A Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh was shot dead on Wednesday as she covered a raid on Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. Ali Samoudi, another Palestinian journalist, was hospitalized in stable condition after being shot in the back.

A Palestinian American journalist shot and killed during Israeli raid in West Bank

There seems to be no end to the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. In the latest, the Hamas leader praised recent attacks and Al-Aqsa clashes.

No end to Israel-Palestine conflict: Hamas leader praises recent attacks

Tensions are on the rise between the Israelis and the Palestinian people. According to the latest update, a Palestinian man and an Israeli guard were killed in separate incidents in West Bank.

Israel- Palestine tensions: After Al-Aqsa, conflict continues in West Bank

Tensions are on the rise between the Israelis and the Palestinian people. According to the latest update, Israeli soldiers have shot dead three Palestinians including a 14-year-old boy in occupied west bank. Two teenagers and a lawyer were the ones who were shot dead by the Israeli police.

Palestinian lawyer, 2 teenagers killed in Israel-West Bank violence

Israel is on the edge once again. The situation seems to be a rerun of 2021. Tensions are rising in West Bank. There are recurring attacks in #TelAviv. Jerusalem too is in the grip of unrest. Palki Sharma Upadhyay tells you why.

Gravitas: Israel gripped by unrest once again

Three months into 2022, Israel is on the edge once again, a re-run of 2021 can be seen. Tensions are rising in the west bank, there are recurring attacks in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem is in the grip of unrest

Israel on high alert: Understanding the violence in Israel

Following a spate of recent attacks. Israeli forces have conducted raids in the west bank region. The recent developments come as tensions between Israelis and Palestinians escalate.

At least 10 wounded in fresh clashes near West bank

Israeli security forces on Thursday raided a&nbsp;West&nbsp;Bank&nbsp;town after&nbsp;three&nbsp;deadly attacks rocked the Jewish state in a week, with two Palestinians shot&nbsp;dead&nbsp;and a third killed after he launched a knife attack on a bus.

The&nbsp;violence&nbsp;comes after a Palestinian armed with an M-16 assault rifle killed five Israeli civilians in the streets of Bnei Brak, an Orthodox Jewish city near Tel Aviv, on Tuesday night.

That shooting took to 11 the number of people killed in the week of&nbsp;violence&nbsp;carried out by Israeli Arabs and Palestinians, days before the holy Muslim month of Ramadan begins.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-police-on-high-alert-after-5-killed-in-tel-aviv-shooting-466855">Israel Police on high alert after 5 killed in Tel Aviv shooting</a>

The latest bloodshed erupted on Thursday morning when the Israeli army said its soldiers returned fire after being shot at during an operation to arrest suspects in the&nbsp;West&nbsp;Bank&nbsp;city of Jenin.

"During the activity, Palestinian gunmen opened fire at the troops. IDF troops responded with fire," the army said in a statement, adding that one soldier was hospitalised.

The Palestinian health ministry said "the Israeli occupation forces" killed two Palestinians, both males aged 17 and 23, in Jenin and another 15 were wounded.

Later on Thursday morning, a Palestinian stabbed an Israeli civilian on a bus south of the&nbsp;West&nbsp;Bank&nbsp;city of Bethlehem, the army said, before "a civilian on the bus shot the terrorist&nbsp;dead."

Shaare Zedek hospital in Jerusalem said they treated a man aged about 30 for stab wounds to his torso.

The Palestinian health ministry identified the alleged assailant as Nidal Jumaa Jafara, 30.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-prime-minister-naftali-bennett-delays-india-trip-after-covid-infection-466580">Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett delays India trip after Covid infection</a>

Islamic Jihad warning&nbsp;

The Gaza Strip-based secretary general of the Islamic Jihad, Ziad Al-Nakhala, announced in a statement that the group's armed wing would step up activities "in light of the storming of Jenin camp by the Zionist enemy army".

The&nbsp;violence&nbsp;has cast a pall ahead of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which begins this weekend.

Last year, clashes in the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem escalated into 11 days of bloody conflict between Israel and the Hamas Islamic group that controls the Gaza Strip.

