### Under-reported news from Israel, Palestine, the Middle East and North Africa: February 6, 2026 *These roundups are, and will always be, free. No paywalls. If you find them useful, you can help fuel future ones with a cup of coffee [here](https://paypal.me/ridaaburass?country.x=CA&locale.x=en_US). Thanks!* **TL;DR**: The number of Palestinians killed by Israeli attacks in Gaza has steadily risen to pre-ceasefire levels. Settler attacks continue unabated within the West Bank; mobs have stormed Palestinian towns, cut down olive trees, and assaulted farmers. Israeli forces conducted several raids, arrested several Palestinians, and shot and killed at least one man. Within Israel, Palestinians have been mobilizing en masse against a wave of crime-related violence sweeping through the community. Zooming out, fighting persists in Sudan and Pakistani Balochistan, as tensions continue to simmer between the US and Iran. --- ##### The Gaza Strip: - 2026-02-02 - [At least five Palestinians were killed](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2026-02-02/ty-article-live/.premium/idf-says-it-struck-hezbollah-militant-in-southern-lebanon/0000019c-1c63-d3f5-a5fd-dc6bd52d0005?liveBlogItemId=1703334949#1703334949) in Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours. - 2026-02-02 - [Israel has banned the international medical charity Doctors Without Borders](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-bans-msf-gaza-and-west-bank-after-refuses-handover-list-staff-israelis) (MSF) from operating in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, after the organisation refused to hand over a list of its Palestinian and international staff. - 2026-02-03 - As expected, Israel's re-opening of the Rafah border crossing (between Gaza and Egypt) has been a largely symbolic move; [only 12 of 50 Palestinians attempting to cross into Gaza were allowed to enter](https://www.haaretz.com/gaza/2026-02-03/ty-article/.premium/israel-egypt-stop-most-palestinians-approved-to-transit-gazas-rafah-crossing/0000019c-233c-d96f-adfc-e33dc8100000); [a similar number](https://www.newarab.com/news/gaza-just-12-palestinians-cross-rafah-first-day-reopening) of injured Palestinians (and companions) were allowed to leave. - 2026-02-03 - [At least three Palestinians were killed](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2026-02-03/ty-article-live/un-chief-warns-netanyahu-israels-unrwa-crackdown-violates-united-nations-charter/0000019c-2158-d6ed-affe-e7dcd0fe0000?liveBlogItemId=1732188827#1732188827) in Israeli strikes across Gaza over the past 24 hours. - 2026-02-04 - [21 Palestinians were killed in separate Israeli attacks](https://www.haaretz.com/gaza/2026-02-04/ty-article/.premium/report-israel-kills-10-in-gaza-after-militants-severely-wounded-idf-officer-overnight/0000019c-2717-d4c5-a7bc-679790260000) across the Gaza Strip today, [including children](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/167118). The Israeli military said that the strikes are a response to an Israeli officer being severely wounded in northern Gaza. - 2026-02-05 - The reopening of the Rafah Border Crossing [remains limited](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/5/gaza-patients-head-to-rafah-crossing-as-people-return-amid-israeli-attacks): only 25 Palestinians have returned to Gaza today, while only 13 patients in need of treatment leave. - 2026-02-05 - [At least one person was killed](https://www.newarab.com/news/israel-continues-strikes-gaza-after-wednesdays-bloodbath) and another injured in Israeli air strikes in Gaza today. - 2026-02-06 - [Israeli forces killed two Palestinians in Gaza](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/167157) today. ---- ##### The West Bank, inc. East Jerusalem: - 2026-02-02 - Israeli settlers [uprooted olive saplings](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/166941) near Burin. - 2026-02-02 - Israeli forces [uprooted around 200 grapevines](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/166999) near Bethlehem. - 2026-02-02 - [Israeli settlers attacked the town of Qusra](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/166994), south of Nablus, on Monday evening under the protection of Israeli forces. - 2026-02-03 - [Nearly 1,900 Israeli force and settler attacks were recorded across the West Bank](https://www.newarab.com/news/nearly-1900-israeli-attacks-recorded-west-bank) in January alone. - 2026-02-03 - [Israeli settlers uprooted approximately 30 olive trees](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/167016) in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron. - 2026-02-03 - [Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian man](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/167017) near Qalqilya as he attempted to cross the separation wall into Israel for work. - 2026-02-03 - [Israeli forces detained at least 30 Palestinians](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/167033) across the West Bank over the past 24 hours. - 2026-02-04 - [Israeli settlers cut down dozens of olive trees](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/167115) in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron. - 2026-02-05 - Israeli forces [shot a 16-year old Palestinian teenager](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/167141) in the town of Beita, near Nablus, and prevented ambulances from reaching him. - 2026-02-05 - Israeli settlers [uprooted more than 300 olive trees](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/167128) near Ramallah. - 2026-02-06 - Palestinian residents of the US, including green-card holders, [have been deported](https://www.972mag.com/us-secretly-deporting-palestinians-ice-dezer/) from ICE facilities on private jets, into the West Bank. - 2026-02-06 - [Israeli forces raided Qalqilya](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/167152), detaining seven Palestinians. - 2026-02-06 - [Israeli settlers cut down dozens of olive trees](https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/167156) in the town of Qusra, south of Nablus. ---- ##### Palestinian citizens of Israel ('48 Palestinians): - 2026-02-02 - [A man was fatally shot](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%A9/2026/02/02/%D8%A5%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A9-%D8%AD%D8%B1%D8%AC%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AC%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A5%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82-%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D9%82%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D8%A8%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%86) in [I'billin]([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yarka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%27billin)), in the Galilee, bringing the total number of Palestinians killed in crime-related incidents to 27 so far this year. #arabic - [Gun violence is a systemic problem](https://abrahaminitiatives.org/victims-of-violence-and-crime-in-arab-society-in-2024/) within the '48 Palestinian community, perpetuated by institutional neglect. - Last Saturday (January 31st), Palestinian citizens of Israel [organized a large demonstration in Tel Aviv](https://www.timesofisrael.com/arab-jewish-protesters-turn-out-in-record-numbers-for-tel-aviv-anti-crime-protest/), protesting the wave of crime-related shootings within the '48 community; tens of thousands attended, including many Jewish citizens. - 2026-02-03 - With [yet another victim](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%A9/2026/02/03/%D8%B9%D8%A8%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%85%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%84-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF-%D9%82%D8%B3%D9%88%D9%85-%D8%A8%D8%AC%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%85%D8%A9-%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%D9%86%D8%B2%D9%84%D9%87), killings are now occurring on a nearly daily basis. #arabic - 2026-02-03 - At the same time, Palestinian citizens [are mounting near-daily demonstrations](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%A9/2026/02/03/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B2%D8%B1%D8%B9%D8%A9-%D9%85%D8%B8%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%85%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B7%D8%A4-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%B1%D8%B7%D8%A9), [meetings](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%A9/2026/02/03/%D8%B9%D8%A8%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%AA%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%86-%D8%A5%D8%B6%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%84%D8%A7-%D8%BA%D8%AF%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%A7-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%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) and other actions - a level of mobilization not seen for years. #arabic --- ##### Israel: - 2026-02-02 - PM Benjamin Netanyahu [pushes](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-politics/2026-02-02/ty-article/.premium/netanyahu-requests-appointment-of-criminal-suspect-to-head-his-office/0000019c-1adf-dd2c-a39d-daff9d470000) for the appointment of Drorit Steinmetz as director general of the Prime Minister's Office, even though she is a suspect in an active criminal investigation. - 2026-02-03 - Bezalel Zini, brother of the newly-appointed Shin Bet (Israel's internal security agency) chief David Zini, [is charged with](https://www.haaretz.com/gaza/2026-02-03/ty-article/.premium/brother-of-shin-bet-chief-to-be-charged-with-smuggling-goods-into-gaza/0000019c-23de-ddd1-a59c-73df8e050000) smuggling cigarettes worth hundreds of thousands of shekels into the Gaza Strip. - 2026-02-04 - [12 people, including Israeli soldiers](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-security/2026-02-04/ty-article/.premium/12-people-including-idf-soldiers-charged-with-smuggling-goods-worth-millions-into-gaza/0000019c-28a9-db08-abdd-6babcb430000), indicted for smuggling goods into Gaza. --- ##### MENA + geopolitical: - 2026-02-02 - In Pakistan, [Baloch separatists launched a wave of attacks over the weekend]([https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/31/suspected-separatists-kill-8-pakistani-policemen-in-coordinated-attacks](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/2/pakistani-forces-kill-145-fighters-in-balochistan-after-deadly-attacks)), killing at least 31 civilians, including five women, and 17 security personnel dead. Today, Pakistani security forces launched a counteroffensive, killing at least 145 fighters in Balochistan province. #pakistan #balochistan - [Here's an explainer](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/3/why-peace-remains-elusive-in-pakistans-troubled-balochistan) with useful background info. Worth checking out. - 2026-02-03 - [Egypt is ending a decades-old rent protection policy](https://newlinesmag.com/spotlight/the-end-of-rent-controls-promises-disruption-in-cairo/), on which millions depend, including many retired senior citizens. #egypt - 2026-02-03 - [Saudi Arabia is consolidating its gains](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/elite-yemeni-fighters-swap-allegiances-uae-saudi-arabia) over the United Arab Emirates in Yemen. #saudi #yemen #UAE - 2026-02-03 - The details of Iran's crackdown against protests coming to light: The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) [said it had counted at least 50,235 arrests](https://www.newarab.com/news/gaza-just-12-palestinians-cross-rafah-first-day-reopening?blockId=block_70901). #iran - 2026-02-03 - Eight civilians, including three children, [were killed in an RSF drone](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2631584/middle-east) attack on the Sudanese city of Kadugli, hours after the city was captured by army forces. - The city had been under siege for much of Sudan’s three-year civil war. - 2026-02-04 - On [the widening rift](https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/media-digital-war-reveals-full-scale-uae-saudi-rift) between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. "The Saudi-UAE partnership that once anchored the post-Arab Spring order is fractured", the author argues, "perhaps beyond repair". #analysis #UAE #saudi - 2026-02-05 - [According to a new report](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/5/israeli-air-attacks-on-lebanon-reach-highest-level-since-ceasefire-report) from the Norwegian Refugee Council, Israel conducted more than 50 attacks on Lebanon last month - double the number of the previous month. #lebanon - 2026-02-05 - Strong rains, large-scale flooding [have displaced at least 143,000](https://en.hespress.com/130946-live-tracker-morocco-flood-risks-key-numbers-key-systems-and-timeline-of-events.html) people in Morocco. #morocco - 2026-02-06 - [Turkey signs $350 million arms deal with Egypt](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-signs-350m-arms-deal-egypt). #turkey #egypt displace