Middle East Crisis

West Bank
Israel Fences Off Town: “Has Become a Huge Prison”

A five-meter-high fence now runs along the eastern part of the West Bank town of Sinjil, Reuters reports. Barriers and checkpoints have long been part of everyday life for the three million Palestinians who live in the Israeli-occupied territory, but many feel that towns have been placed more or less under permanent siege as the Gaza war develops, the news agency writes. The fence in Sinjil is seen as an example of this.

“Sinjil is now a huge prison,” says father of seven Mousa Shabaneh.

Israel has erected the fence right through the nursery that was previously his livelihood. According to the military, it was built to prevent stone-throwing on the nearby highway.

Gaza War
Hamas' announcement of ceasefire expected within 24 hours

Israel has intensified its offensive in Gaza while an announcement of a ceasefire is expected, The Guardian reports. The attacks in recent days have been the most intense in months, according to the British newspaper. Around 90 people were reported to have been killed yesterday and overnight, according to medical personnel. The death toll from the previous 24 hours is expected to be even higher.

The terrorist group Hamas is expected to announce its position on the proposal for a 60-day ceasefire later today. According to US President Donald Trump, the announcement will come within the next 24 hours, Reuters writes on Friday morning.

Trump has previously stated that Israel has given the green light to the proposal. Hamas's position has not been officially communicated, but according to media reports it is leaning towards a yes, writes the Jerusalem Post. 

UN: At least 600 killed since GHF took over

At least 613 people have been killed near distribution points for emergency aid in Gaza since the organization GHF took over large parts of the distribution at the end of May, the UN human rights agency says according to AP.

The figure is in line with what Gaza's health ministry has previously stated. The ministry is part of the Hamas-led government, but is staffed by professionals who, like the UN, keep detailed records based on data from hospitals and rescue operations.

The UN human rights body has not determined who or what can be held responsible for the deaths, or how many of them occurred in connection with the food lines. But according to spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani, it is clear that the Israeli military has fired on Palestinians who tried to get to the GHF distribution points.

The Israeli military has not commented on the death toll.

Ex-guard testifies to bloodbath: They shot at the food lines

Since the Israeli- and US-backed organization GHF took over large parts of the food distribution in the war-torn area, there have been continuous reports of shootings and deaths in connection with the distributions. One of the group's former employees told the BBC that he repeatedly saw his colleagues firing machine guns at unarmed Palestinians in the food lines.

On one occasion, a guard from a watchtower fired at a group of women and children who were moving too slowly away from the distribution site, he says. GHF disputes the allegations and claims that no civilians were shot at at its relief stations.

At the same time, the World Health Organization (WHO) states that the Nasser Hospital in Gaza has become "one large trauma care unit" due to the influx of casualties caused by unsafe relief distributions, writes Reuters.

Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) - the case

• The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), supported by Israel and the United States, has been responsible for food distribution in southern Gaza since the end of May 2025.
• The UN and humanitarian organizations have criticized the GHF for a lack of neutrality and for being run without Palestinian involvement.
• Several fatal incidents have occurred at GHF distribution sites, where Israeli forces have shot at people seeking emergency aid.
• The Israel Defense Forces have denied firing at civilians at GHF centers, while numerous witness accounts suggest otherwise.