Early Thursday, far-right Israeli lawmaker Itamar Ben Gvir taunted Hamas as he walked the Al-Aqsa compound, which Jews revere as the site of two ancient temples.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-thinks-of-buying-israeli-anti-missile-system-466033"> Germany thinks of buying Israeli anti-missile system Iron Dome</a>

"All night Hamas threatened me and said that I was in the line of fire and told me not to come here, I say to the Hamas spokesman shut up," he said.

Israel captured the&nbsp;West&nbsp;Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem in the Six-Day War of 1967. Palestinians seek to end Israel's rule of those territories and build an independent state on the land.

Peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians have been frozen for years.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is opposed to a Palestinian state, and instead has pursued a policy of economic easements for Palestinians.

Bennett is also a former settler leader and construction of Israeli settlements in the&nbsp;West&nbsp;Bank&nbsp;has continued unabated, despite his diverse coalition that ranges from nationalists to Israeli doves to an Arab Muslim party.

Nearly half a million Israelis live settlements across the&nbsp;West&nbsp;Bank&nbsp;that are considered illegal under international law.

Watch |&nbsp;The rise in gun attacks in Israel: PM Bennett to convene security cabinet today

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/the-rise-in-gun-attacks-in-israel-pm-bennett-to-convene-security-cabinet-today-466847/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Israeli security forces on Thursday raided a West Bank town after three deadly attacks rocked the Jewish state in a week, with two Palestinians shot dead and a third killed after he launched a knife attack on a bus.

Israeli security forces on Thursday raided a West Bank town after three deadly attacks rocked the Jewish state in a week, with two Palestinians shot dead and a third killed after he launched a knife attack on a bus. The violence comes after a Palestinian armed with an M-16 assault rifle killed five Israeli civilians in the streets of Bnei Brak, an Orthodox Jewish city near Tel Aviv, on Tuesday night. That shooting took to 11 the number of people killed in the week of violence carried out by Israeli Arabs and Palestinians, days before the holy Muslim month of Ramadan begins. Also read | Israel Police on high alert after 5 killed in Tel Aviv shooting The latest bloodshed erupted on Thursday morning when the Israeli army said its soldiers returned fire after being shot at during an operation to arrest suspects in the West Bank city of Jenin. "During the activity, Palestinian gunmen opened fire at the troops. IDF troops responded with fire," the army said in a statement, adding that one soldier was hospitalised. The Palestinian health ministry said "the Israeli occupation forces" killed two Palestinians, both males aged 17 and 23, in Jenin and another 15 were wounded. Later on Thursday morning, a Palestinian stabbed an Israeli civilian on a bus south of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, the army said, before "a civilian on the bus shot the terrorist dead." Shaare Zedek hospital in Jerusalem said they treated a man aged about 30 for stab wounds to his torso. The Palestinian health ministry identified the alleged assailant as Nidal Jumaa Jafara, 30. Also read | Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett delays India trip after Covid infection Islamic Jihad warning The Gaza Strip-based secretary general of the Islamic Jihad, Ziad Al-Nakhala, announced in a statement that the group's armed wing would step up activities "in light of the storming of Jenin camp by the Zionist enemy army". The violence has cast a pall ahead of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which begins this weekend. Last year, clashes in the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem escalated into 11 days of bloody conflict between Israel and the Hamas Islamic group that controls the Gaza Strip. Early Thursday, far-right Israeli lawmaker Itamar Ben Gvir taunted Hamas as he walked the Al-Aqsa compound, which Jews revere as the site of two ancient temples. Also read | Germany thinks of buying Israeli anti-missile system Iron Dome "All night Hamas threatened me and said that I was in the line of fire and told me not to come here, I say to the Hamas spokesman shut up," he said. Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem in the Six-Day War of 1967. Palestinians seek to end Israel's rule of those territories and build an independent state on the land. Peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians have been frozen for years. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is opposed to a Palestinian state, and instead has pursued a policy of economic easements for Palestinians. Bennett is also a former settler leader and construction of Israeli settlements in the West Bank has continued unabated, despite his diverse coalition that ranges from nationalists to Israeli doves to an Arab Muslim party. Nearly half a million Israelis live settlements across the West Bank that are considered illegal under international law. Watch | The rise in gun attacks in Israel: PM Bennett to convene security cabinet today

Three dead as West Bank violence escalates

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to the west bank. The visit comes at a time when Iran is inching closer to reviving the Nuclear deal.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to travel to the west bank

People in Israel have started a social media campaign against 'The New York Times' that portrayed them as 'angry' and displeased.'

