Hamas on Monday considered Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich's statement that Tel Aviv would not allow "a single grain of wheat" into the Gaza Strip "an explicit declaration of a starvation policy against more than two million Palestinians in the Strip."

Hamas said in a statement that Smotrich's statement "represents an explicit declaration by the extremist occupation government to impose a policy of starvation on more than two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, in a full-fledged war crime being committed before the eyes and ears of the world."

Commenting on a Hebrew press report claiming that the Israeli military was preparing to resume aid deliveries to Gaza even without a prisoner exchange agreement, Smotrich acknowledged earlier Monday that Tel Aviv was using starvation as a weapon against the Palestinians, asserting, "Not even a single grain of wheat will enter the Gaza Strip."

Hamas added in its statement, "This is accompanied by brutal crimes and behavior that reflect the official directions announced by the occupation government, the latest of which was the bombing of a food distribution center for displaced people in Khan Yunis, which resulted in the deaths of seven of them, in a new crime added to the series of massacres against innocent civilians."

She said, "This statement comes more than a month after the Gaza Strip was completely closed to all basic supplies, including food, water, medicine, fuel, and medical supplies, while the occupying army continues to commit daily massacres against defenseless civilians, whether in residential neighborhoods, tents, hospitals, or displacement centers."

On March 2, Israel closed the Gaza Strip's crossings to all vital supplies, preventing the entry of humanitarian, relief, and medical aid into the Strip. This has led to an unprecedented deterioration in the humanitarian situation, according to local government and human rights reports.

In its statement, Hamas called on the leaders of Arab and Islamic countries, the United Nations, and its agencies to "take serious steps to halt the starvation and blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip, activate international accountability mechanisms, and prosecute the criminal occupation leaders who openly commit blatant violations of international law day and night."

She stressed the need to heed the warnings of international humanitarian organizations, most notably the joint statement by six UN agencies, "which warned of an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe facing the population of the Gaza Strip, who are facing bombardment and starvation, and emphasized the need to deliver humanitarian aid into the Strip immediately."

Earlier on Monday, the Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the Israeli military was preparing "within weeks" to resume allowing aid into Gaza even without a prisoner exchange agreement with Hamas. This is due to fears that leaders could face legal action for genocide against Palestinians.

Smotrich commented: "If this is true, it is surprising that the Israeli army is speaking to us through the press, and not even a single grain of wheat will enter the Strip."

The Israeli occupation army responded to the report in a statement, saying that it "operates in accordance with the instructions of the political echelon," adding, "Israel does not and will not transfer any type of aid to Hamas."

In early March, the first phase of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement between Hamas and Israel concluded. The agreement, which took effect on January 19, 2025, was brokered by Egypt and Qatar and supported by the United States.

While Hamas has adhered to the terms of the first phase, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court, has reneged on the start of the second phase in deference to extremists in his ruling coalition, according to Hebrew media.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates welcomed the tripartite summit held in Cairo at the invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, with the participation of Jordanian King Abdullah II and French President Emmanuel Macron. The summit discussed the dangerous developments facing the Palestinian cause, particularly the genocidal war being waged in the Gaza Strip.

The Ministry commended the outcomes of the summit and the positions taken at the press conference, which called for an end to the war of genocide and displacement, an immediate ceasefire, the opening of the crossings, and the resumption of sustainable aid flows to our people in the Gaza Strip. The Ministry emphasized the danger of continued Israeli aggression to regional stability and the need to work towards a political horizon to resolve the conflict based on the principle of a two-state solution.

The Foreign Ministry said in its statement: “While we appreciate the positions of the two sister countries, Egypt and Jordan, and the friendly country, France, in adopting and supporting the outcomes of the recent Arab Summit and the Arab Palestinian Reconstruction Plan, rejecting the displacement and annexation plans in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem, condemning the resumption of the brutal Israeli bombing, and calling for enabling the institutions of the State of Palestine to carry out their duties in the Gaza Strip and unify the Palestinian geography, we affirm our full support for the French-Saudi efforts aimed at organizing a UN conference on the two-state solution next June, and the reconstruction conference in Cairo.”

The Ministry also welcomed the upcoming field visit by the Egyptian and French presidents to the city of Arish, near Rafah, stressing the importance of opening the crossings and allowing the entry of humanitarian aid.

At the conclusion of its statement, the Foreign Ministry called on France to translate these positions into collective or individual European recognition of the State of Palestine and to support Palestinian and Arab efforts to achieve full membership for the State of Palestine in the United Nations.

US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the United States has begun direct talks with Iran regarding its nuclear program, noting that these talks will continue next Saturday.

Trump emphasized that reaching an agreement with Iran is a favorable option for everyone, saying, "We are having direct talks with Iran, and they have begun. They will continue on Saturday. We have a very important meeting, and we will see what happens. I think everyone agrees that reaching an agreement would be better."

Netanyahu said that if there is a diplomatic solution with Iran to end its nuclear efforts, that would be a good thing.

He added that he spoke with Trump about Gaza and Syria, noting that they discussed ways to avoid conflict in the region.

Netanyahu, who is visiting the White House today for the second time since President Trump's inauguration, added, "We don't want Türkiye to exploit the situation in Syria," stressing that work on another agreement is continuing.

Trump also announced that the Gaza war would end "in the near future." He said, "I would like to see the war end, and I think it will end sometime, not in the distant future. We have a hostage problem right now. We're trying to get them released... It's a long process. It shouldn't be too long."

Speaking to reporters after meeting with US President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was working on a new deal for the release of hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza. "We hope it will succeed," he said.

Netanyahu affirmed their commitment to releasing all hostages and eliminating Hamas in Gaza.

