Feb. 4, 2026 | Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief
Content warning: this article discusses genocide, death and the death of children
On Oct. 7, 2023, the Islamist militant group governing the Gaza Strip, Hamas, launched an attack on Israel that killed more than a thousand people. In return, Israel launched a massive systematic destruction of Palestine that, over the course of more than two years, would end the lives of 70,000 Palestinians and wound upward of 171,000.
The carnage was well-reported up until the end of 2025, when coverage dissipated following Donald Trump’s proclamation that the war had ended. Israel agreed to a ceasefire and hostage release from both parties — 20 Israelis, 250 Palestinians and around 1,700 Gaza detainees — but, in small corners online, news is still being released about war-torn Gaza. Independent news network Al Jazeera reported Feb. 2, 2026, that only five medical patients were allowed to leave Gaza on the first day that Israel opened the Rafah crossing into Egypt — the only crossing that Gaza has that does not pass through Israel. Israel’s intense security screenings have posed significant difficulties for Palestinians hoping to pass through, many of whom are doing so mainly to receive medical help, considering none of Gaza’s hospitals currently operate at full capacity, with more than half of the 36 facilities being wiped out entirely, per an October 2025 article from the United Nations. Only 50 Palestinians may enter and exit Gaza through the Rafah crossing each day, and only on foot, per Israeli rule.
The ceasefire has been described as fragile — with 30 Palestinians allegedly killed in airstrikes Feb. 1 that landed on a displacement camp in Khan Yunis.
More than 500 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire was established, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Whether these numbers are accurate or not, nobody knows exactly; the number of 70,000 plus deaths also comes from the same organization, but Israel has backed this number and it has been deemed reliable by the U.N.
The U.N. reported at the end of January 2026 that 10,000 aid trucks were allowed to enter Gaza and that the famine and food security crisis had been reversed. Children are being vaccinated, families are being fed more consistently and access to aid has improved. Yet, for many children, the situation is still critical. The U.N. reported more than 100 child fatalities since the ceasefire was established in October 2025, as well as 100,000 children who are suffering from malnutrition and need shelter and warmth.
Humanitarian groups, such as the U.N. Children’s Fund and the World Food Programme, are prepared to access Gaza with more support and supplies, but are still awaiting approval for entry. Egypt has 150 hospitals ready to provide medical aid, but also are waiting out the Rafah crossing.
Despite the improvements, the land of Gaza itself still faces the effects of near-total destruction. Vital infrastructure has been demolished, and Gaza citizens displaced, with families living in tents and depending on Israel granting access to humanitarian organizations and medics to provide the help they need.
As for Ukraine, the country has only this week agreed to a proposal that would, although complex, lead to a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, though this could also be an unstable situation. If Russia were to breach an implemented ceasefire, a diplomatic warning could amount to action taken by Ukraine, and then response from the Coalition of the Willing — a collection of 34 countries that have pledged support to Ukraine that includes the United Kingdom, France, Germany and more — and, then, lastly, American involvement, assuming Russia continues to violate.
Trump stated publicly that he may have “good news” regarding the Russia-Ukraine war; meanwhile, Russian forces launched an attack early Feb. 2 on Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, knocking out power amidst negative temperatures. At least four were killed, hundreds evacuated and 3,500 buildings were blacked out.
At least 12 energy sector workers in southeastern Ukraine were killed in a Russian drone attack Feb. 1.
Russia invaded Ukraine four years ago in February 2022, a full-scale occupation that once claimed 30% of Ukraine territory and has since dwindled to approximately 20%. However, Russia has continued its attacks on Ukrainian cities and people, with Ukraine striking mainly at Russian oil and military sites with drones. Nearly 7 million people have fled Ukraine; 12.7 million need humanitarian assistance and 53,000 Ukrainians have been killed.
Citizens of Kyiv reported hospital and residential destruction, as well as war crimes committed by Russian militants, including executions, torture and rape in the initial attacks. In the years following, Russia and Ukraine positioned themselves in stalemates across Ukraine, engaging in combat as well as pulling out of it; Ukraine captured Russian land and Russia captured Ukrainian territory, battlefronts that have reportedly killed, wounded or disappeared nearly 2 million soldiers.
Russia in 2024 said it would have only agreed to a ceasefire if allowed to maintain all of the land it occupied, as well as govern it, but “not fully control,” and if Ukraine did not join NATO. In June 2025, Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, declared that Russia owned Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly stated that Ukraine will not negotiate as long as Russia maintains its occupation in Ukraine.
In November 2025, an American 28-point plan was offered, implementing a ceasefire, limiting Ukraine’s military size while Russia’s forces are unaffected, banning Ukraine from joining NATO, locking Russia and Ukraine into anti-discrimination laws and a non-aggression pact, as well as rebuilding Ukraine with U.S. and EU funds and frozen assets from Russia. Ukraine rejected the plan, with European leaders claiming Ukraine would be left vulnerable to potential future offenses. Trump responded by saying Ukraine had “ZERO GRATITUDE.” The U.K., France and Germany rebuilt the proposal, adding changes that led to an eventual acceptance from Ukraine, such as territory negotiations post-ceasefire, a military size increase for Ukraine and allowing Ukraine to join NATO.
As of Feb. 2, 2026, a ceasefire has not been established for the Russia-Ukraine war.
While most of the world looks toward the Winter Olympics and the award show wins, Palestine and Ukraine are facing long-lasting effects from catastrophic offenses and occupations, hundreds of thousands of people dead in the wake of war, and potentially — likely — more in the following months.
Contact the author at howleditorinchief@wou.edu
