Recent developments include continued violence in the West Bank, where a Palestinian American was killed by Israeli settlers, drawing condemnation from Israeli officials. In Gaza, unexploded ordnance poses an ongoing threat, while discussions continue regarding the deployment of an international stabilization force and the disarmament of Hamas, with differing conditions set by various parties. Humanitarian aid delivery remains a critical concern, and UN human rights reports have raised accusations of war crimes and concerns about demographic shifts.
West Bank Incidents and Official Condemnations
Recent attacks by Jewish settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank have drawn condemnation from Israeli officials. President Isaac Herzog described the attacks as "shocking and serious," stating that violence by a "handful" of individuals "crosses a red line" and called for state authorities to act to eradicate the phenomenon.
The Israeli army's Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir, stated the military "will not tolerate the phenomena of a minority of criminals," affirming commitment to halting acts he described as contrary to Israeli values and disruptive to military operations. Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, chief of the military's Central Command, added that addressing an "anarchist fringe" diverts resources from security efforts.
On Tuesday, masked Israeli settlers reportedly attacked the Palestinian villages of Beit Lid and Deir Sharaf, setting vehicles and property on fire, which led to clashes with Israeli soldiers. The army reported that settlers fled to an industrial zone, where they attacked soldiers and damaged a military vehicle. Police reported the arrest of four Israelis in connection with the incidents; three suspects were later released, while one minor remained in custody on suspicion of arson and assault. The military confirmed four Palestinians were wounded.
On Wednesday, Nasrallah Abu Siyam, a 19-year-old Palestinian American, was reportedly shot and killed by Israeli settlers in the West Bank village of Mukhmas. A witness, Raed Abu Ali, stated that a group of settlers attacked a farmer, leading to clashes with residents before Israeli forces arrived. Abu Ali reported that armed settlers fired live bullets. The Israeli military stated it used "riot dispersal methods" after reports of rock-throwing but denied its forces fired during the clashes. Abu Siyam's mother confirmed his American citizenship.
A U.S. embassy spokesperson condemned the violence.
The U.N. humanitarian office reported over 260 Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank in October, marking the highest monthly total since data collection began in 2006. These incidents have intensified since the conflict in Gaza began two years prior, notably during the recent olive harvest season. Palestinian officials and human rights organizations have asserted that Israeli authorities do not effectively prevent these attacks or prosecute settlers for violence. According to the Israeli rights group B'Tselem, approximately 45 Palestinian communities have been entirely emptied since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict due to Israeli demolition orders and settler attacks.
Unexploded Ordnance and Clearance Challenges in Gaza
Unexploded ordnance (UXO) is reported to be widespread in Gaza. The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) estimates that between 5% and 10% of weapons deployed in Gaza over the past two years failed to detonate. This has resulted in at least 328 fatalities from UXO, with 24 occurring since the ceasefire began on October 10.
Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for Civil Defense in Gaza, confirmed daily reports of unexploded bombs found in various locations, estimating the presence of tens of thousands of tons of UXO. Basal also reported that 90% of the Civil Defense's bomb disposal specialists have been killed.
Nick Orr, chief of operations for the nonprofit Humanity and Inclusion in Gaza, highlighted significant challenges in UXO clearance due to the dense population, noting that standard safety protocols, such as establishing 800-meter cordons for bomb disposal, are currently impractical.
Clearing surface-level UXO in Gaza could take 20 to 30 years, with residual discoveries potentially continuing for two to three generations.
He stated that effective clearance requires an internal security force to manage civilian evacuations, which is currently absent.
An unnamed high-ranking official within Gaza's interior ministry claimed that under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire plan, unexploded bombs are being addressed as part of Hamas disarmament efforts, citing Hamas's alleged recycling of such items for use against Israel. The official also claimed that Israel's military targets Gaza civilians attempting to handle unexploded bombs. An Israeli military spokesperson provided "no comment" regarding this claim.
Two children, 8-year-old Joud Ahmad Al Angar and 12-year-old Zain Nour, sustained injuries after an item they found in rubble exploded near their tent in Gaza City. They are awaiting further surgical procedures to remove remaining shrapnel. Following their injuries, the children expressed reluctance to scavenge near bombed-out structures.
International Force and Disarmament Debates for Gaza
The viability of the U.S.-backed ceasefire is linked to two subsequent phases: the deployment of an international force in Gaza and the disarmament of Hamas. The U.S. objective of deploying international forces by early 2026 faces obstacles as countries discuss implementation specifics.
A U.S. State Department document outlines a concept for international troops that includes "supporting the demilitarization of Gaza, dismantling terrorist infrastructure" and "decommissioning weapons used by terrorists." However, multiple countries have indicated they will not contribute troops for direct confrontation with Hamas over its weaponry.
The United Nations Security Council authorized international troops to operate in Gaza until the end of 2027, though their specific mandate remains undefined.