They are posting pictures with the hashtag 'sad, sad Israel' to mock the article by the New York-based American daily newspaper.

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The <a href="https://twitter.com/nytimes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nytimes</a> has portrayed Israelis in their latest article as angry and displeased. 
 
If we put aside the fact that Israel was ranked the 12th happiest country in the world, they are right, we are sad sad, look at my face. 😂 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SadSadIsrael?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SadSadIsrael</a> <a href="https://t.co/sXzWUBgT74">pic.twitter.com/sXzWUBgT74</a>
— Hananya Naftali (@HananyaNaftali) <a href="https://twitter.com/HananyaNaftali/status/1455679049498603521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Calling Israel a ''divided'' land, the article that provoked many Israelis talks&nbsp;about ''incompatible factions'' and grievances of the people living in the country.

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Some folks, like <a href="https://twitter.com/PatrickKingsley?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PatrickKingsley</a> of <a href="https://twitter.com/nytimes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nytimes</a>, choose to see only the negative in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Israel?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Israel</a>. They come here with set preconceptions and refuse to take off their blinkers. Suggest open your eyes, talk to people, get out of your comfort zone. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SadSadIsrael?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SadSadIsrael</a> <a href="https://t.co/SgjDzyJqMn">pic.twitter.com/SgjDzyJqMn</a>
— Arsen Ostrovsky (@Ostrov_A) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ostrov_A/status/1455601600622469122?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Just two sad sad Israelis in the middle of a war, getting engaged. Look how sad we are! 
 
I guess <a href="https://twitter.com/nytimes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nytimes</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/PatrickKingsley?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PatrickKingsley</a> hate this since they want to portray Israelis as sad miserable people in their latest absurd article.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SadSadIsrael?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SadSadIsrael</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/YosephHaddad?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YosephHaddad</a> <a href="https://t.co/luubozRqFH">pic.twitter.com/luubozRqFH</a>
— Emily Schrader - אמילי שריידר (@emilykschrader) <a href="https://twitter.com/emilykschrader/status/1455576418340032517?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The <a href="https://twitter.com/nytimes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nytimes</a> published an article that portrayed Israel as a polarized state whose citizens are resentful and angry. To my delight, social media is full of Israelis proving otherwise. Even if there are things to fix, we love our country 🇮🇱 
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SadSadIsrael?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SadSadIsrael</a> 
<a href="https://twitter.com/PatrickKingsley?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PatrickKingsley</a> <a href="https://t.co/7gZJ1v5Qo9">pic.twitter.com/7gZJ1v5Qo9</a>
— יוסף חדאד - Yoseph Haddad (@YosephHaddad) <a href="https://twitter.com/YosephHaddad/status/1455569059928489984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The article had also&nbsp;highlighted&nbsp;how many Arab Israelis were increasingly asserting their Palestinian identity.

Israelis have criticised the negative outlook of NYT and have lambasted its preconceptions. They have also highlighted that Israel was ranked the 12th happiest country in the world.

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.<a href="https://twitter.com/nytimes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nytimes</a> we're sooo sad<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SadSadIsrael?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SadSadIsrael</a> <a href="https://t.co/Oev7JZ6dGP">pic.twitter.com/Oev7JZ6dGP</a>
— Israel ישראל (@Israel) <a href="https://twitter.com/Israel/status/1455548418315673600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2021</a></blockquote>
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We stay out all night and swim in warm sea water, or argue with our friends on crowded corners, or drink whiskey until sunrise or dance until our feet hurt and then stop for a minute and keep on dancing… we chose life with our arms and eyes wide open. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SadSadIsrael?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SadSadIsrael</a> <a href="https://t.co/HXSxWL4aQO">pic.twitter.com/HXSxWL4aQO</a>
— (((TuttleSinger))) سارا تاتل سينجر שרה טאטל-סינגר (@TuttleSinger) <a href="https://twitter.com/TuttleSinger/status/1455537203833196544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The country's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett had become the first leader to include an independent Arab party in its coalition.&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-has-the-arab-world-abandoned-palestine-424276/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

It comes as Palestinians facing eviction from the flashpoint East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah rejected a deal that would have seen them accept the temporary ownership of their homes by an Israeli settler organisation.

