In the West Bank, Israeli settlers steal an olive harvest during a raid in Kafr Qalil. Israeli forces raid Nur Shams refugee camp, killing 4 Palestinians in a drone strike, including a child, and severely damage an UNRWA office and electricity lines and water pipes with bulldozers. Israeli forces also shoot and kill a Palestinian man during a raid in Tulkarm refugee camp. Elsewhere, Israeli forces arrest 25 Palestinians during raids in and around Ramallah, Nablus, and Qalqilya. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Nuseirat refugee camp, Jabalia refugee camp, Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanun, and Gaza City, killing at least 95 people. Israeli forces also bomb the third floor of the Kamal Adwan Hospital. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb Tyre, Baalbek, Salaa, Zefta, Deir al-Zahrani, and other towns and villages, killing at least 45 people, including 6 paramedics. Hezbollah forces fire rockets at Metula and Haifa, killing 3 Israelis and 4 Thai workers. In Syria, Israeli forces bomb Qusayr, killing at least 10 people. In Yemen, UK and U.S. forces bomb Hodeidah. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, NYT, REU, REU, REU, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/31; AJ, NYT 11/1)
More than 43,204 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 17,000 children and 11,487 women, and around 101,651 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 10,000 people are missing in rubble. 768 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 167 children. More than 6,500 people have been injured. Israel reports that 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,400 have been injured in Israel since 10/7/2023, including Israeli soldiers. In addition, 365 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 2,373 injured in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27/2023. Over 1.93 million Palestinians, nearly 85% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7/2023. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12/2023 due to the Israeli blockade. 87% of all housing units in Gaza have been destroyed or severely damaged since 10/7/2023. COGAT data reveals that the amount of aid entering Gaza in October was a fourth of the monthly average in 2024, falling to 26.4 tons. (AJ, HA, HA, WAFA 10/31)
Hamas official Taher al-Nunu says Hamas will not accept a short-term ceasefire and will only support a permanent ceasefire. (AJ 10/31)
The Arab League calls on the international community to protect UNRWA after an extraordinary session on Israel’s ban on the UN agency. The EU condemns Israel’s ban on UNRWA, while European Council president Charles Michel says the decision could lead to the EU annulling its trade relations with Israel. (REU, WAFA, WAFA 10/31)
U.S. deputy assistant to the president Amos Hochstein and National Security Council coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk meet with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Mossad director David Barnea, discussing Israel’s wars on Gaza and Lebanon. Netanyahu reportedly says that Israel wants to maintain the ability to attack Lebanon even if a ceasefire is reached. CIA director Bill Burns meets with Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, discussing a ceasefire in Gaza. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin hold a press conference, saying that the U.S. believes that a ceasefire in Lebanon is within reach. Blinken also says that Israel must focus on ending its war in Gaza as it has completed all its objectives. (AJ, AP, HA, NYT, REU, REU 10/31; REU 11/1)
Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich’s spokesperson says Smotrich will sign a waiver extending the cooperation between Israeli and Palestinian banks for 1 month. The U.S. says that the short-term extension creates “another looming crisis.” (AJ, AX, HA, REU 10/31)