Israeli forces and settlers pressed attacks across Gaza and the West Bank on 31 May–1 June 2026. Gaza’s death toll rose to 72,939, according to WAFA, citing Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital figures. Injuries were reported in Israeli attacks on several areas of the Gaza Strip overnight into 1 June. Satellite imagery published by Al Jazeera showed the progressive erasure of southern Gaza as Israel expands its military control.
Gaza
Despite a nominal ceasefire, Israeli forces have resumed strikes on residential areas across the Strip. Mondoweiss reported that the Israeli army is targeting Gaza’s remaining intact residential blocks, displacing dozens of additional families. “Fear has become a permanent guest in our homes,” one resident told Mondoweiss. Al Jazeera reported that two people were killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza on 30 May, including a Palestinian doctor.
OCHA’s Humanitarian Situation Report of 25 May 2026 noted that living conditions in Gaza remain dire, with most people displaced and exposed to continued health and environmental risks. A separate OCHA impact snapshot from 20 May documented the cumulative scale of destruction across the territory. The 2026 Flash Appeal for the occupied Palestinian territory has secured only 13.9 percent of its $4.1 billion requirement, leaving $3.5 billion unmet.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed the Israeli military to seize 70 percent of the Gaza Strip, according to Al Jazeera. The army has already expanded its control beyond the terms of the ceasefire by 11 percent over the so-called “Yellow Line.” Egypt has warned Israel that dangerous escalations in Gaza threaten the ceasefire.
West Bank
Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian south of Bethlehem on 31 May. A separate WAFA report documented that a citizen was killed and others injured in an Israeli strike on the same day. A young Palestinian man was also killed after being shot by Israeli forces on 31 May. Israeli forces raided Askar refugee camp east of Nablus on 1 June, and demolished shops in the central vegetable market south of Nablus. The Tulkarm governor stated that the extension of Israeli aggression on refugee camps deepens the suffering of displaced families.
Settlers established a new outpost near Al-Auja, north of Jericho, on 1 June. Separately, colonists attacked vehicles near Jericho on 31 May, and raided a school under construction in the same period. OCHA reported that in just one week, 50 attacks by settlers across the West Bank resulted in casualties or property damage. The Israeli occupation also issued demolition orders for three homes and a water pipeline and began demolishing commercial structures in the West Bank on 31 May. OCHA’s April 2026 West Bank monthly snapshot recorded 596 structures demolished and 804 Palestinians displaced so far in 2026.
Israeli police detained 42 Palestinian workers from the West Bank inside 1948 territories on 31 May. Israeli forces also closed several entrances to Bethlehem on 31 May, and detained two brothers during a raid. Jordan condemned Israeli settler incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque on 31 May.
Jerusalem
Israeli authorities forced a Jerusalem resident to demolish his own home in Beit Hanina on 31 May — a coercive practice OCHA has documented as routine, in which Palestinians are compelled to self-demolish structures built without permits that are rarely granted. The Israeli occupation separately demolished a restaurant near Jerusalem on 31 May. OCHA noted in a May Facebook update that Palestinians in East Jerusalem issued demolition orders for structures built without rarely granted permits are often left with no recourse.
Regional
The Israeli army issued evacuation orders for nine towns and villages in southern Lebanon on 1 June. The EU imposed sanctions on extremist Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, citing violations of Palestinian rights. Israel was added alongside Russia to a UN conflict-related sexual violence blacklist.
Politics
Palestinian Vice President Al-Sheikh met with the Russian envoy to discuss the latest political developments on 31 May. The Israeli Knesset has voted to dissolve itself; Mondoweiss reports that analysts assess any new government will continue Israel’s current policies in Gaza and the West Bank. Mondoweiss’s weekly briefing also notes that the U.S. is negotiating a new military aid package for Israel as public opposition to weapons transfers has reached an all-time high. New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced he would skip the annual Israel Day Parade in support of Palestine.
Sources
- WAFA — Gaza death toll rises to 72,939 as Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital reports
- WAFA — Injuries reported in Israeli attacks on several areas in the Gaza Strip
- WAFA — Palestinian killed by Israeli forces gunfire south of Bethlehem
- WAFA — Citizen killed, others injured in Israeli strike
- WAFA — Young Palestinian man killed after being shot by Israeli forces
- WAFA — Colonists establish new outpost near Al-Auja, north of Jericho
- WAFA — Israeli forces raid Askar refugee camp east of Nablus
- WAFA — Occupation forces demolish shops in central vegetable market south of Nablus
- WAFA — Tulkarm governor on extension of Israeli aggression on refugee camps
- WAFA — Israeli police detain 42 Palestinian workers from West Bank
- WAFA — Israeli forces close several entrances to Bethlehem
- WAFA — Israeli authorities force Jerusalem resident to demolish his home in Beit Hanina
- WAFA — Israeli authorities demolish restaurant near Jerusalem
- WAFA — Israeli occupation issues demolition orders for three homes, water pipeline
- WAFA — Israeli occupation begins demolishing commercial structures
- WAFA — Jordan condemns Israeli settlers incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque
- WAFA — Vice President Al-Sheikh, Russian envoy discuss latest political developments
- WAFA — Mayor of New York to skip annual Israel Day Parade in support of Palestine
- WAFA — Colonists attack vehicles near Jericho
- WAFA — Colonists raid school under construction
- WAFA — Israeli forces detain two brothers during raid
- WAFA — Israeli army orders evacuation of nine towns and villages in southern Lebanon
- OCHA oPt — Humanitarian Situation Report, 25 May 2026
- OCHA oPt — Reported Impact Snapshot, Gaza Strip, 20 May 2026
- OCHA oPt — West Bank Monthly Snapshot: April 2026
- OCHA oPt — Flash Appeal 2026 at a Glance
- OCHA oPt (Facebook) — 50 settler attacks in one week across the West Bank
- Al Jazeera — Satellite imagery shows erasure of southern Gaza as Israel expands control
- Al Jazeera — Two killed, including Palestinian doctor, in Israeli attacks on Gaza
- Al Jazeera — Egypt warns Israel that dangerous Gaza escalations threaten ceasefire
- Al Jazeera — Israel’s Netanyahu directs army to seize 70 percent of Gaza Strip
- Al Jazeera — EU sanctions extremist Israeli settlers in occupied West Bank
- Al Jazeera — Israel, Russia among new additions on UN sexual violence blacklist
- Mondoweiss — Despite the ceasefire, Israel resumes bombing entire residential blocks in Gaza
- Mondoweiss — The Israeli Knesset just voted to dissolve itself, but this won’t end the Gaza genocide
- Mondoweiss — Weekly Briefing: The ceasefire is over and new Israeli elections won’t end the genocide
About this briefing: OliveWire’s daily Palestine briefing is compiled from Tier-1 primary sources — UN agencies, established human rights organisations, and approved wire and news services — with every factual claim anchored to a URL drawn directly from those sources and verified against the source set before publication.
