⌨On February 3, 2026, Palestinian media shifted focus from the logistics of the Rafah crossing’s reopening to the systematic mistreatment of returnees. Morning headlines detailed a "torture gauntlet" where travelers were subjected to blindfolding, binding, and invasive searches by Israeli forces and local militias known as the "Abu Shabab" gang. Editors prioritized personal testimonies of humiliation, framing the reopening as an "incomplete humanitarian step" used for security vetting rather than relief.
By early afternoon, reporting pivoted to the death of elderly prisoner Khaled al-Saifi shortly after his release, which outlets characterized as a "slow execution" due to medical neglect. Concurrently, editors tracked lethal ceasefire violations in Khan Younis and Nuseirat, reporting a rising death toll. In the evening, the narrative centered on Prime Minister Netanyahu’s explicit rejection of any role for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza's civil management, clashing with the National Committee's nascent administrative efforts.