Representatives from numerous countries convened in Doha, Qatar, to discuss plans for an International Stabilization Force (ISF). A U.S. official confirmed it was a planning meeting, with no formal troop commitments made yet. Countries reportedly considered for troop contributions include Italy, Egypt, Indonesia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey.
Turkey's Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, stated that Turkey could "play a leading role" in deploying troops, specifying they should serve as peacekeepers along a border zone between Hamas-controlled areas and Israel, rather than participating in disarming Hamas. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty conveyed that, from Egypt's perspective, the ISF's mandate should be "peacekeeping, rather than peace enforcing," advocating for rapid deployment as monitors. Both ministers cited Israeli military actions during the ceasefire. Israel, conversely, maintains that Hamas is violating the ceasefire by attempting to reconstitute its fighting capabilities.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed skepticism regarding an international force's capacity to achieve what Israel views as the primary objective: disarming Hamas. Israel has voiced objections to Turkey's involvement in the ISF, perceiving Turkey as an adversary with sympathies for Hamas, and has stated it will not withdraw its troops from Gaza until the territory is demilitarized. Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari noted disagreements among countries concerning the timing of these steps, encouraging concurrent actions towards Hamas's disarmament and Israeli troop withdrawal.
Bassem Naim, a Hamas negotiator, stated Hamas is open to disarmament under specific conditions. He indicated willingness for a ceasefire lasting "five, seven, 10 years," during which Hamas could be willing to store and decommission weapons, provided Gaza is not subjected to attacks. Naim emphasized that disarmament "have to be connected to a serious political track, which has to end with a Palestinian state."
Hamas would welcome the ISF as a peacekeeping force, provided it functions as a buffer between Israeli forces and Palestinians and is not deployed within Palestinian population centers.
Another senior Hamas leader, Hossam Badran, stated Hamas prefers to engage with mediators to understand disarmament specifics and desires it to occur concurrently with the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the opening of Gaza's Rafah border.
Humanitarian Situation and Aid Challenges in Gaza
Mediators Egypt and Qatar report that Israel is not permitting the agreed-upon quantity or types of aid into Gaza, despite Israel's claims of allowing hundreds of trucks of goods daily. The U.N. reports that approximately a quarter of families in Gaza consume only one meal per day, and essential medicines, such as antibiotics, remain largely unavailable.
UNICEF noted that the demand for baby formula exceeds current supply and expressed concerns about potential shortages of syringes for a vaccination campaign.
The Israeli agency COGAT affirmed Israel's commitment to facilitating humanitarian aid.
Israeli military actions have caused extensive damage in Gaza, with the U.N. estimating that over 90% of homes have been destroyed or damaged.
Aid organizations, including the Norwegian Refugee Council and Medical Aid for Palestinians, state that Israel continues to restrict aid vital for survival during winter conditions.
Recent severe storms in Gaza have resulted in flooding and damage to tarpaulin shelters and tents, leading to reports of severe cold conditions. The Gaza Health Ministry reported that at least two infants died from the cold during the storm, and at least 11 others were killed due to a house collapse. The ministry indicates a need for mobile homes in Gaza, not just more tents.
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) estimated that removing the rubble across Gaza would require at least seven years, with only 0.5% removed so far. UNDP representative Alexander De Croo described living conditions in Gaza as "the worst I have ever seen," noting that 90% of Gaza's 2.2 million people live in "very, very rudimentary tents" amidst rubble, which presents health and explosive weapon dangers. The UNDP has constructed 500 temporary housing units and has 4,000 more available, but estimates the total need to be between 200,000 and 300,000 units.
Living conditions in Gaza are described as "the worst I have ever seen," with an estimated need for 200,000 to 300,000 temporary housing units.
De Croo called on Israel to increase access for necessary reconstruction materials.
UN Human Rights and Journalists' Reports
The U.N. human rights office accused Israel of war crimes on Thursday, stating that practices displacing Palestinians and altering the demographic composition of the occupied West Bank raise "concerns over ethnic cleansing." Findings collected from November 2024 to October 2025 indicated a "concerted and accelerating effort to consolidate annexation" and a system "to maintain oppression and domination of Palestinians." The office also reported that Israeli military operations in the northern West Bank used "means and methods designed for warfare," including lethal airstrikes and forced transfers of civilians.
The report also accused Palestinian security forces of using unnecessary lethal force, resulting in at least eight deaths, and noted that the Palestinian Authority engaged in "intimidation, detention and ill-treatment of journalists, human rights defenders and other individuals deemed critical of its rule."
Neither Israel's Foreign Ministry nor the Palestinian Authority provided comments on the report.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) documented that dozens of Palestinian journalists detained in Israel during the Gaza conflict experienced conditions including physical assaults, forced stress positions, sensory deprivation, sexual violence, and medical neglect. CPJ recorded the detention of at least 94 Palestinian journalists and one media worker, with thirty still in custody. Half of these journalists were reportedly held under Israel's administrative detention system without charges. Israel's prison services did not respond to a request for comment regarding this report, having previously rejected a similar report as "false allegations."