He added that he also spoke with Trump about the US president's plan to transfer displaced Palestinians from Gaza during its reconstruction, which Netanyahu described as a "bold" vision, claiming that many Israelis are willing to accept Gazans.

Six UN agencies have confirmed that what is happening in the Gaza Strip constitutes "warfare with complete disregard for human life."

This came in a joint statement on Monday by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP), the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

In a joint statement, the six UN agencies explained that the new Israeli "evacuation orders" have once again displaced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, and that there is no longer a safe place for people to seek refuge.

The statement added that at least 408 humanitarian workers have lost their lives since October 2023, including 280 UNRWA staff.

The statement continued: "We are witnessing acts of war in Gaza that demonstrate a complete disregard for human life."

The statement called on world leaders to take urgent, decisive, and effective action to ensure the implementation of the principles of international humanitarian law.

The organizations also called for the protection of civilians, the release of prisoners, the provision of aid, and the re-establishment of a ceasefire.

On March 1, the first phase of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement between Hamas and Israel, which had been in effect since January 19, ended. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disavowed the start of the second phase.

Since resuming its genocide in Gaza on March 18, 2025, Israel has killed 1,391 Palestinians and injured 3,434 others, most of them children and women, as of Sunday morning, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.

With full American support, Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza since October 7, 2023, leaving more than 166,000 Palestinians dead and wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 11,000 missing.

A young man was shot by Israeli occupation forces on Monday evening in the village of Shuqba, west of Ramallah.

According to local sources, Israeli occupation forces stormed the village, raided a house, positioned snipers on its roof, and fired live and rubber-coated metal bullets at residents. A young man was injured in the leg by live bullets, and was taken to hospital for treatment.

The White House announced the cancellation of a joint press conference scheduled for today between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, DC.

He added in a statement on Monday that the joint press conference scheduled for President Trump for today "will not take place," and instead the two sides will answer journalists' questions inside the Oval Office.

The White House did not provide any explanation for the cancellation of the joint press conference between Trump and Netanyahu.

On Sunday, Netanyahu traveled from Hungary to the United States to meet with Trump.

Four citizens, including an elderly woman and a child, were injured on Monday in an attack carried out by settlers in the village of Umm al-Khair in the Masafer Yatta area, south of Hebron, in the southern West Bank.

According to local sources, settlers from the Karmiel settlement and the Shimon outpost, built on private land in Masafer Yatta, attacked village residents while they were in their homes and lands, using clubs and stones, under the protection of occupation soldiers.

He explained that the attack resulted in injuries to young man Alaa Shaib Al-Hathalin, child Rashid Al-Hathalin, elderly woman Khadra Al-Hathalin, and another woman whose identity has not yet been determined. They were all transported to the hospital by Red Crescent crews for treatment, and their injuries were described as ranging from moderate to minor.

It should be noted that the village of Umm al-Khair is frequently subjected to attacks by settlers, as part of attempts to displace the indigenous population and expand the settlements built on their lands.

The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate condemned the heinous massacre committed by the occupation forces at dawn on Monday, targeting a tent designated for journalists near Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip. This resulted in the martyrdom of journalists Ahmed Mansour and Hilmi Al-Faqawi, and the serious injury of journalists Ahmed Al-Agha, Mahmoud Awad, Mohammed Fayeq, Abdullah Al-Attar, Majed Qudaih, and Ihab Al-Bardini.

The Syndicate clarified, in a statement issued by the Freedoms Committee, that with the deaths of Mansour and Al-Faqawi, the number of journalists killed since the beginning of the Israeli aggression on October 7, 2023, has risen to 209, according to what the committee documented.

The statement noted that last March witnessed a dangerous escalation against journalists, with seven journalists killed in the Gaza Strip, including six during field coverage and one inside his home. Eight members of journalists' families were also killed in direct attacks on their journalist children.

In occupied Jerusalem, the Syndicate documented 11 summonses for investigation against journalists, in addition to 11 bans issued against journalists from the vicinity of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Old City, as part of a systematic policy of restrictions aimed at preventing press coverage of Israeli violations.

The report indicated that violations during March included approximately 102 crimes and attacks against journalists and media personnel in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, including 40 cases of detention and denial of coverage, 12 cases of direct shooting resulting in two injuries, and 7 cases of arrest, some of which were released, while others remain in detention.

The statement also documented seven cases of physical assault, the destruction of three homes belonging to journalists, raids on their homes, confiscation of their equipment, the imposition of house arrest on some, and the banning of newspapers from entering Jerusalem, in addition to repeated incitement and threats.

At the end of its statement, the Syndicate affirmed its continued efforts, along with international human rights and trade union organizations, to ensure the protection of Palestinian journalists, hold the occupation accountable for its crimes, and ensure that perpetrators do not escape punishment.

In a remarkable diplomatic incident, the Israeli ambassador to Ethiopia was expelled from the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa during the union's annual meeting, following strong objections from several African countries refusing his attendance.

This expulsion came against the backdrop of mounting African anger over Israeli occupation policies, particularly in light of the ongoing aggression on the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli ambassador attempted to attend one of the sessions, but was met with categorical refusal from representatives of member states, which led to his removal from the hall under heavy security.

This incident reflects the continuing tensions between Tel Aviv and the African Union, which condemned the war on Gaza at its last summit and supported South Africa's lawsuit against the occupation before the International Court of Justice, amid growing African support for Palestinian rights.

Four civilians were killed and others injured Monday evening in sporadic Israeli airstrikes on areas in the cities of Khan Yunis and Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. This brings the death toll since dawn today to more than 45, including children and women.

According to local sources, citizen Mamdouh Kamel Shurab was killed after being targeted by a drone near the car market south of Khan Yunis, while citizen Muhammad Saeed Abdul Shafaq Al-Abadlah was killed in another drone strike in the Al-Iqlimiya area southwest of the city.

