Live: Israeli forces detonate 20 homes in Jenin

An Israeli contractor working for a company carrying out operations for the Israeli army was shot dead in central Gaza, the military confirmed on Tuesday.

The Israeli army said an investigation had been launched into the incident.

Reports indicate the Israeli army mistakenly identified the man as a Palestinian. 

Residents of Jenin have discovered the body of a young Palestinian man who succumbed to his wounds after being shot and abandoned by Israeli forces, Al Jazeera Arabic reported. 

The man was wounded last night and left to bleed to death without medical assistance.

Qatar and Turkey have reportedly agreed to take in Palestinians convicted by Israeli authorities of serious crimes, following their release under the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, The Times of Israel reports.

Israel has insisted that those convicted of offences such as murder should not be allowed to return to Gaza or the occupied West Bank after being freed in last week’s prisoner exchange.

Currently, around 70 former detainees are being held in Egypt on a temporary basis. According to sources, Turkey has agreed to accept 15 of them, while Qatar is expected to receive the rest.

Palestine’s UN ambassador, Riyad Mansour, has hit out at Israel’s attempts to undermine the UN’s refugee agency for Palestinians, insisting that Tel Aviv has no right to “pick and choose” who represents the organisation - or the Palestinian people.

Speaking to the UN Security Council, Mansour accused Israel of not only obliterating Gaza but also attempting to erase the Palestinian people. He made it clear that “there is no alternative to Unrwa” and called on the international community to stand firm in its support for the agency.

His comments come as Israel prepares to forcibly shut down Unrwa’s headquarters in occupied East Jerusalem on Thursday, a move that threatens to derail vital humanitarian aid efforts in both Gaza and the West Bank.

The government media office in the Gaza Strip has reported that 80 per cent of displaced individuals have returned to the northern regions of the territory over the past two days.

This mass movement comes despite the ongoing turmoil and devastation in the area, raising serious concerns about the safety and well-being of those returning. 

Good morning, Middle East Eye readers,

If you are just joining us, here are some the latest updates:

• Israel’s UN envoy Danny Danon has demanded the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) cease operations and vacate its premises within 48 hours. Speaking at the UN Security Council on Tuesday evening, Danon’s ultimatum has sparked outrage, with critics accusing Israel of further undermining humanitarian efforts in the region.

• The Trump administration has backed Israel’s move against Unrwa. This shift has drawn sharp criticism, with many arguing it aligns with Israel’s aggressive policies aimed at weakening Palestinian institutions.

• The UK has pledged $21m to aid Gaza’s recovery but has warned that shutting down Unrwa could cripple the humanitarian response. The agency plays a vital role in providing essential services to millions of Palestinians, and its closure risks deepening the crisis in the war-torn enclave.

• Egyptian hospitals are on standby to treat wounded Palestinians as the border prepares to reopen. The Associated Press reports that medical teams are bracing for an influx of casualties, highlighting the devastating toll of Israel’s ongoing military operations.

• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged Egypt to cooperate with Washington to ensure Hamas does not regain control of Gaza. Critics argue this approach ignores the root causes of the conflict and focusses solely on side lining Palestinian factions without addressing Israel’s occupation.

• Israeli forces have expanded their deadly offensive, launching operations in Tulkarem and other parts of the occupied West Bank. This escalation follows a week-long assault in Jenin, which has left dozens dead and sparked widespread condemnation. 

Good evening Middle East Eye readers, 

On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed  that US President Donald Trump invited his Israeli counterpart to the White House. Israel said the invite was for 4 February, but the White House did not confirm an exact day. 

Meanwhile, in the Middle East, Israel launched attacks in Lebanon and the occupied West Bank. 

The injury tolls from Israeli attacks on the southern Lebanese towns of Nabatieh and Zawtar stood at 24 people and were rising. 

In the occupied West Bank, one Palestinian man was killed by Israeli soldiers during a raid in Tulkarm, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said. Israel also attacked several villages west of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian news agency, Wafa. 

Here's what else you need to know about Monday's developments in Israel's war on Gaza:

• More than 376,000 Palestinians have returned to their homes in northern Gaza, the UN said
• The US pulled 90 Patriot air defence interceptors from Israel this week to send them to Ukraine
• US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff met on Tuesday with senior Palestinian Authority official Hussein al-Sheikh in Saudi Arabia
• US officials told their Israeli counterparts that the US plans to withdraw thousands of US soldiers from Syria 

One Palestinian man was killed by Israeli soldiers during a raid in Tulkarm in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said on Wednesday. 

Israel has been attacking Tulkarm intensely for weeks.

Israel has also attacked several villages west of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian news agency, Wafa. 

More than 376,000 Palestinians have returned to their homes in northern Gaza, the UN’s office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs said on Tuesday. 

“Over 376,000 people are estimated to have returned to their places of origin in northern Gaza, following the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the two main roads along the Netzarim corridor,” the organisation said in a statement. 

The US pulled 90 Patriot air defence interceptors from Israel this week to send them to Ukraine, Axios reported.

The interceptors were first sent to Poland and will be transferred to Ukraine from there. 

The US Senate on Tuesday blocked a bill that would impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court in protest against its arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.  

The Senate voted 54-45 in favour of the bill. It needed 60 votes in favour. The Republican-majority House of Representatives already passed the bill.

The vote was on party lines, with Democratic Senator John Fetterman voting with Republicans on the bill. 

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa met with Syria's de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in the People's Palace in Damascus on Tuesday. 

A statement from the prime minister's office said that during the meeting, Mustafa stressed the Palestinians' support for Syria and its territorial integrity.

On Tuesday, Israel said it plans to occupy Syria's Mount Hermon "indefinitely". 

US officials told their Israeli counterparts that the US plans to withdraw thousands of US soldiers from Syria, according to a report by the Israeli broadcasting authority on Tuesday. 

The Pentagon revealed in December that there are around 2,000 US troops in Syria. 

The casualty toll from an Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon has risen to 24 people, according to Lebanon's ministry of health. 

The number injured from a strike on Nabatieh has risen from 14 to 20 people, the ministry said.

A seperate strike on the nearby town of Zawtar wounded four people.

Israel's military confirmed a strike on southern Lebanon on Tuesday, saying it was targeting Hezbollah vehicles.

The Israeli military confirmed striking Nabatieh and said it targeted a truck and other vehicles used by Hezbollah.

The strike wounded at least 14 people, according to Lebanon's health ministry.