Palestine News Today: Gaza Toll Rises Under Ceasefire as West Bank Settler Violence Surges

3 November 2026. Despite a US-brokered ceasefire, Israeli forces continue to kill Palestinians in Gaza while the West Bank endures a record wave of settler attacks and military raids. Journalists face arrest, a besieged school fortifies against violence, and new testimony and reporting expose the human cost of the war and its coverage.

US Officials Cite Progress on Iran Talks Amid Regional Tensions

US Vice President JD Vance said he and President Trump feel optimistic about reaching a negotiated settlement with Iran, according to Anadolu Agency. The comments come as Washington remains central to brokering the fragile Gaza ceasefire and shaping the wider regional diplomatic landscape. No further details on the substance of the talks were provided.

Sources: Anadolu Agency

Nearly 1,600 Gaza Deaths Since Ceasefire Took Hold

Al Jazeera reports that Israeli forces killed four Palestinians in Gaza, with a fifth later dying of wounds, bringing the total killed since the US-brokered ceasefire began in October last year to nearly 1,600. The continuing deaths highlight how the truce has failed to stop Israeli attacks on Palestinians in the enclave. Gaza's healthcare system remains severely strained as casualties continue to arrive at hospitals.

Sources: Al Jazeera

Former Israeli Press Officer Admits Misleading Public on Gaza

Anadolu Agency reports that former Israeli military press officer Ayelet Kroizer acknowledged distorting information released to the media about Gaza. She said innocent Palestinians were wrongly labeled as fighters in official communications. The admission adds to growing scrutiny of how Israel's military has shaped public narratives about its conduct in Gaza.

Sources: Anadolu Agency

UN Rapporteur's Book Chronicles Palestinian Suffering in Gaza

Middle East Monitor reports that UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese has published a new book documenting testimonies from Gaza, opening with remarks she delivered to the UN General Assembly criticizing the international community's silence. The book reflects on how the world's response evolved, or failed to, as the war continued for years. Albanese has faced sanctions herself for her advocacy on Palestinian rights.

Sources: Middle East Monitor

Al Jazeera Correspondent Detained in Hebron Home Raid

Israeli soldiers arrested Al Jazeera journalist Montaser Nassar during a raid on his home in Hebron, blindfolding and handcuffing him before leading him into a military vehicle, according to Al Jazeera. The arrest is part of a broader pattern of Israeli forces targeting Palestinian journalists covering the occupation. Press freedom advocates have repeatedly raised concerns over such detentions.

Sources: Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera

West Bank School Reinforces Defenses After Student Killings

The Guardian reports that a public secondary school in al-Mughayyir has fortified its grounds with tall metal fences after Israeli settlers killed five teenage students during the last academic year, including one at the school gates. Teachers gave parents tours of the new defenses over the summer to reassure them it was safe to send children back. The measures reflect the extraordinary lengths Palestinian communities are taking to protect children from settler violence.

Sources: The Guardian

Settler Attacks in West Bank Hit Two-Decade High

According to Middle East Monitor, citing UN humanitarian agency OCHA, Israeli settlers carried out 397 attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank in October, the highest monthly total recorded in 20 years. Separately, Palestinians reported more than 3,100 attacks by the Israeli army and settlers combined during the same month. Israeli forces also injured two Palestinians, demolished a memorial, detained a man near Jenin, and uprooted olive trees in recent raids, Anadolu Agency reports.

Sources: Middle East Monitor, Middle East Monitor, Anadolu Agency

Hebron Residents Demand Return Home After Military Siege

Middle East Monitor reports that the Israeli army withdrew from Hebron after a 10-day siege and military operation, with Palestinians using heavy machinery to clear earth blocking roads left behind. Displaced residents had staged protests in the city center demanding an end to the assault and permission to return to their homes. Separately, Israeli forces fired tear gas at Palestinian students and teachers as occupiers blocked roads elsewhere in the West Bank.

Sources: Middle East Monitor, Middle East Monitor, Middle East Monitor

Australian Council Bars Gaza Children Memorial Exhibit

The Guardian reports that a New South Wales council in Australia refused to display a world-renowned artwork commemorating children killed in Gaza, citing safety concerns and reportedly asking organizers to consider hiring armed guards. Shoalhaven Friends of Palestine had sought to exhibit the Wall of Tears installation by artist Phil Buehler. The refusal has drawn criticism from supporters of Palestinian solidarity efforts internationally.

Sources: The Guardian

UK Poll Shows Israeli Support for Settlement Policy Shift

A new poll of Israelis found that most believe their government's settlement policy should change if it continues to trigger international sanctions, according to The Guardian. The survey indicated that the UK's ban on trade in goods from illegal settlements was not a decisive factor in Israel's recent general election. The findings come amid continued international pressure over settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.

Sources: The Guardian

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