Embassy of the State of Palestine

 Situation Report #59: Occupied Palestine

20 - 27 October 2025 (until 8:00 AM)

The Government Communication Center at the Palestinian Prime Minister's Office issues the Situation Report on a weekly basis. The next Situation Report will be issued on 3 November 2025.

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Key Developments

DAY 17 SINCE THE CEASEFIRE DEAL TOOK EFFECT: ISRAELI VIOLATIONS

Over the past week, the Gaza Strip has witnessed continued Israeli violations of the ceasefire deal. The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) have continued their aggression against the Strip, launching artillery and airstrikes and directly firing at civilians. Repeated violations have been monitored, including the blowing up of residential buildings and targeting civilians who approach the "Yellow Line" imposed by Israel as a "buffer zone." In fact, Ben Gvir asked, "Why not shoot a child riding a donkey?" suggesting that even children should be targeted near this line. Until 26 October, these violations have reportedly resulted in the martyrdom of 93 people and 324 injuries. Furthermore, the Israeli blockade persists, with restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid. UNICEF spokesman Ricardo Perez said the humanitarian response remains significantly insufficient and called for all crossings to be reopened.

MARKING THE LAND IT OCCUPIES IN GAZA: ISRAEL CONSTRUCTS THE ‘YELLOW LINE’

Following the announcement of the ceasefire deal, the IOF began marking a line called the "Yellow Line," composed of concrete blocks painted yellow. The line extends over 53% of the Gaza Strip, marking the de facto point of the IOF withdrawal as per the first phase of the ceasefire deal. The line, according to a BBC satellite analysis, shows that the yellow markers were placed hundreds of meters beyond the proposed line, indicating a further land grab.

IOF TURNS GAZA OUTSKIRTS INTO A "WASTE AND CONSTRUCTION WASTE DUMP"

Haaretz reported that Israeli trucks are transporting and dumping large amounts of waste and construction debris into the Gaza Strip through the al-Karara crossing (Kissufim). Quoting Israeli officers, the report said that field commanders have issued instructions allowing trucks belonging to private companies to enter Gaza and unload their cargo "at any location they deem appropriate" to turn Gaza into "mountains of garbage." Israeli soldiers and officers acknowledged that this process causes significant environmental damage and could pose a "security risk." Moreover, concerning solid waste management in the Gaza Strip, UNDP Resident Representative in Palestine Jaco Cilliers said it poses a major challenge to reconstruction efforts. During his visit to Gaza, Cilliers added that many internally displaced Palestinians live near 47 temporary waste sites, which should be rehabilitated and covered to prevent the spread of diseases.

IOF STOLE THE ORGANS OF MARTYRS AND MUTILATED THEIR BODIES

Medical sources confirmed that most of the 195 bodies of Palestinian martyrs handed over by the Israel occupation between 14 and 22 October 2025 were deliberately mutilated. Organs such as corneas, livers, and kidneys were stolen, and many martyrs were burned, executed, dragged, or had their limbs broken. Families struggled to identify their loved ones' bodies due to clear signs of severe torture and blurred features, relying on primitive methods because the destruction of medical infrastructure left them without access to laboratories.

“EVERY GAZAN PERSON IS NOW LIVING IN A HORRIFIC UNMAPPED MINEFIELD”

Explosive Ordnance Disposal experts for Humanity and Inclusion (HI) described Gaza as a "horrific unmapped minefield," adding that the unexploded ordnance in Gaza poses a huge risk, with an estimated 70,000 tons of explosives. Explosive Ordnance Disposal expert in Gaza, Nick Orr, stated: "It will take more than 30 years to clear the surface of Gaza and make it safe, then we will continue to find UXO buried in the ground for the next two generations at least. When you think about the UK and Europe, we are still finding UXO from World War two."

ERASED: SETTLERS’ BRUTAL WAR ON PALESTINIANS IN THE WEST BANK

A detailed report by Haaretz revealed that the number of illegal colonial installations (outposts) in the West Bank has doubled since 7 October 2023, amidst the systematic displacement and looting of Palestinians, involving Israeli settlers, IOF support, and disregard by the Israeli police. The investigation revealed that dozens of Palestinian communities were completely removed and replaced by new colonial installations, with approximately 50 Palestinian herding communities, including entire villages, being expelled in just three months. Settlers have expanded their control by establishing 120 new colonial installations on confiscated Palestinian land, while the occupation authorities provide protection and logistical support to the settlers.

