Middle East

Gaza, Idf destroys tunnel in Rafah. Smotrich: 'Ultimatum to Hamas to disarm'

"We are facing very difficult days with Iran, which could turn into a multi-front campaign. To win and be able to face the challenges ahead, we must be united." This was said by the leader of the Israeli National Unity Party, Benny Gantz

23 February 2026

Palestinesi sfollati camminano lungo muri decorati in vista del mese sacro del Ramadan a Khan Yunis, nella Striscia di Gaza (Epa)

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

"The situation in Gaza remains catastrophic. Palestinians continue to die from Israeli fire, cold, hunger and treatable diseases," said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, emphasising in his speech at the opening of the 61st session of the Human Rights Council that aid entering the Palestinian enclave "is not sufficient to meet the enormous needs".

Turk then returned to express fears of 'ethnic cleansing in both Gaza and the West Bank, where Israel is accelerating moves to consolidate the illegal annexation'.

"Any sustainable solution must be based on two states living side by side in equal dignity and rights, in line with UN resolutions and international law," he reiterated.

La mappa del rischio geopolitico

Smotrich: 'In the coming days ultimatum to Hamas to disarm'

"We have not given up on the destruction of Hamas. We are giving President Donald Trump the chance to do it his way. We believe that in the next few days Hamas will be given an ultimatum to disarm and completely demilitarise Gaza, and if it does not comply, the IDF will receive international legitimacy and American support to do it on its own. The army is already preparing for this and drawing up plans'. This was stated by the ultra-right minister and cabinet member Bezalel Smotrich in an interview with Israeli public TV Kan this morning. In recent days, Israeli media have reported that the date for the start of Hamas disarmament has been set for March, the demilitarisation process is expected to begin after the technical government in Gaza has begun its work and taken over powers from Hamas. Preparations are already visible on the ground: local militias operating in coordination with Israel have started to prepare accordingly, including recruiting new members and building bases in areas under their control in the Strip. In recent weeks, Israel has transferred additional equipment to the militias, including rifles, war material and modern vehicles. Israeli security sources point to the Rafah area, where the new Palestinian city (New Rafah) is supposed to be built, as the first area to be demilitarised, an area under the control of the Abu-Shabab militia, which revealed over the weekend that its members are independently searching and neutralising Hamas tunnels.

Gaza, centinaia di palestinesi sfollati in fila per ricevere un pasto caldo

Idf: one-kilometre-long Hamas tunnel destroyed in Rafah

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) announced that they demolished a one-kilometre long Hamas tunnel in Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. According to the IDF, the tunnel contained several rooms in which Hamas agents were hiding. Inside, Israeli troops found several weapons. The tunnel was found on the Israeli side of the Gaza ceasefire line, in an area of Rafah where dozens of Hamas militants had been hiding underground during the Seventh Armoured Brigade's round-up operations. It was then razed to the ground by the elite Yahalom combat engineer unit, explains the Times of Israel.

Gantz: 'Difficult days lie ahead with Iran, we must unite'

"We are facing very difficult days with Iran, which could turn into a multi-front campaign. To win and be able to face the challenges ahead, we must be united. On 7 October, Netanyahu saw, as I did, on the ground and through intelligence, how much our unity prevented us from disintegrating in the face of our enemies at the most difficult time." This was said by the leader of the Israeli National Unity Party, Benny Gantz, during a meeting of his political group.

Gaza, gli sfollati affrontano l'inverno aspettando la seconda fase del cessate il fuoco

Mediterranean, Israel revokes permit to enter West Bank

Four activists from Mediterranea Saving Humans received notification of the revocation of their Eta (Electronic Travel Authorisation), a compulsory authorisation to enter Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories for citizens from visa-free states, including the European Union and the United States. This was announced in a note by the same NGO, explaining that with the Mediterranea with Palestine project, Mediterranea has been present in the Masafer Yatta region since 2024, where, in addition to carrying out non-violent interposition actions alongside the Palestinian communities, it has activated an international observatory on the crimes and human rights violations committed by Israeli settlers and security forces. Last January, it is recalled, Israel revoked the authorisations to operate in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank from 37 non-governmental organisations, accused of failing to comply with the new security standards imposed by the government. "The plan is clear," explains Damiano Censi, coordinator of Mediterranea with Palestine, "and it is to free the camp from all eyes, from all international observers, in order to proceed undisturbed towards the definitive ethnic cleansing of the West Bank. We have already seen this in the Gaza Strip, with the systematic elimination of independent journalism and humanitarian organisations. Today, the same design is advancing through the withdrawal of ETA from international activists'.