Epal European Palestinian Media Center Bulletin, Issue No. 2344, Date: Tuesday, February 3, 2026

1. Gaza Health Ministry: 5 martyrs in 24 hours, death toll rises to 71,800

The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip reported that five Palestinian martyrs arrived at hospitals in the sector over the past 24 hours, including two whose bodies were recovered, in addition to four injured people.
The ministry stated that the total number of martyrs and injured since the start of the genocidal war on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, has risen to 71,800 martyrs and 171,555 injured.

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**2. Gaza Health Ministry activates identification unit to determine identities of 15 unidentified martyrs**

The Special Committee for Missing Persons and Unidentified Bodies at the Gaza Ministry of Health announced the activation of the identification unit for the bodies of 15 martyrs received from the Israeli occupation on January 30.
In a statement, the committee said the activation aims to verify the martyrs’ identities in preparation for completing legal procedures and burying them with dignity.
The committee noted that identification appointments will continue for three days, starting tomorrow Tuesday through Thursday, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

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**3. Death of freed prisoner Khaled Al-Saifi one week after his release in Bethlehem**

Freed prisoner Khaled Al-Saifi was martyred in the city of Bethlehem, south of the West Bank, just one week after his release from Israeli occupation prisons, following a severe deterioration in his health condition.
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Club reported that Al-Saifi was released from Ramleh Prison Clinic on January 25, 2026, in an extremely critical health condition, suffering from severe pulmonary fibrosis, unable to walk, and in need of intensive medical care.

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**4. Occupation government plans the largest settlement expansion in the West Bank in decades**

An Israeli report revealed a government trend toward implementing the largest settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank in decades, aiming to impose permanent facts on the ground and undermine any possibility of establishing an independent Palestinian state.
Channel 7 reported that Israeli Minister of Defense Israel Katz announced the immediate start of procedures to legalize around 140 settlement outposts previously classified as illegal, even under Israeli law.

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**5. Director of Al-Shifa Medical Complex: Allowing only 50 patients to leave daily is a “death sentence”; 20,000 patients need travel**

Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza, warned of the catastrophic health conditions in the sector, stressing that about 20,000 patients urgently need treatment outside Gaza under what he described as “very difficult and highly complicated” exit mechanisms imposed by the Israeli occupation.
In a statement, Dr. Abu Salmiya welcomed the opening of the Rafah crossing for patients and wounded people, noting that Gaza residents are awaiting this “eagerly.” However, he said the current mechanism allowing only 50 patients to leave daily is “extremely difficult” and would take “years” to evacuate all cases in need.
He revealed alarming figures: among those needing treatment abroad are 4,500 children, 4,500 cancer patients, and 450 extremely critical cases that cannot tolerate delay. He added that Gaza has lost more than 1,300 patients who were waiting for treatment abroad due to the lack of medical capabilities inside the Strip.

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**6. Occupation forces uproot around 200 grapevine trees in Al-Khader, south of Bethlehem**

Israeli occupation forces uprooted around 200 old grapevine trees in the town of Al-Khader, south of Bethlehem.
Deputy Mayor of Al-Khader, Hosni Issa, said occupation bulldozers leveled land in the “Umm Rukba” area south of the town, resulting in the uprooting of 200 trees belonging to citizens Mohammed Gharib and Hassan Salah, who had previously been notified that their land would be confiscated for colonial purposes.
Issa noted an escalation in recent occupation attacks in Umm Rukba, including home demolitions, stop-work orders, demolition of agricultural rooms, and land leveling, as part of systematic settlement policies in the area.

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**7. Occupation targets a mourning house in Al-Nuseirat, Gaza**

Continued violations of the ceasefire: martyrs and injured reported after Israeli occupation forces shelled the vicinity of a home where a mourning gathering was being held in Al-Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip.

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**8. Occupation issues demolition orders for 14 homes in Al-Bustan neighborhood south of Al-Aqsa Mosque**

Israeli authorities issued demolition orders for 14 homes in the Al-Bustan neighborhood of Silwan, south of Al-Aqsa Mosque, claiming construction without permits and aiming to establish “biblical gardens,” according to the Jerusalem Governorate of the Palestinian Authority.
The governorate described this as a new escalation added to a systematic policy targeting Palestinian presence in one of the most sensitive and strategic areas surrounding Al-Aqsa. It explained that the threatened homes shelter Jerusalemite families and are targeted as part of an Israeli plan to convert neighborhood land into so-called biblical gardens, in blatant violation of property and housing rights.
The decision threatens the fate of around 120 Jerusalem residents, amid ongoing policies of domination affecting lands and homes that have existed for decades, whose owners have paid tens of thousands of dollars in fines imposed by the occupation municipality.

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**9. Settlement provocation in the archaeological site of Tarsala, Jenin**

Attempts to revive a settlement evacuated in 2005: settlers dance and celebrate provocatively inside a newly established settlement outpost in the archaeological area of Tarsala, south of Jenin city in the occupied West Bank.