Citizen Nashat Ahmed also died of wounds he sustained last night in a bombing that targeted a house in the Al-Amal neighborhood in Khan Yunis. Medical sources reported that the body of martyr Mohammed Al-Abadlah arrived at Nasser Medical Complex after he was targeted by Israeli aircraft in the Al-Shakoush area northwest of Rafah.

In a related development, two civilians sustained varying degrees of injuries in a drone strike targeting a motorcycle east of Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip.

According to medical sources, the death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to more than 45 since dawn today, amid escalating Israeli aggression.

It's worth noting that the occupation forces have continued their aggression on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of 50,752 citizens, the majority of whom are children and women, and the injury of 115,475 others, according to a preliminary toll. Ambulance and rescue crews remain unable to reach a large number of victims trapped under the rubble and in the streets.

Nearly 200 family members of the victims of the October 7, 2023, attack filed a lawsuit in federal court in Washington, D.C., on Monday against Bashar al-Masri, a Palestinian-American billionaire "linked to the Trump administration," whom they allege aided and encouraged Hamas to carry out the attack.

The lawsuit accuses Al-Masry of intentionally cooperating with Hamas to develop commercial properties in Gaza that concealed Hamas's complex network of military tunnels and provided them with electricity. The lawsuit seeks damages under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

It is noteworthy that Al-Masry provided advice and traveled by private plane to meet with Adam Boehler, US President Donald Trump's former nominee for special presidential envoy for hostage affairs and the current special envoy at the US State Department. He conducted unprecedented direct negotiations with Hamas last March, according to a US statement issued by the White House on March 6, after Israeli media reports revealed the meeting.

The lawsuit alleges that "as chairman of the Palestine Development and Investment Company, Al-Masri made deals to develop and operate hotels, an industrial zone, and other businesses in Gaza, including directly with Hamas officials, according to the lawsuit and data from the company's website. These businesses included the Al-Mashtal Hotel, which the IDF identified in 2014 as a Hamas rocket launching site, and which the lawsuit alleges was renovated by Al-Masri's company under a contract with a Hamas-affiliated construction company." The lawsuit also alleges that Hamas used the hotel for terrorist operations before, during, and after the October 7 attack.

According to the Jewish Press Service (JNS), Gary Ossen, one of the lead attorneys representing the families against Masri, told the agency that this cycle of repeated reinvestment in properties used by Hamas represents a “continuing pattern” of complicity with the terrorist group on the part of Masri and the other defendants.

“When hotels are damaged by Israeli airstrikes or the Gaza industrial zone is damaged, they not only stop investing, but they continue to rebuild the infrastructure,” Ossen said. “If someone doesn’t want to engage with or support Hamas, they’re supposed to say, ‘Well, they’re firing rockets out of the tunnels at the Al-Mashtal Hotel, maybe we should get out of that investment.’ But no, according to the lawsuit, not only do they go back and renovate and invest more money and more of other people’s money, but they help Hamas with its tunnels again.” “Nothing changes.”

Al-Masry's office denied the allegations in a statement sent to the right-wing Jewish News Agency (JNS), saying it would strive to have them dismissed in court.

The statement said: "Bashar Masri is a successful and respected Palestinian-American businessman and leader. He was shocked to learn through the media of the baseless complaint filed today, alleging false allegations against him and some of the companies with which he is associated. Neither he nor these entities have ever engaged in illegal activities or provided support for violence and extremism."

"Bashar al-Masri has been involved in development and humanitarian work for decades," the statement added. "His continued efforts to promote regional peace and stability have been widely appreciated by the United States and all stakeholders in the region. He categorically opposes violence in all its forms."

It's worth noting that Bashar Masri was born in Nablus to a prominent and wealthy Palestinian business family. He was educated in Egypt and the United States, graduating from Virginia Tech and eventually becoming a US citizen. In the mid-1990s, he returned to Ramallah and established a variety of business ventures.

Through his company, investments, or control of other entities, Al-Masri manages or owns stakes in some of the largest Palestinian companies, with a market capitalization of hundreds of millions of dollars on the Palestine Stock Exchange in Nablus.

In 2018, Fortune magazine ranked him 38th on its list of the world's greatest business leaders, and he is a member of the Harvard Kennedy School's Dean's Council.

The lead attorney in the lawsuit, Ossen, told JNS that Masri's dealings with Hamas officials in the period leading up to October 7, 2023, are inconsistent with how he presents himself to the world as a legitimate Palestinian businessman.

“It’s hard to believe the extent of the property owners’ complicity,” Ossen said. “The fact that Masri was in Gaza three weeks before October 7, promoting his green technology at the hotel, presenting himself and his companies as saving the environment and helping Palestinians get regular electricity—while at the same time, some of the solar electricity was being diverted to Hamas tunnels.” He added, “In my opinion, there’s a level of duplicity in all of this that’s irreconcilable with that moderate outward appearance.”

According to the case, Al-Masry's alleged direct dealings with Hamas include a $60 million solar energy project in Gaza announced by his company in September 2023, and a 2022 agreement with Abdel Fattah Al-Zarii, the deputy minister of economy in the Hamas government.

The Israeli occupation army assassinated Al-Zarii in an airstrike in 2024, saying he served in Hamas's weapons manufacturing division and played a role in the seizure of humanitarian aid.

It is unclear how Masri became associated with Trump's envoy, Buehler, although Masri has extensive business dealings with Qatar, including a Qatari investment of approximately $1 billion in one of Masri's real estate development projects north of Ramallah.

Before filing the lawsuit, JNS said it had asked the State Department for details about al-Masry's connections to Boehler, including travel by private plane and whether he had advised any other administration officials. A State Department spokesperson told the agency, "We work closely with our partners and external intermediaries in our efforts to secure the release of Americans detained abroad." He added, "We have no additional details to share about Special Envoy Boehler's travel."