The long-running legal battle over the evictions helped trigger an 11-day war between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza, and the case has been a regular source of tension across East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-indicts-palestinian-jail-breakers-417910">Also read |&nbsp;Israel indicts Palestinian jail breakers</a>

Seeking a compromise, Israel's Supreme Court in October proposed a deal that would have seen four Palestinian families remain in their homes for 15 years as "protected tenants" while paying rent to settlers who claim the land.

The deal would have required the Palestinians to recognise the settlers' ownership claims on land their families have lived on for generations - a condition they have long rejected. It also would have granted them the right to prove ownership in the future.

Israel captured East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war, occupying and later annexing it. It regards the entire city as its undivided capital - a status not recognised internationally.

Palestinians seek East Jerusalem as the capital of a state they hope to establish in the West Bank and Gaza.

People in Israel have started a social media campaign against 'The New York Times' that portrayed them as 'angry' and displeased.' They are posting pictures with the hashtag 'sad, sad Israel' to mock the article by the New York-based American daily newspaper.

People in Israel have started a social media campaign against 'The New York Times' that portrayed them as 'angry' and displeased.' They are posting pictures with the hashtag 'sad, sad Israel' to mock the article by the New York-based American daily newspaper. The @nytimes has portrayed Israelis in their latest article as angry and displeased. If we put aside the fact that Israel was ranked the 12th happiest country in the world, they are right, we are sad sad, look at my face. 😂 #SadSadIsrael pic.twitter.com/sXzWUBgT74 — Hananya Naftali (@HananyaNaftali) November 2, 2021 × Calling Israel a ''divided'' land, the article that provoked many Israelis talks about ''incompatible factions'' and grievances of the people living in the country. Some folks, like @PatrickKingsley of @nytimes, choose to see only the negative in #Israel. They come here with set preconceptions and refuse to take off their blinkers. Suggest open your eyes, talk to people, get out of your comfort zone. #SadSadIsrael pic.twitter.com/SgjDzyJqMn — Arsen Ostrovsky (@Ostrov_A) November 2, 2021 × Just two sad sad Israelis in the middle of a war, getting engaged. Look how sad we are! I guess @nytimes and @PatrickKingsley hate this since they want to portray Israelis as sad miserable people in their latest absurd article.#SadSadIsrael @YosephHaddad pic.twitter.com/luubozRqFH — Emily Schrader - אמילי שריידר (@emilykschrader) November 2, 2021 × The @nytimes published an article that portrayed Israel as a polarized state whose citizens are resentful and angry. To my delight, social media is full of Israelis proving otherwise. Even if there are things to fix, we love our country 🇮🇱 #SadSadIsrael @PatrickKingsley pic.twitter.com/7gZJ1v5Qo9 — יוסף חדאד - Yoseph Haddad (@YosephHaddad) November 2, 2021 × The article had also highlighted how many Arab Israelis were increasingly asserting their Palestinian identity. Israelis have criticised the negative outlook of NYT and have lambasted its preconceptions. They have also highlighted that Israel was ranked the 12th happiest country in the world. .@nytimes we're sooo sad#SadSadIsrael pic.twitter.com/Oev7JZ6dGP — Israel ישראל (@Israel) November 2, 2021 × We stay out all night and swim in warm sea water, or argue with our friends on crowded corners, or drink whiskey until sunrise or dance until our feet hurt and then stop for a minute and keep on dancing… we chose life with our arms and eyes wide open. #SadSadIsrael pic.twitter.com/HXSxWL4aQO — (((TuttleSinger))) سارا تاتل سينجر שרה טאטל-סינגר (@TuttleSinger) November 2, 2021 × The country's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett had become the first leader to include an independent Arab party in its coalition. It comes as Palestinians facing eviction from the flashpoint East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah rejected a deal that would have seen them accept the temporary ownership of their homes by an Israeli settler organisation. The long-running legal battle over the evictions helped trigger an 11-day war between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza, and the case has been a regular source of tension across East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank. Also read | Israel indicts Palestinian jail breakers Seeking a compromise, Israel's Supreme Court in October proposed a deal that would have seen four Palestinian families remain in their homes for 15 years as "protected tenants" while paying rent to settlers who claim the land. The deal would have required the Palestinians to recognise the settlers' ownership claims on land their families have lived on for generations - a condition they have long rejected. It also would have granted them the right to prove ownership in the future. Israel captured East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war, occupying and later annexing it. It regards the entire city as its undivided capital - a status not recognised internationally. Palestinians seek East Jerusalem as the capital of a state they hope to establish in the West Bank and Gaza.

