A new International Crisis Group report details how Israeli restrictions on movement, revenue, and land are crippling the West Bank's economy, leading to high unemployment, business decline, and the potential for increased instability and violence.
Israel's expropriation of land around the Sebastia archaeological site and its withholding of Palestinian tax revenues are devastating Palestinian livelihoods. The strategy uses heritage claims to justify settlement expansion and economic strangulation, impacting tourism, employment, and the Palestinian Authority's finances.
Over 100 UK lawmakers have urged the government to cancel an Israeli real estate event in London, citing its promotion of land sales in illegal West Bank settlements. Organizers deny these claims, stating properties are within the Green Line, but event details mentioning settlements have been removed.
At least three Palestinians were killed and several injured in Israeli attacks across Gaza on Saturday, including air and drone strikes. These incidents occurred despite a ceasefire declared months ago, with Gaza's Health Ministry reporting nearly 1,000 deaths since then. Meanwhile, Israeli forces conducted raids in the West Bank, resulting in injuries and property damage.
Israeli forces conducted a fatal drone attack in Gaza's Bureij camp, killing one and injuring two. Separate attacks in Gaza City and the West Bank resulted in further injuries, including a disabled Palestinian man shot near Hebron. These incidents occur despite a declared ceasefire, with Hamas accusing Israel of violations.
Sama Safi, a 20-year-old Palestinian American psychology student, has been held in Israeli military detention for nearly two weeks without charge. US lawmakers are calling for her release, citing her chronic medical condition and potential targeting based on alleged affiliation with a student organization. Her family and lawyer express concern over her treatment and the broader issue of administrative detention.
Israel's government has allocated $51m for settlement construction plans in the occupied West Bank, with a further $338m pending. The move faces international condemnation and criticism from groups like Peace Now and Amnesty International, who label settlements illegal and a barrier to peace.
Palestinian institutions and human rights organizations are observing a significant increase in the arrest and detention of women in the West Bank, with indications of a growing number of female prisoners held in Israeli jails under concerning conditions.
Palestinian families in the occupied West Bank face escalating settler violence, including land seizure, destruction of property, and displacement. Activists and locals report a state-backed campaign of ethnic cleansing, with settlers, often linked to sanctioned individuals like Neria Ben Pazi, using extra-legal force to drive out communities.
Israel appointed a new commander for its Golan Heights forces amid stalled Syrian security talks. The army opposes withdrawing from key positions, citing concerns over arms smuggling and a desire to maintain strategic control. Simultaneously, Israel is expanding settlements in the West Bank, including a new military post near Jenin, raising concerns about undermining Palestinian statehood.
Israel is expanding settlements in the West Bank and establishing a permanent military base near Jenin, a move seen as undermining Palestinian statehood. Simultaneously, US-Israel relations are analyzed, highlighting Netanyahu's evolving dynamic with US presidents from Clinton to Trump.
Amnesty International released a report accusing Israel of a state-sanctioned campaign of "ethnic cleansing" in the West Bank, aiming to annex the territory. The report details forced displacement of Palestinians due to settler violence and government policy, with over 100 villages affected since 2023.
Amnesty International released a 149-page report accusing Israel of orchestrating 'ethnic cleansing' in the West Bank through state policy, aiming for annexation. The report details forced displacement of Palestinians, with UN data showing over 100 villages emptied and thousands displaced since Jan 2023.
A UN commission reported severe violence against Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the West Bank by multiple parties, including Israeli forces and Hamas. Meanwhile, 20 countries urged Israel to revoke a law restricting aid organizations, calling the humanitarian situation in Gaza "catastrophic."
New footage from B'Tselem appears to contradict the IDF's account of the shooting death of seven-month-old Sam Abu Haikal, showing the family's car slowing down near soldiers before gunfire erupted. The family states they stopped as ordered, but were shot at, resulting in the infant's death and injuries to his parents. The IDF expressed sorrow and opened an investigation.
Amnesty International reports that the displacement of Palestinians from the West Bank is a deliberate Israeli government strategy of ethnic cleansing, not isolated incidents. The report highlights state-sanctioned violence, ignored court orders, and record settlement expansion, calling for international intervention.
The UK, alongside Australia, France, and Norway, has imposed sanctions on seven entities involved in financing West Bank settler violence. However, the UK stopped short of a trade ban, issuing updated advice to businesses instead, drawing criticism for being "too little too late."
A UN inquiry reports Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the West Bank face systematic rights violations from both Israeli forces/settlers and Hamas' rule, highlighting a state of mass atrocities and brutal governance.
A 7-month-old baby was killed and his parents injured when Israeli troops shot at their car in the West Bank, with the military later stating the victims were uninvolved civilians.
The author, citing their work on a UN commission of inquiry, condemns Israel's actions in Gaza and the West Bank as war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. They urge the Australian government to take concrete actions, including trade sanctions, accountability measures, and humanitarian aid, to fulfill its international law obligations.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced the approval of 2,162 new Jewish homes in occupied West Bank settlements. The move, condemned by Palestinians and most of the international community, aims to annex more territory and is considered illegal under international law.
US Secretary of State clarifies US policy, emphasizing maintaining the status quo in the West Bank, seeking written confirmation of Israel's lack of claims in Lebanon, engaging with Syria on security corridors, and a 20-point plan for Gaza's governance and economic development.
Palestinian farming communities in the occupied West Bank are being systematically driven from their land by intensified settler attacks, leading to loss of livestock, destruction of crops, and displacement. The violence, which has escalated since late 2023, targets the agricultural sector, the primary livelihood for many.
Palestinian children in the southern West Bank are regularly attacked and insulted by Israeli settlers while going to school. Settlers have blocked a path, forcing children onto a longer, more dangerous route, with some students reportedly too traumatized to attend.