ISRAELI TUNNEL DIGGING THREATENS AL-AQSA MOSQUE COMPOUND

The Jerusalem Governorate condemned Israeli excavations beneath the Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound and the Old City, viewing them as part of a plan to alter Jerusalem's Islamic and historical identity. Advisor Marouf Al-Rifai said these tunnels connect sites like the "City of David' and threaten the area's infrastructure and foundations. He pointed out that the excavations lack international oversight and use unscientific methods, adding that these efforts aim to destroy religious landmarks and impose Israeli control over Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites.

ISRAEL'S CONTINUED AGGRESSION AGAINST THE NORTHERN WEST BANK

The occupation's aggression has persisted for 280 days against Jenin and its refugee camp, 274 days against Tulkarem and its refugee camp, and 261 days against Nour Shams refugee camp.

 In Focus

The Colonization & Wall Resistance Commission (CWRC) reported that the IOF and settlers have carried out 158 attacks against olive pickers since the start of this season, including 17 by the IOF and 141 by settlers.

According to the commission's head, Mu'ayyad Shaa'ban, the attacks occurred mainly in Nablus (56), Ramallah (51), and Hebron (15). They included "violent physical assaults, arrests, movement restrictions, denial of access, intimidation and harassment in all its forms, and direct gunfire, as occurred in the Tubas Governorate."

Fifty-seven cases of movement restrictions and intimidation against olive pickers were also documented, along with 22 incidents of farmers being beaten and assaulted.

Additionally, there were 74 attacks on olive-planted lands, "including 29 incidents of cutting, uprooting, and bulldozing olive groves, which led to the destruction of a total of 795 olive trees."

Shaaban stressed that this year's olive season "is one of the most difficult and dangerous in decades, as the army and settlers exploited wartime conditions to commit crimes backed by numerous policies and legislations that encourage violence and terrorism, especially through the closure of governorates, arming settler militias, and granting them immunity from accountability and prosecution."

Furthermore, more reports highlighting ongoing attacks by Israeli settlers were issued, including reports by UNOCHA, Amnesty International, and Yesh Din.

Government Updates

• During the weekly Cabinet session, Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Mustafa affirmed that the Government continues its intensive coordination and consultations with brotherly Arab and friendly international partners in preparation for implementing the Gaza Recovery and Reconstruction Plan and convening the Donors Conference in Egypt next month. The Prime Minister emphasized that all relevant institutions have been instructed to ensure swift execution and an effective response to citizens’ needs once field conditions allow. In this context, the Cabinet approved the implementation of several projects by the Palestinian Employment Fund in the Gaza Strip, aimed at creating job opportunities across key, vital, and productive sectors with a total value of about €3.1 million. Theseprojects are expected to benefit around 1,082 individuals, and include: (1) Facilitating Decent Work Opportunities in Gaza – valued at $673,430, targeting 240 beneficiaries through June 2026; (2) Pathways to Employment in Palestine – valued at €1,064,201, benefiting 442 young men and women in the fields of education, healthcare, and infrastructure through March 2026, and; (3) Business Revival Project – valued at $1,342,762, targeting 400 beneficiaries, including graduates and women entrepreneurs, and supporting 60 small enterprises through June 2026.

• The Cabinet also approved the Executive Plan of the National Cross-Sectoral Strategy to Strengthen Governance and Combat Corruption, prepared for the first time by the Palestinian Anti-Corruption Commission in cooperation with relevant institutions. The plan includes adopting a national monitoring and evaluation system to prosecute corruption, prevent impunity, enhance social responsibility in combating and reporting corruption, and strengthen the Anti-Corruption Commission and other institutions as part of the Governments ongoing efforts to enhance institutional performance and good governance and advance the National Program for Development and Reform, under which the Government has implemented over 60 reforms in the past year and a half.

 Summary

Sources: Ministry of Health, Wafa, UNOCHA, PJS, NAD's Palestinian Monitoring Group