Cheeky protest: Israelis mock NYT on social media for article with negative portrayal of country

Israel advances plans to build around 3,000 settler homes in the occupied West Bank, defying the US' strongest criticism to date of such projects.

Israel moves ahead with new West Bank settlement homes plan despite US opposition

The United States has voiced 'strong' opposition toward the Israeli government’s push to expand settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. This comes after Israel announced construction tenders for 1,355 housing units in the West Bank.

US 'strongly' opposes Israel's new West Bank settlement homes expansion plan

Israel has approved plans to build more settlements for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank, drawing immediate condemnation from Palestinians, peace activists and neighbouring Jordan.

Palestinians anger at Israel's new West Bank settlement homes plan

Israel has announced plans to build more residences for Jewish settlers in the occupied west bank. Israel land authority has published tenders for about 1,300 new settlement homes in the West Bank.

Israel to build more residences for Jewish settlers in West Bank

Israel on Sunday announced plans to build more residences for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank, drawing immediate condemnation from Palestinians, peace activists and neighbouring Jordan.

The announcement from the housing and construction ministry in right-wing Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's government said tenders had been published for 1,355 homes in the West Bank, which has been occupied by Israel since the 1967 Six-Day War.

Those new homes add to the more than 2,000 residences which defence sources have said in August would be authorised for West Bank settlers.

Final approval is expected from the defence ministry this week for those homes.

Palestinian prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh, speaking at a weekly cabinet meeting, called on world nations, and especially the United States, to "confront" Israel over the "aggression" that settlement construction poses for the Palestinian people.

The Palestinian Authority will be keenly watching for a response from US President Joe Biden's administration, which has said it opposes unilateral Israeli settlement construction as an obstacle to the two-state solution to the conflict.

About 475,000 Israeli Jews live in settlements in the West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law, on land Palestinians claim as part of their future state.

'Wake up'

Jordan, a key Israeli security partner with whom Bennett has sought to improve ties since taking office in June, condemned the announcement as "a violation of international law."

Jordanian foreign ministry spokesman Haitham Abu Al-Ful blasted settlement construction and general "confiscation" of Palestinian land as "illegitimate."

Anti-occupation group Peace Now said Sunday's announcement proved that Bennett's ideologically diverse coalition, which ousted ex-premier Benjamin Netanyahu's pro-settlement government in June, was not "a government of change."

"This government clearly continues Netanyahu's policy of de facto annexation," Peace Now said, calling on Bennett's left-wing governing partners, the Labor and Meretz parties, to "wake up and demand the wild building in settlements cease immediately."

Bennett, the former head of a settler lobby group, opposes Palestinian statehood.

He has ruled out formal peace talks with the Palestinian Authority during his tenure, saying he prefers to focus on economic improvements.

The tenders come after Israel last week gave approval for 4,000 Palestinians to register as residents of the West Bank, the first such move in the Israeli-occupied territory in 12 years.

The new Jewish homes are to be built in seven settlements, according to the statement from the Housing and Construction Ministry.

Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank and annexed east Jerusalem has continued under every Israeli government since 1967.

However, construction accelerated in the last few years under Netanyahu, with a significant boom during former president Donald Trump's US administration, accused of egregious pro-Israel bias by Palestinians.&nbsp;

Israel on Sunday announced plans to build more residences for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank, drawing immediate condemnation from Palestinians, peace activists and neighbouring Jordan.