US President Donald Trump nominated Boehler as special presidential envoy for hostage affairs last January, but Boehler's nomination was withdrawn following direct negotiations with Hamas in March. Boehler remains a special envoy at the State Department.

In a social media post in December, before taking office, Trump described Boehler as a key negotiator in the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab countries.

It's worth noting that Boehler was also a college roommate of Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and served as CEO of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, a federal agency, during the first Trump administration. In 2020, Boehler announced that Masri would serve on the DFC's advisory board, a position he held until 2023.

Prime Minister Mohamed Mustafa discussed with a number of economic experts, in the presence of relevant ministers, ways to overcome Israeli deductions from Palestinian tax revenues (clearance), and to consider solutions to address the stifling crisis facing public finances.

Discussions focused on exploring economic alternatives, ways to improve and develop the financial system, and reducing reliance on the Israeli side due to the relationship imposed by the occupation, in light of escalating Israeli deductions from Palestinian tax revenues.

The attendees also discussed practical steps with international partners to address the imbalances in the Paris Economic Protocol, stressing the need to combat smuggling and tax evasion, which cost the national economy losses exceeding one billion shekels annually.

The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip warned of an unprecedented health crisis, confirming that 37% of medicines and 59% of vital medical supplies have completely run out, threatening the lives of thousands of patients and wounded.

The Gaza Health Ministry stated in a statement on Monday that essential medications for cancer and blood diseases, primary care, and maternal and child health have reached zero, while emergency and intensive care units face catastrophic shortages as the Israeli aggression continues.

The ministry confirmed that the ongoing blockade has prevented the entry of vaccines, jeopardizing polio control efforts, as 42% of childhood vaccinations are unavailable.

The occupation's destruction of CT and MRI scanners has deprived patients of diagnostic services, while the Rafah crossing has been closed, preventing 13,000 patients and wounded from receiving specialized treatment outside the Gaza Strip.

The Gaza Health Ministry called for urgent international action to rescue Gaza's collapsing health system and allow the immediate entry of essential medical supplies, warning of catastrophic consequences threatening the lives of civilians as the war continues.

Today, Monday, a settler ran over a child in the town of Hawara, south of Nablus.

Local sources reported that a settler ran over the child Ahmed Awda (14 years old) from the town of Hawara on the main street. He was taken to the hospital, where his injuries were described as moderate to minor.

Local sources reported that occupation forces stormed the Hawara Emergency Center and detained a number of young men inside.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) confirmed that the Israeli occupation forces' targeting of an ambulance convoy in the Hashashin area of Rafah on March 23 constitutes a "full-fledged war crime" and reflects a dangerous pattern of repeated violations of international humanitarian law.

During a press conference held Monday to discuss the latest developments surrounding the deaths of the eight paramedics in Rafah, the Red Crescent Society, through its president, Younis al-Khatib, demanded the immediate identification of paramedic Asaad al-Nasasira, whose fate remains unknown.

Footage in the video, documented by fellow paramedic Raafat Radwan, shows the crew's final moments as they headed to the site of the attack in clearly marked ambulances with their emergency lights on. Despite the clear identities of the vehicles and crews, the convoy was subjected to a hail of bullets for nearly five minutes, as shown in the published video. Meanwhile, calls between the team and the central communications center confirmed that the gunfire continued for at least two hours, with continuous gunfire heard until contact with one of the crew members was completely cut off.

The association confirmed in a statement that what happened was not a random targeting or an individual mistake, but rather a series of deliberate attacks, beginning with the shooting of an ambulance on its way to evacuate people injured after a house was bombed in the Hashashin area. This was followed by the direct targeting of a convoy of the association's ambulances and civil defense vehicles, despite their adherence to all safety protocols. A fourth ambulance, on its way to support the team, was then shot at.

According to the statement, it is worth noting that the area was not classified as a red zone at the time of the response, which means that there was no need for prior coordination to enter the place, as the occupation forces did not appear in the area, which is proven by the long video recording, in which the crew walked for about 15 minutes on the same street back and forth before they were targeted. It was also revealed by following the sequence of events that about an hour after the convoy was targeted, a civilian vehicle and a UNRWA vehicle passed by, which confirms that the area was not a military operations zone at that time.

He added: “For nearly five days, the occupation prevented the rescue team from entering the site to search for the missing crew, claiming that the area was red. Then, they allowed entry for a short time during which we were able to retrieve the body of a civil defense member. Then, the occupation forces forced us to withdraw from the site. On March 30, the bodies of 14 paramedics, civil defense employees, and a UNRWA employee were found piled in a black mesh bag in a mass grave, in a brutal and degrading manner.”

According to the testimony of all the crew members who participated in the mission to recover the bodies of the seven ambulance crew members, namely: Mustafa Khafaga, Ezz El-Din Shaat, Saleh Muammar, Refaat Radwan, Mohamed Bahloul, Ashraf Abu Labda, Mohamed Al-Hila, and Raed Al-Sharif, it became clear that all the ambulances and rescue vehicles were completely destroyed and buried under the soil, which means that they were deliberately destroyed and taken out of service permanently, and that the protection badge was deliberately targeted.

The initial forensic report showed that the paramedics died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds to their upper bodies, further evidence of premeditated murder.

She said that targeting ambulances bearing the Red Crescent emblem and protected under the Geneva Conventions constitutes a war crime.

The Assembly called for an independent international investigation and the accountability of all those involved, and urged the states parties to the Geneva Conventions to fulfill their obligations and take practical measures to hold Israel accountable for these crimes.