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**European**

**10. European campaign raises over €35,000 in support of Gaza**

The humanitarian initiative “Unity4Gaza” announced the success of its latest donation campaign held during the “Esperanzah!” cultural festival, with total donations exceeding €35,000, fully allocated to support affected families in the Gaza Strip.
“Esperanzah!” is an annual cultural-music festival held in Belgium, known for its humanitarian and solidarity character, combining artistic performances with awareness activities and serving as a platform supporting social justice and people’s rights, especially the Palestinian cause.
The announcement was made during an official speech by initiative representatives at the festival, where they reviewed the initiative’s goals after completing its 30th week of continuous relief and awareness work.
It is noted that events using the name “Esperanzah!” on January 31, 2026, in Anderlecht were local gatherings linked to the festival or solidarity activities, not the main annual edition, which will take place in summer 2026.

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**11. Norwegian vigil calls for the release of Palestinian prisoners**

A notable protest vigil took place in Oslo, organized by activists within the “Red Ribbons” campaign, aiming to highlight the suffering of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.
The event included a powerful visual simulation, with participants lying on the ground in a public place wearing clothing symbolizing prisoners, handcuffed and blindfolded, alongside large banners in English calling for the “liberation of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli detention camps.”

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**12. Francesca Albanese: Enough normalization of the illegal occupation—justice time has come**

The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, affirmed that the time has come to end the normalization of the illegal occupation through submission to Israel’s dictates, stressing that justice and accountability are no longer optional but an urgent necessity amid ongoing violations.
She stated that Israel, as an occupying power, has no legal right to prevent anyone from entering the Palestinian territories it occupies, considering such restrictions a clear violation of international humanitarian law and freedom of movement.
She added that policies of banning entry, expulsion, and targeting activists and international officials aim to silence critical voices and prevent documentation of violations on the ground.
Albanese emphasized that Israel’s continued impunity has encouraged further escalation of violations, calling on the international community and UN member states to uphold their legal and moral responsibilities, halt practices that sustain the occupation or provide it with political and diplomatic cover, and ensure unrestricted access for UN mechanisms to document facts and achieve justice for Palestinian victims.

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**13. Massive demonstration in Spain in solidarity with the Palestinian people**

“We demand that the government cut relations with Israel” — demonstrations in Spain in solidarity with the Palestinian people.

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**International**

**14. Activist in Hamburg shows solidarity with Palestinian prisoners**

Solidarity activities were held in Hamburg in support of Palestinian prisoners, with an activist raising her voice in support of detainees held in occupation prisons. The event stressed the need for the immediate release of prisoners and highlighting their daily suffering as part of an ongoing international campaign in solidarity with the Palestinian people and in defense of their rights.

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**15. Cornell students denounce hosting an Israeli soldier at a university event**

The pro-occupation organization “Cornellians for Israel” (CFI) is scheduled to host former Israeli army soldier Sam Fried as a guest speaker.
The organization said Fried will share “first-hand experiences from his service” and highlight his “efforts to promote peace, combat antisemitism, and reshape narratives surrounding Israel and the Israeli Defense Forces.”
Fried served as a paratrooper from 2020 to 2022 and participated in the genocidal war as a squad commander and sniper until February 2024.
His appearance has sparked widespread condemnation on campus. Adriana Fink, co-president of “Students for Justice in Palestine” at Cornell University, said the event is “laughable” and aims to “convince people not to care and to portray Israel as innocent of war crimes, genocide, or apartheid.”

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**16. Occupation prevents international trade union delegation from entering Palestine to document violations against workers**

Israeli occupation authorities prevented an international trade union delegation from entering Palestinian territories, where it intended to document violations against Palestinian workers.
Shaher Saad, Secretary-General of the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions, explained that the occupation denied entry to a delegation of the International Federation of Building and Wood Workers, consisting of nine international union leaders headed by General Secretary Ambet Yuson.
He confirmed that the federation’s leaders—representing around 30 million workers worldwide—were detained for ten consecutive hours at King Hussein Bridge before being denied entry to Palestine.

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**17. Israel halts Médecins Sans Frontières activities in Gaza, gives one month to leave**

Israel decided to halt the activities of Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) in the Gaza Strip and gave the organization until February 28 to leave, citing its refusal to provide staff lists to Tel Aviv.
The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs stated that MSF refused to submit lists of its local (Palestinian) employees, allegedly violating mandatory procedures applied to all humanitarian organizations. MSF, however, said its refusal stems from the lack of guarantees for staff safety and operational independence.
The ministry claimed the measures aim to enable legitimate relief work while preventing the misuse of humanitarian cover for hostile or terrorist purposes, asserting that the lists are for internal use only. Nevertheless, MSF decided not to share the names of its Palestinian and international staff with Israeli authorities in order to protect their safety.