Israel on Sunday announced plans to build more residences for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank, drawing immediate condemnation from Palestinians, peace activists and neighbouring Jordan. The announcement from the housing and construction ministry in right-wing Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's government said tenders had been published for 1,355 homes in the West Bank, which has been occupied by Israel since the 1967 Six-Day War. Those new homes add to the more than 2,000 residences which defence sources have said in August would be authorised for West Bank settlers. Final approval is expected from the defence ministry this week for those homes. Palestinian prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh, speaking at a weekly cabinet meeting, called on world nations, and especially the United States, to "confront" Israel over the "aggression" that settlement construction poses for the Palestinian people. The Palestinian Authority will be keenly watching for a response from US President Joe Biden's administration, which has said it opposes unilateral Israeli settlement construction as an obstacle to the two-state solution to the conflict. About 475,000 Israeli Jews live in settlements in the West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law, on land Palestinians claim as part of their future state. 'Wake up' Jordan, a key Israeli security partner with whom Bennett has sought to improve ties since taking office in June, condemned the announcement as "a violation of international law." Jordanian foreign ministry spokesman Haitham Abu Al-Ful blasted settlement construction and general "confiscation" of Palestinian land as "illegitimate." Anti-occupation group Peace Now said Sunday's announcement proved that Bennett's ideologically diverse coalition, which ousted ex-premier Benjamin Netanyahu's pro-settlement government in June, was not "a government of change." "This government clearly continues Netanyahu's policy of de facto annexation," Peace Now said, calling on Bennett's left-wing governing partners, the Labor and Meretz parties, to "wake up and demand the wild building in settlements cease immediately." Bennett, the former head of a settler lobby group, opposes Palestinian statehood. He has ruled out formal peace talks with the Palestinian Authority during his tenure, saying he prefers to focus on economic improvements. The tenders come after Israel last week gave approval for 4,000 Palestinians to register as residents of the West Bank, the first such move in the Israeli-occupied territory in 12 years. The new Jewish homes are to be built in seven settlements, according to the statement from the Housing and Construction Ministry. Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank and annexed east Jerusalem has continued under every Israeli government since 1967. However, construction accelerated in the last few years under Netanyahu, with a significant boom during former president Donald Trump's US administration, accused of egregious pro-Israel bias by Palestinians.

Israel to build over new 1,300 W.Bank settler homes

A&nbsp;Palestinian&nbsp;shot by&nbsp;Israeli&nbsp;forces in the occupied&nbsp;West&nbsp;Bank&nbsp;died of his wounds on Friday, the&nbsp;Palestinian&nbsp;health&nbsp;ministry&nbsp;said.

Imad Ali Mohammad Dweikat, 38, reached hospital in the city of Nablus "in a critical state"&nbsp;after&nbsp;receiving "a live bullet to the chest" in the nearby town of Beita, it said in a statement.

Beita sees regular demonstrations against the&nbsp;Israeli&nbsp;occupation and settlement expansion, which often degenerate into&nbsp;clashes.

An AFP reporter saw hundreds of demonstrators protesting outside the town on Friday afternoon, some throwing rocks at&nbsp;Israeli&nbsp;troops.

The&nbsp;Israeli&nbsp;army told AFP a "riot" had been instigated by "700 Palestinians who burned tires and hurled rocks and Molotov cocktails at IDF troops and border police officers, who responded with riot dispersal means".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-orders-massive-reinforcement-of-forces-to-quell-unrest-in-cities-after-gaza-violence-384790">Also read |&nbsp;Israel orders 'massive reinforcement' of forces to quell unrest in cities after Gaza violence</a>

"We are aware of reports that a&nbsp;Palestinian&nbsp;was killed and a number of Palestinians were injured", it said, without adding details.

Last Friday, some 270 Palestinians were wounded in&nbsp;clashes&nbsp;with&nbsp;Israeli&nbsp;troops during protests in Beita and during the funeral of a young&nbsp;Palestinian&nbsp;killed the day before, the&nbsp;Palestinian&nbsp;Red Crescent reported.&nbsp;

On July 23, 320 Palestinians were wounded or suffered from tear gas inhalation in&nbsp;clashes&nbsp;with&nbsp;Israeli&nbsp;forces in Beita, medics said. A teenager shot by&nbsp;Israeli&nbsp;forces later died of his wounds.