The Red Crescent Society emphasized that the international silence on the targeting of humanitarian personnel not only amounts to a death sentence for Palestinians in Gaza, but also represents a direct threat to humanitarian work everywhere.

The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip announced that most medicines and medical supplies in the Gaza Strip are currently at zero due to the occupation's ongoing aggression against our people and its direct targeting of hospitals and medical personnel.

In a press release issued Monday, the agency explained that 37% of medications, 59% of medical supplies, 54% of cancer and blood disease medications, 40% of primary care medications, and 51% of maternal and child health services medications are at zero stock, threatening patients' lives.

She noted that 13,000 patients and wounded people have been denied access to specialized treatment outside the Gaza Strip following the closure of the Rafah crossing. She noted that the closure of the crossings and the blocking of food supplies threaten more than two million citizens with malnutrition and anemia, particularly among children.

She said: "The Gaza Strip is without medicine, and the serious and catastrophic repercussions will add to the already deteriorating health and humanitarian situation." She explained that medications for operations, intensive care, and emergency departments are depleted to unprecedented levels, as the genocidal war continues.

She noted that vital hospital departments are operating on generators, which are at risk of shutting down due to fuel and spare parts shortages, most of which have been destroyed.

She pointed out that patients and the wounded in the Gaza Strip are deprived of diagnostic imaging services due to the occupation's destruction of CT and MRI equipment.

She reported that ambulance crews and humanitarian teams are operating within the direct targeting zone during missions to rescue the wounded, with 1,300 of them killed. Furthermore, 42% of childhood vaccinations are unavailable in the Gaza Strip, as the occupation prevents the entry of vaccines, which means the collapse of efforts that have continued over the past seven months to combat the pandemic.

She warned that the disruption of water lines increases health and environmental risks and the spread of diarrhea and skin diseases.

She added, "These serious developments are placing a heavy burden on healthcare providers, requiring urgent action to remove the healthcare system from the targeted category and provide essential medical supplies to enable staff to provide care to patients and the wounded."

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a hardline right-winger, admitted on Monday that starvation is being used as a weapon against Palestinians, and that he will not allow even a single grain of wheat into the Gaza Strip.

Smotrich's remarks came in response to a report published by the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper claiming that Israeli forces were preparing to resume the entry of aid into Gaza.

He added, "It's good that the war has started, and it's unfortunate that it started this way, but we are changing the reality in the Middle East."

On March 2, the occupation forces closed the Gaza Strip's crossings to all vital supplies, preventing the entry of humanitarian, relief, and medical aid into the Strip. This has led to an unprecedented deterioration in the humanitarian situation, according to local government and human rights reports.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza, leaving more than 166,000 dead and wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 11,000 missing.

Israeli occupation forces notified 12 homes on Monday of the demolition of Tarqumiya, northwest of Hebron.

Local sources said that the occupation forces raided the Shaab al-Bir area in the region and issued demolition orders for 12 homes, all of which were inhabited, including several multi-story buildings, owned by citizens from the Ja'afari and Qabaja families.

She added, "One of the threatened homes is my three-story home, where I live with my family." She explained that the owners of these homes have proof of ownership, and that they are located several kilometers away from the "Telem" and "Adora" settlements, which were built on citizens' land and property in Tarqumiya.

This morning, Monday, Israeli occupation forces committed a horrific and hideous massacre against Palestinian journalists while they were sheltering in a tent in the courtyard of Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip.

The Journalists Syndicate condemned this horrific massacre, in which a journalist was killed as a result of the bombing of the tent, which caught fire. The nine injured journalists, Ahmed Mansour, Hassan Islayh, Ahmed Agha, Mohammed Fayek, Abdullah Al-Attar, Ihab Al-Bardini, Mahmoud Awad, Majed Qadih, and Ali Islayh, remain in critical condition.

The union stressed its demand that the UN Security Council act quickly and issue a resolution to halt all these massacres and the genocidal war to which all our people, including journalists, are being subjected.

The union called on the International Criminal Court to swiftly address the cases and complaints filed with the court against Israeli war criminals, most notably the internationally wanted Prime Minister of the occupation, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the leaders of his army and security institutions.

The Syndicate called on all human rights organizations, media freedom and freedom of expression organizations worldwide, and all media institutions to expose the massacres and slaughters to which Palestinian journalists are being subjected, which are the most horrific in the history of media.

She stressed that she will continue to file complaints and exert pressure through all legal and union means to ensure that these criminal killers do not escape punishment for the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against Palestinian journalists.

Prime Minister Mohamed Mustafa discussed with international partners on Monday ways to resume basic services in the Gaza Strip, practical plans for implementing field interventions, the overall financial situation and confronting the Israeli financial war, Palestinian national priorities, and areas for international community support. The meeting was attended by the ministers of finance, communications, civil affairs, the water authority, the energy authority, and the monetary authority.

During the meeting, held at his office in Ramallah with the European Union, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the United States, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the office of the Quartet, Mustafa stressed the importance of the international community pressuring Israel to halt its war of extermination against our people in the Gaza Strip, and to establish a sustainable ceasefire. This will allow for practical steps towards reconstruction, primarily restoring basic services in the Strip, in addition to preparing for the reconstruction conference and providing the necessary financial support for this purpose.

The Prime Minister also reviewed the overall financial situation, Israel's continued financial blockade, and the escalating deductions from Palestinian tax revenues, which place the government in a difficult position to fulfill its obligations to our people. He reiterated his call for more international pressure to halt these illegal deductions and release the withheld funds.

For their part, international partners expressed their support for ceasefire efforts in the Gaza Strip, backing the government's efforts to restore basic services in preparation for comprehensive reconstruction of the Strip, and pressuring Israel to halt deductions from Palestinian tax revenues.

