Statistics for the month of the ceasefire in Gaza
A month has passed since the ceasefire was implemented in Gaza. During this time:
- As a result of ongoing attacks from Israel, at least 241 Palestinians have died, and 619 have been injured.
- HAMAS conducted an exchange and returned all 20 remaining live prisoners, as well as the bodies of 24 out of 28 deceased.
- Israel released about 2000 Palestinians, among whom 250 were political prisoners serving long sentences, and 1718 were forcibly disappeared according to UN data.
- During the exchanges, Israeli authorities handed over 15 bodies for each deceased Israeli. Palestinian officials noted difficulties in identification due to the condition of the bodies and lack of equipment.
Attack on journalists by Israeli settlers in the West Bank
Reuters photojournalist Ranin Sawafta reported an attack on her when settlers assaulted a group of journalists covering an olive harvest. She noted that the attack occurred in areas not protected by her press vest.
“We were running through hilly terrain, and I was hit in exposed areas,” she reported. “Even the security guard tried to intervene, shouting, ‘Please stop!’”
The incident occurred near the Palestinian village of Beita, where settlers armed with sticks and stones attacked local residents and journalists. Among the injured were Reuters staff.
Al Jazeera cameraman Loay Al-Said also faced danger when he was pursued by masked individuals.
“Every time I looked back, I saw someone trying to catch me… They were tall, big, and very organized,” he added.
Press freedom advocates claim that such attacks indicate increasing pressure on journalists documenting human rights violations in the occupied territories.
Palestinian olive trees threatened by actions of Israeli settlers
Last Sunday, Israeli settlers set fire to dozens of olive trees in the village of Majdal Bani Fadil, located south of Nablus. Village council head Rami Nassar reported that the attack occurred amid the locals' inability to extinguish the fire due to aggression from the settlers.
The fire engulfed a significant area south of the village, and this incident occurred just days after the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs noted an increase in violence from settlers during the harvest season.
According to the office, about 150 attacks have been recorded, resulting in approximately 140 Palestinians injured and over 4200 trees damaged.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) condemned the attacks on Palestinians and journalists that occurred during the olive harvest, pointing to systemic issues and the impunity of Israeli actions.
In its statement, CAIR called on the U.S. government to hold accountable those responsible for such actions, including the possibility of imposing sanctions on Israeli settlers, emphasizing that settler violence threatens both Palestinians and those documenting the consequences of the occupation.
