its refugee camp, 110 people have been detained over the past 15 days, while in Tubas governorate, 28 have, including 11 who have since been released.

The Israeli army said two of its soldiers were killed and eight wounded in this morning's shooting attack at an army post near the northern village of Tayasir in the occupied West Bank, the Times of Israel reports.

Israeli forces killed a man who was accused of firing at soldiers stationed at a military post earlier on Tuesday.

An official from the Hamas prisoners' media office told Al Jazeera that 79 Palestinian detainees, released by Israel as part of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, have arrived in Cairo after being deported to Egypt.

Nahed al-Fakhouri stated that some will remain in Egypt, while others are set to be resettled in various countries. Fifteen prisoners are expected to arrive in Turkey on Tuesday, with another group of 15 slated to go to Pakistan at a later date.

Fakhouri also noted that Algeria has given initial approval to take in some of the deported Palestinians, while Tunisia has refused to accept any.

Lebanon's Foreign Ministry said it has filed a complaint with the UN Security Council over Israel's breach of the ceasefire agreement.

The ministry said in a statement that it calls on the Security Council and countries supporting the ceasefire to "take a clear and determined stand against Israel's repeating breaches [of the agreement]".

Over 270 team members of the UN Palestinian relief agency Unrwa have been killed in Gaza since the war began, according to the agency's director of communications, Juliette Touma.

"Two-thirds of our facilities hit, including shelters for displaced families. We had staff arrested—20 are in Israeli detention centres," Touma said.

"Over 270 UNRWA team members killed in Gaza. Two-thirds of our facilities hit, including shelters for displaced families. Staff arrested—20 are in Israeli detention centres." said UNRWA Director of Communications, Juliette Touma.

In #Gaza, UNRWA is staying and delivering against… pic.twitter.com/I3Yke5C1a8

— UNRWA (@UNRWA) February 4, 2025

Israeli air strikes hit two separate sites in the town of Tamoun, south of Tubas in the occupied West Bank, Wafa news agency reported.

Local sources reported that the strikes coincided with the ongoing Israeli assault on the town and the Far'a camp, now in its third consecutive day.

Ambulances were dispatched to the two sites, but no injuries were reported.

Israeli forces have forced around 3,420 families to flee the Jenin refugee camp at gunpoint, according to Jenin Governorate, as reported by Al Jazeera Arabic.

The forces have also continued demolishing houses in the camp and are using drones to drop hand grenades.

Since the start of the raid, 38 Palestinians from Jenin and the camp have been killed, authorities said, adding that more casualties and injuries are feared as Israeli forces are preventing ambulance crews from entering the area.

The Trump administration requested congressional approval for a $1bn arms transfer to Israel, including bombs, armoured bulldozers, and other military equipment, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Fifteen released Palestinian prisoners arrived in Turkey's Istanbul as part of the exchange deal between Hamas and Israel, Al Jazeera Arabic reported.

More than 9,000 people have been reported missing in Gaza since the war began, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing the International Committee of the Red Cross.

While the fate of around 2,400 has been confirmed, nearly 7,000 cases remain unresolved, and the Red Cross believes that many more have not yet been reported. Many of the missing are thought to be buried under rubble, while others are likely detained by Israel without their families being notified, the report said.

Good morning Middle East Eye readers, 

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

• Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump will discuss the future of the Gaza ceasefire on Tuesday as the Israeli prime minister becomes the first foreign leader to visit the White House since the US president's return to power.

• The Japanese government is considering offering medical care in the world's fourth-largest economy for sick and wounded residents of Gaza, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said.

• US President Donald Trump is expected on Tuesday to stop US engagement with the United Nations Human Rights Council and continue a halt to funding for the UN Palestinian relief agency Unrwa, a White House official said on Monday.

• A senior Russian diplomat urged a top official of Hamas on Monday to keep to its commitment to release a Russian captive held by the group since 7 October 2023.

• Israel is preparing to send a mid-level team to Qatar this weekend to discuss “technical details related to continuing to carry out” the ceasefire agreement, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.

• Israel has announced that eight soldiers were injured in a shooting at the Tayasir checkpoint east of Jenin, including two in critical condition.

Good evening Middle East Eye readers, 

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

• 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

• According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, at least 70 people, including 10 children, have been killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank since the beginning of 2025

• The governor of Tulkarm reported that Israeli forces have forcibly displaced over 75 per cent of the camp’s population from their homes

• The Palestinian Authority on Monday accused Israel of "ethnic cleansing" in the occupied West Bank, where the Israeli army has been carrying out deadly operations for several weeks

• Hamas officials on Monday said they were "ready" for negotiations on phase two of Gaza truce

• US President Donald Trump on Monday told reporters that there are no guarantees the Gaza ceasefire will hold, while his envoy Steve Witkoff said the measure is holding for now

• US President Donald Trump’s administration has asked congressional leaders to approve new transfers of roughly $1bn worth of bombs and other military hardware to Israel

• Five Arab foreign ministers and a senior Palestinian official sent a joint letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday, opposing plans to displace Palestinians from Gaza, as suggested by President Donald Trump in late January

Five Arab foreign ministers and a senior Palestinian official sent a joint letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday, opposing plans to displace Palestinians from Gaza, as suggested by President Donald Trump in late January.

The letter was signed by the foreign ministers of Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, as well as Palestinian presidential adviser Hussein al-Sheikh. It was reported first by Axios, which said the top diplomats met in Cairo over the weekend.

Trump first floated the suggestion of Jordan and Egypt taking in Palestinians from Gaza on 25 January 2025. When asked if he was suggesting that as a long-term or short-term solution, the president said: "Could be either."