### Under-reported news from Israel, Palestine, the Middle East and North Africa: October 24, 2025 *These roundups are, and will always be, free. No paywalls. If you find them useful, you can buy me a cup of coffee [here](https://paypal.me/ridaaburass?country.x=CA&locale.x=en_US). Thanks!* [Subscribe](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSct2B1Mm-SuaoJe5WkVn1HW1CSYkWnrXgLlOeg2JLLSEnqz2g/viewform?usp=header) to get these roundups (and just these roundups) by email. No spam. **TL;DR**: This week was marked by uncertainty regarding the future of Gaza's ceasefire agreement. Israel was visited by a string of top US officials attempting to ensure its implementation, ["Bibi-sitting"](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/23/us-senior-officials-warn-israeli-political-factions-not-to-disrupt-gaza-ceasefire). Tensions between Israel, Turkey, Egypt, and other relevant stakeholders grow over the makeup of Gaza's future security force. In the West Bank, settlers continue attacking Palestinian olive pickers on a daily basis, protected and aided by Israeli soldiers. --- ##### Gaza: - 2025-10-19 - [Israeli strikes kill at least 15 people across the Gaza strip](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israeli-air-strikes-hit-rafah-amid-reports-clashes-abu-shabab-gang), after it said Hamas fired at its troops in southern Rafah, without providing credible evidence to back this claim. - Top Israeli brass later affirmed their commitment to the ceasefire, [reportedly, under US pressure](https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/politics/2025-10-19/ty-article/.premium/00000199-fd3a-d3e1-adfd-ff3b6bd70000). This shows that the ceasefire's fate hangs on US willingness to enforce it, and indicates the Israeli political leadership's will to resume the ethnic cleansing of the Strip #hebrew - 2025-10-20 - According to the Gaza Government Media Office, [Israeli attacks have killed at least 97 Palestinians](https://aje.io/6ukrbh?update=4047700) since the ceasefire came into effect on October 10. - 2025-10-20 - [45 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-10-20/ty-article-live/idf-says-it-will-resume-enforcement-of-cease-fire-following-series-of-strikes-across-gaza/00000199-ff94-dfc6-a3bf-ffb4ad720000?liveBlogItemId=1986223132&utm_source=site&utm_medium=button&utm_campaign=live_blog_item#1986223132) across Gaza over the past 24 hours, with 12 additional bodies retrieved from under the rubble. - 2025-10-22 - [Tensions have emerged](https://www.newarab.com/news/tensions-between-us-israel-egypt-over-phase-two-gaza-truce) over the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal. Egyptian General Hassan Rashad met Netanyahu in Israel; Egypt is pushing for Arab and international military forces to enter into Gaza ASAP, while Israel and the US insist on returning the remains of all hostages first. Turkish forces supposed to be among international forces in Gaza, but [Netanyahu objects](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2619826/middle-east). - 2025-10-23 - [One Palestinian was killed](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/163649) by an Israeli drone strike in the southern Gaza Strip. ---- ##### West Bank, inc. East Jerusalem: - 2025-10-20 - Released Palestinian detainees [recount being tortured](https://www.972mag.com/gaza-freed-detainees-israeli-torture/) in Israeli prisons. - 2025-10-20 - Israeli settlers [took over Palestinian land](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/163525) in northern Jordan Valley. - 2025-10-20 - Israeli forces [shot and injured](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/163528) a Palestinian man near Jerusalem. - 2025-10-20 - Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian olive-pickers across the West Bank, near [Ramallah, Tulkarem](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/163536, and [Jenin](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/163539). - 2025-10-20 - Another Palestinian detainee - 69-year-old Kamil Mohammad Mahmoud Al-Ajrami - [had died](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/163544) in Israeli custody. - 2025-10-21 - Overall, [80 Palestinians have died in Israeli custody](https://www.newarab.com/news/israel-kills-two-gaza-aid-trucks-prevented-entering?blockId=block_64977) since the start of the war. - 2025-10-21 - Israeli settlers and soldiers [have carried out 158 attacks against olive-pickers since the start of this year's olive harvest](https://aje.io/f78vgf?update=4049729), including beatings, mass arrests and shootings. Most of the incidents took place in Nablus (56), Ramallah (51) and Hebron (15). A total of 765 olive trees were destroyed. - 2025-10-22 - Israeli forces [arrested at least 45 Palestinians](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/163599) across the West Bank today. - 2025-10-23 - [Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian olive-pickers](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/163637) in the town of Turmus Ayya, near Ramallah. - 2025-10-23 - [Israeli forces prevented Palestinian farmers from harvesting olives](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/163645) northeast of Hebron. - 2025-10-23 - [Israeli forces attacked Palestinian olive-pickers](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/163658) near Bethlehem. - 2025-10-24 - Israeli forces conducted raids [across the West Bank](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/163669). An 18-year old Palestinian [was killed](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/24/palestinian-child-killed-in-israeli-raid-on-west-bank-as-settlers-rampage) in Nablus. - 2025-10-24 - Israeli settlers attacked olive-pickers across the West Bank - in [Nablus, Salfit](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/163670), [Beit Iksa](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/163674), [Sebastia](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/163677), [near Bethlehem](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/163678), and [Ramallah](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/163671). ---- ##### '48 Palestinians: - 2025-10-22 - A broad demonstration against gun violence and crime [is planned for tomorrow in Kafr Yasif](https://www.arab48.com/%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA/%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9/2025/10/22/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%AF%D8%B9%D9%88-%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%B9-%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%B8%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D9%83%D9%81%D8%B1-%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%8A%D9%81-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%BA%D8%AF%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AE%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%B3-%D8%B6%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%86%D9%81-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%85%D8%A9). #arabic - 2025-10-23 - [Hundreds gathered](https://www.arab48.com/%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA/%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9/2025/10/23/%D9%83%D9%81%D8%B1-%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%8A%D9%81-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B8%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D8%AC%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%84-%D9%88%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B7%D8%A4-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%B1%D8%B7%D8%A9) for this demonstration in Kafr Yasif, today. #arabic - 2025-10-23 - [A Palestinian man was killed](https://www.arab48.com/%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA/%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9/2025/10/23/%D9%85%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%84-%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D8%A8%D8%A5%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82-%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AE%D9%84-%D9%85%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%B2-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A3%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D8%AD%D9%85) in a crime-related incident in the city of Umm al-Fahm, bringing the total number of victims this year to 210. #arabic - Gun violence is allowed to run rampant among the '48 Palestinian community. [This is a systemic problem](https://abrahaminitiatives.org/victims-of-violence-and-crime-in-arab-society-in-2024/), the result of decades of neglect, lack of investment in Israel's Palestinian communities. Crimes are rarely solved; perpetrators are rarely brought to justice. --- ##### Israel: - 2025-10-20 - [Reports continue to show](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/record-number-israelis-leaving-not-returning-2020-knesset-report-says) Israel facing an immigration deficit, with more Israelis leaving than returning from abroad. - 2025-10-20 - With the ceasefire officially in effect (but in practice violated daily; see above) and the Israeli Knesset (the parliament) in back in session, [Israeli ministers resumed their threats](https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/politi/2025-10-20/ty-article/.premium/0000019a-017d-dfc6-a3bf-f17d6a960000) against the supreme court, part of this government's project to [overhaul the judiciary and aggrandize the executive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Israeli_judicial_reform) branch. #hebrew - 2025-10-22 - A proposed bill, to apply Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank, [has passed first reading in the Knesset](https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-871299) (Israel's parliament). The bill will now be transferred to the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, where it will need to be brought for discussion before undergoing a second and third vote in the plenum. - 2025-10-23 - At the end of his visit to Israel today, US vice-president JD Vance [insisted that "the West Bank is not going to be annexed by Israel"](https://www.newarab.com/news/gaza-who-evacuates-41-patients-thousands-await-transfer?blockId=block_65111), adding that yesterday's bill proposals to annex the West Bank were "a very stupid political stunt and I personally take some insult to it". - [Trump echoed Vance's words](https://time.com/7327675/trump-israel-gaza-deal-interview/) in an interview for Time Magazine, published today, saying that annexation "won’t happen because I gave my word to the Arab countries. ... Israel would lose all of its support from the United States if that happened". - Meanwhile, [far-right minister Smotrich said](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-10-23/ty-article-live/ahead-of-arrival-in-israel-rubio-warns-moves-toward-wb-annexation-threaten-gaza-peace/0000019a-0ecb-d1c4-a99f-7ffb02eb0000?liveBlogItemId=2064134123&utm_source=site&utm_medium=button&utm_campaign=live_blog_item#2064134123) today: "If Saudi Arabia conditions normalization on a Palestinian State, then no thank you, keep riding your camels". --- ##### MENA + geopolitical: - 2025-10-20 - [Israeli strikes hit southern Lebanon](Hezbollah). Israel has violated its ceasefire agreement with Hezbullah many times since it was signed in November, 2024. - 2025-10-20 - [Israel allowed at least 66 Palestinians and Turkish citizens to leave the Gaza Strip](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-allows-haniyeh-family-members-leave-gaza-after-turkish-request) earlier this month following a request from Turkey, including 16 members of the late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh’s family. - 2025-10-20 - [Iraq announces](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2619554/middle-east) it will keep a small contingent of US military advisers due to ISIS threat in Syria. Context: The U.S. and Iraq agreed last year to wind down US-led anti-ISIS coalition mission from Iraq by this September. - 2025-10-20 - In Northern (Turkish) Cyprus, [Pro-federalist leader Tufan Erhürman won a landslide victory](https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/main-opposition-leader-erhurman-wins-turkish-cyprus-election-according-to-unofficial-results-214822) against incumbent president Ersin Tatar ([who supported Northern Cyprus' independence](https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-cypriot-president-rejects-federation-debate-days-before-election-214703)). - 2025-10-24 - Worth reading [Middle East Eye's analysis](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/how-northern-cyprus-election-may-prompt-turkey-re-think-federalism) of the election results. - 2025-10-22 - Syrian forces said they had surrounded a camp housing a prominent French jihadist who is wanted by the French government, [sparking clashes](https://www.newarab.com/news/clashes-between-syrian-govt-french-fighters-idlib-province). - 2025-10-22 - [Turkey and Qatar sign defense cooperation deal](https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/erdogan-meets-qatari-emir-in-doha-on-official-visit-214903). - 2025-10-23 - Israeli drone strikes on Lebanon [killed two people](https://www.newarab.com/news/gaza-who-evacuates-41-patients-thousands-await-transfer?blockId=block_65119), and wounded another. - 2025-10-24 - [Two people were killed in an Israeli drone strike](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-10-24/ty-article-live/trump-downplays-efforts-by-some-israeli-lawmakers-to-annex-west-bank/0000019a-13f6-d1c4-a99f-73f663570000?liveBlogItemId=50799328&utm_source=site&utm_medium=button&utm_campaign=live_blog_item#50799328) on a vehicle in southern Lebanon. - [Israel claims it killed](https://aje.io/fx5czy?update=4057372) a Hezbollah commander. --- Sign up [here](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSct2B1Mm-SuaoJe5WkVn1HW1CSYkWnrXgLlOeg2JLLSEnqz2g/viewform?usp=header) to get an email notification when the weekly roundup is posted.