World Health Organization spokeswoman Margaret Harris said that 90% of pregnant and breastfeeding women in the Gaza Strip suffer from severe malnutrition, and that the lack of medical equipment prevents them from receiving the necessary treatment.

In press statements marking World Health Week, held from April 7 to 13 of each year, Harris reviewed the deteriorating health situation in the Gaza Strip, which has been subjected to a genocidal Israeli war for nearly a year and a half.

She noted that the health of mothers and children in Gaza has deteriorated sharply since the start of the Israeli war of extermination on October 7, 2023.

She explained that 90% of pregnant and breastfeeding women and thousands of children suffer from severe malnutrition.

Harris stressed that many women and children in Gaza are in dire need of treatment.

"Many of them are in dire need of treatment," she said. "No food or medical aid is currently reaching Gaza."

Mothers and children are already suffering, and the situation is getting worse by the day.”

She spoke about the period during which a temporary ceasefire prevailed before Israel resumed its genocide, saying: "During the nearly two months of calm, some hospitals regained their capacity to provide services, we were able to send medical teams, and we received significant international support." She added: "But after the truce ended, many health centers were destroyed, including Nasser Hospital."

She noted that "there are approximately 20 hospitals still partially operating in Gaza, but they are unable to perform their functions without medical supplies."

She added, "We are currently unable to deliver these supplies. Medical staff are exhausted and lack the equipment even to transfuse blood, while patients suffer from horrific injuries and severe bleeding. Yet, when you speak to them, they say they are still at their posts to serve the people."

Harris expressed her gratitude to all healthcare workers working under extremely challenging conditions, adding, "We thank every healthcare worker who goes the extra mile every day to save lives and improve health and well-being, despite all the challenges."

Since October 7, 2023, the occupying forces have launched an aggression against the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of 50,752 citizens, the majority of whom were children and women, and the injury of 115,475 others. This is a preliminary toll, with a number of victims still under the rubble and on the streets, unable to be reached by ambulances and rescue teams.

The Ministry of Health in Gaza announced on Monday that the death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 50,752, the majority of whom are children and women, since the start of the Israeli occupation's aggression on October 7, 2023.

It added that the death toll has risen to 115,475 since the start of the aggression, while a number of victims remain under the rubble, unable to be reached by ambulances and civil defense teams.

It noted that 57 martyrs, including one who was recovered, and 137 injuries arrived at Gaza Strip hospitals over the past 24 hours. The total number of martyrs and injuries since March 18, when the occupation violated the ceasefire agreement, stands at 1,391 martyrs and 3,434 injuries.

It pointed out that there are still a number of victims under the rubble and on the streets, and that ambulance and civil defense crews are unable to reach them.

Since the start of the war of extermination in Gaza, settlement activity has intensified in Palestinian cities and towns, especially in Jerusalem, which is subjected to the largest Judaization and isolation operation from its Arab Palestinian surroundings. This has been accompanied by unprecedented support from the war and occupation government and its extremist ministers, led by Smotrich and Ben-Gvir. Between legislation and laws passed in the occupation Knesset and the accelerated measures on the ground, settlement has dominated the West Bank and seized hundreds of thousands of dunams of land, according to declared plans whose goal has become clear and declared: complete control, and the expulsion and displacement of Palestinians from the West Bank and Jerusalem, just as are the attempts to displace people from Gaza.

With the expansion of the aggression, the international community's complicity, and regional and Arab silence, the demolition and confiscation operations have escalated, in a scene that reflects the extent of the complicity and cover-up of the occupation's expansionist policies, which have not stopped but are escalating day after day.

Anyone following developments on the ground knows that this is no longer simply a matter of military or security decisions, but rather a systematic plan, in which the political, military, and judicial arms of the occupation are involved, to reshape the geography and demographics to serve the Zionist colonial project, a move they openly declare. In Jerusalem, measures are intensifying, from repressing residents, demolishing homes, and changing the city's character to banning any manifestation of Palestinian Arab life, in an attempt to obliterate identity and rob the place of its profound Palestinian significance.

What is happening is just one chapter in the ongoing Nakba, ethnic cleansing, and genocide, in which the occupation is attempting to reproduce the colonial project in a new guise: the guise of murder, oppression, and repression, along with terrifying and unprecedented policies and unjust and oppressive laws. This is in defiance of all international calls and resolutions, and an attempt to benefit from the international complicity, led by Trump, who supports the continuation of the war of ethnic cleansing in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem.

The people are subjected to constant attacks by settler gangs, including land confiscation, the burning of property, and all forms of violence under heavy guard from the occupation army and with the constant support of the Netanyahu government, which openly distributes weapons and provides them with legal and political cover to practice their terror against defenseless Palestinians. This tragic reality has created an environment of daily terror in villages and towns, where the lives of residents are threatened at any moment, as settlers invade homes and attack the agricultural crops that constitute their sole source of livelihood.

However, the Palestinian people remain on the land, steadfast, steadfast, clinging to their homes despite the demolition and destruction, believing in Palestine as their land and identity, and fully convinced that the occupation, no matter how long it lasts, will inevitably end.

Former Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen said Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked him, as head of the Shin Bet, to revoke then-minister Naftali Bennett's membership in the security cabinet. The request came after Netanyahu heard that Bennett had been dismissed from the elite commando unit, the General Staff Company, due to a "loyalty issue."

Cohen added, during an interview with Israel's Army Radio, that Netanyahu asked him to revoke Bennett's membership in the cabinet during a private conversation between them, saying, "If he was dismissed due to a loyalty issue, then apparently he cannot be a member of the cabinet."

Cohen continued, saying that he rejected Netanyahu's request, "He didn't ask me to confirm this, but rather to reject his membership in the cabinet, as if he had no security classification."

Cohen added that he told Netanyahu, "Are you serious about this demand? First, what is the connection between what happened 30 years ago and what we are discussing now? Second, I will not implement it."

Cohen's remarks come against the backdrop of the conflict between former Shin Bet chiefs and Netanyahu after the latter fired the current Shin Bet chief, Ronen Bar. Cohen said, "Isn't it shocking and disturbing that the prime minister would approach the head of the Shin Bet and ask him to revoke a membership, or to use his influence to remove a political opponent? And by chance, I said 'no,' so what happens if someone else says 'yes'?"

Cohen noted that after a sensitive military operation, Netanyahu asked him to use "the Shin Bet's intelligence collection tool against all the heads of the intelligence services who were aware of this operation. It seemed to me that carrying out this request was insane. Without specific suspicion, I had to monitor all the heads of the services. Do you understand what it means to monitor all of Israel's intelligence services—the head of the Shin Bet, the General Staff, the Shin Bet, and all the security leadership—in depth?"

Opposition leader Yair Lapid described Cohen's remarks as "nothing less than an earthquake," adding that "Netanyahu tried to use the Shin Bet to fabricate a lie and eliminate a political opponent. That's not how a prime minister behaves. That's how the head of a criminal organization behaves."

Former Shin Bet chief Nadav Argaman told Channel 12 last month, in the context of Bar's dismissal, that if Netanyahu acted illegally, he would reveal "everything I know about it." He added that the Shin Bet chiefs "know a lot" of information, and that "there are things we know about that pose a threat to the security of the State of Israel, and we will use them according to the law."

Bar submitted a letter to the Supreme Court, which will hear a petition against his dismissal tomorrow. The letter outlined the reasons for his dismissal, including his refusal to provide Netanyahu with a position preventing the continuation of Netanyahu's trial, as well as his demand that Netanyahu "exercise Shin Bet powers against citizens" demonstrating against Netanyahu and the government. Bar wrote that his refusal to Netanyahu's demands led to Netanyahu's "loss of trust" in him.

Barr requested that the facts be reviewed in a court session not open to the public.

US President Donald Trump will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, with the tariffs imposed by Washington on Israel expected to dominate the talks, along with the war on Gaza and the Iranian issue.

Prior to his meeting with Trump, Netanyahu met with the US Secretary of Commerce. The Prime Minister's Office reported that "Prime Minister Netanyahu met at Blair House in Washington with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Trade Commissioner Jameson Greer. The meeting was friendly and productive, and proceeded in good spirits," according to the statement.

Netanyahu is the first foreign leader to meet with Trump since the latter announced the imposition of general tariffs last week.

Netanyahu's main goal, arriving in Washington from Hungary, is to persuade the US president to reverse the decision or at least reduce the 17 percent tariffs before they go into effect on Israel.

Before leaving Hungary, Netanyahu said he aimed to discuss "the hostage issue, achieving victory in Gaza, and, of course, the tariffs imposed on Israel."

"I am the first international official, the first foreign leader, to meet with President Trump to discuss a critical issue for Israel's economy," he added in a statement.

"I think this reflects the special personal relationship and bond between the United States and Israel, which is essential at this time," he explained.

Netanyahu is seeking to exempt Israel from these fees.

If this happens, exempting Israel, Washington's closest ally in the Middle East, from customs duties would not only benefit Israel, but would also be welcomed by Republicans in the US Congress, who have pro-Israel constituencies and appear unwilling to confront Trump on this issue.

Israel attempted to preempt Trump's announcement on Wednesday by removing the remaining 1 percent of tariffs on US goods that were still subject to tariffs in Israel.

But Trump went ahead with his tariffs, noting that the United States has a large trade deficit with Israel, a major beneficiary of US military aid.

The war on Gaza, the release of the Israeli hostages held in the Strip, and escalating tensions with Iran will also be on the agenda.

Israel resumed its war on the Gaza Strip on March 18, following a ceasefire with Hamas that lasted for about two months. Mediators, including the United States, have yet to reach a conclusion regarding resuming the truce or ending the war that erupted nearly 18 months ago.

According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, 1,335 people have been killed since the resumption of Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, bringing the death toll in the Strip to 50,695 since the war began on October 7, 2023.

Trump and Netanyahu also agree on the US's "maximum pressure" policy against Iran, demanding that it halt its nuclear and missile programs and end its support for anti-Israel groups in the region.

Trump offered Iran "direct talks," which the Islamic Republic rejected on Sunday.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi considered direct negotiations with the United States "meaningless" in light of the "threats" and "contradictions."

Speculation has recently increased that Israel, with US assistance, could launch a military attack on Iranian facilities.

One person was killed this morning, Monday, when an Israeli drone targeted a motorcycle in the town of Taybeh, south Lebanon.

Lebanese media reported that "the Israeli airstrike on the Taybeh-Adaisseh road targeted a motorcycle as it stopped in front of a tire shop, causing a fire."

It was also reported that the motorcycle was targeted while being driven by the owner of a motorcycle repair shop, resulting in his injury and the shop being set on fire.

In addition, an Israeli drone targeted the Church Hill between the towns of Taybeh and Rab Thalathin with sound bombs.

This comes as Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah continue, targeting areas and towns in southern Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut on a daily basis.

Under the ceasefire agreement, Israel had until January 26 to withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon, but it stayed for an additional period, considering that Lebanon had not "fully" implemented the agreement.

Lebanon accused Israel of "stalling" the implementation of the agreement. The government announced on January 27 that it had agreed to extend the agreement's implementation until February 18, following US mediation.

However, Israel maintained its presence on five strategic heights along the border, saying this was to ensure "there is no immediate threat" to its territory. Lebanon, in turn, considered this an occupation and called on the international community to pressure Israel to complete its withdrawal.

The Israeli military informed the government that Israel must resume the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, regardless of military operations conducted by the army following the resumption of hostilities or the stalemate in negotiations over a prisoner exchange agreement. This follows a halt in humanitarian aid deliveries for more than five weeks.

Over the past week, the army command held discussions about bringing in aid, and the Israeli government was informed that "the stage is approaching where it is inevitable to resume the supply of food, fuel, and medicine to the Strip, unless we want to risk deliberately violating international law and placing the responsibility on the shoulders of the officers of the army's Southern Command, the army command, and the political echelon," Yedioth Ahronoth reported Monday.

The newspaper added that Israel may bring humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip within a few weeks, after government approval. The Israeli military claims it has brought large quantities of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip during the ceasefire, and that this amount will be sufficient for the next several weeks.

The World Food Programme announced on Sunday that all 25 bakeries it supports in Gaza have closed due to fuel and flour shortages, as a result of the Israeli closure of the crossings to humanitarian aid for more than a month. The programme said that current food supplies at its hot meal kitchen in the Gaza Strip "can suffice for less than two weeks," but noted that "one hot meal provides 25 percent or less of a person's daily nutritional needs."

Eyewitnesses reported that Israeli forces executed 15 Palestinian rescue workers in the Tel al-Sultan neighborhood of Rafah, shooting them in the chest and head before burying them in a mass grave last week.

While human rights, governmental, and international organizations have warned of the repercussions of the continued Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip, and the Palestinians' plunge into a state of severe hunger, Israeli security sources claimed that "there is no hunger or the beginning of epidemics in Gaza, but we are 40-50 days away from a situation in which food stores are emptied," according to the newspaper.

The newspaper quoted Israeli military sources as saying, "The situation will worsen when the intense military operation in Rafah begins, and food supplies will run out in areas where we will fight again. The humanitarian clock is ticking, and it's clear we will have to resume aid even without international pressure."

A general strike swept across the country's governorates on Monday, denouncing the ongoing Israeli aggression against our people in the Gaza Strip and demanding an end to the massacres and bombing of civilians' homes, hospitals, and shelters.

The strike called for by national and Islamic forces in the northern governorates, coinciding with a global movement calling for a comprehensive strike around the world to demand an end to the war of extermination in the Gaza Strip and in solidarity with our people, has paralyzed all aspects of life. Universities, schools, banks, shops, and governmental and civil institutions have been closed, amid calls from the masses to continue their confrontation with the occupation.

The strike included public transportation in the northern governorates, leaving streets empty of vehicles and pedestrians, and factories and workshops closed.

Activists on social media platforms have launched calls for a comprehensive strike around the world in solidarity with the people of the Gaza Strip in the face of the war of extermination being waged by the Israeli occupation forces.

Israeli occupation forces launched a campaign of raids and arrests in the West Bank at dawn on Monday.

Security sources reported that occupation forces stormed the western part of Nablus from the Sarra checkpoint, and the eastern part from the Beit Furik checkpoint.

She added that the occupation forces attacked a vehicle and smashed its windows in the Al-Makhfiya area. They also raided and searched a number of homes and arrested citizen Fouad Darwish.

She noted that occupation forces stormed Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus, and explosions were heard inside the camp. They raided and searched several homes there, but no arrests or injuries were reported.

In Ramallah, occupation forces stormed Jalazone camp, raided dozens of homes, blew up their doors, destroyed their contents, and arrested the young men: Yousef Munther Alian (25 years old), Yousef Ghawanmeh, Qassam Iyad Duwaik, and Abdullah Mubarak.

The occupation forces also turned the home of Tayseer al-Zubaidi into a military barracks and an interrogation center for the young men they detained.

In Al-Amari camp, large forces of the occupation army stormed the camp and surrounded its entrances, before raiding and searching a number of homes. No arrests were reported.

In Qalqilya, occupation forces arrested Qusai Maskawi, Fares Awda, Wissam Nasoura, Obada Qutash, and the brothers Sajid, Ismail, and Ghassan Jibril, after raiding and searching their homes.

In Hebron, forces arrested the young man Hamza Muhammad al-Qawasmeh from the city of Hebron, and the child Yusef Muhammad Salman al-Amla from the town of Beit Ula, northwest of Hebron, after raiding their parents' homes.

At least 10 civilians, including a journalist, were killed and others injured early Monday morning in Israeli shelling of various areas of the Gaza Strip.

Local sources reported that Israeli warplanes bombed a tent for journalists near Nasser Medical Complex Hospital in Khan Yunis, killing journalist Hilmi al-Faqawi and young man Yousef al-Khazindar, and wounding journalists Ahmed Mansour, Hassan Islayh, Ahmed al-Agha, Mohammed Fayeq, Abdullah al-Attar, Ihab al-Bardini, Mahmoud Awad, Majed Qadih, and Ali Islayh, with various injuries, some of them serious.

She added that the occupation forces bombed two houses west of Deir al-Balah city in the central Gaza Strip, killing two civilians and wounding others.

Local sources said that Israeli drones targeted a group of citizens on Wadi Al-Arayes Street in the Al-Zeitoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City, resulting in the martyrdom of three citizens: Ghassan Bassam Al-Anqar, Awad Jamal Al-Harazin, and Saeed Ashour Daghmash.

She added that the occupation also bombed Masoud Street in the Al-Jurn area north of Gaza City, leading to the martyrdom of the young man Abdul Karim Akram Muqbil.

Two citizens were killed and others were injured in the occupation's bombing of Jabalia al-Balad, north of the Gaza Strip.

Since October 7, 2023, the occupying forces have launched an aggression against the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of 50,695 citizens, the majority of whom were children and women, and the injury of 115,338 others, according to a preliminary toll. A number of victims remain under the rubble and on the streets, with ambulance and rescue crews unable to reach them.