Beita residents have been demonstrating since May against a the wildcat Eviatar Jewish settlement set up nearby without official permission from&nbsp;Israeli&nbsp;authorities.&nbsp;

The settlement was evacuated in early July but&nbsp;Israeli&nbsp;army troops remain stationed there while authorities deliberate on its fate.

If the settlement is approved, its founders will be allowed to take up residence there more permanently.

Beita's residents have vowed to continue their campaign until the army also leaves the outpost.

Israel occupied the&nbsp;West&nbsp;Bank&nbsp;during the 1967 Six-Day War and all Jewish settlements there are considered illegal by most of the international community.

Almost half a million people live in&nbsp;Israeli&nbsp;settlements in the&nbsp;West&nbsp;Bank, alongside 2.8 million Palestinians.

A Palestinian shot by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank died of his wounds on Friday, the Palestinian health ministry said. Imad Ali Mohammad Dweikat, 38, reached hospital in the city of Nablus "in a critical state" after receiving "a live bullet to the chest" in the nearby town of Beita, it said in a statement.

A Palestinian shot by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank died of his wounds on Friday, the Palestinian health ministry said. Imad Ali Mohammad Dweikat, 38, reached hospital in the city of Nablus "in a critical state" after receiving "a live bullet to the chest" in the nearby town of Beita, it said in a statement. Beita sees regular demonstrations against the Israeli occupation and settlement expansion, which often degenerate into clashes. An AFP reporter saw hundreds of demonstrators protesting outside the town on Friday afternoon, some throwing rocks at Israeli troops. The Israeli army told AFP a "riot" had been instigated by "700 Palestinians who burned tires and hurled rocks and Molotov cocktails at IDF troops and border police officers, who responded with riot dispersal means". Also read | Israel orders 'massive reinforcement' of forces to quell unrest in cities after Gaza violence "We are aware of reports that a Palestinian was killed and a number of Palestinians were injured", it said, without adding details. Last Friday, some 270 Palestinians were wounded in clashes with Israeli troops during protests in Beita and during the funeral of a young Palestinian killed the day before, the Palestinian Red Crescent reported. On July 23, 320 Palestinians were wounded or suffered from tear gas inhalation in clashes with Israeli forces in Beita, medics said. A teenager shot by Israeli forces later died of his wounds. Beita residents have been demonstrating since May against a the wildcat Eviatar Jewish settlement set up nearby without official permission from Israeli authorities. The settlement was evacuated in early July but Israeli army troops remain stationed there while authorities deliberate on its fate. If the settlement is approved, its founders will be allowed to take up residence there more permanently. Beita's residents have vowed to continue their campaign until the army also leaves the outpost. Israel occupied the West Bank during the 1967 Six-Day War and all Jewish settlements there are considered illegal by most of the international community. Almost half a million people live in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, alongside 2.8 million Palestinians.

Palestinian dies of Israeli gunfire after West Bank clashes: Ministry

While Ben & Jerry’s products will not be sold in the settlements, the company said it will stay in Israel through a different arrangement. But doing so will be difficult.

Ben & Jerry’s to stop sales in West Bank, East Jerusalem

Makeup artist Sahar Ahmad travels the West Bank in a pink-and-black minibus with the picture of Marilyn Monroe painted on it. Named 'Glitter' and adorned with the slogan "Beauty on the way," the minibus serves brides and clients short on time or ones who are unable to reach the salon.

Mobile salon brings beauty services to West Bank women

Israeli cabinet said on Sunday that Israel will withhold USD 180 million in tax revenue it collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority (PA). This is about 7 per cent of total tax revenue of the PA. Israel said that this decision has been taken to offset stipends paid to militants and their families

Under a 2018 law, Israel calculates each year how much it believes the Palestinian Authority has paid in stipends to militants, and deducts that amount from the taxes it has collected on the Palestinians` behalf.

Taxes collected by Israel form about half of the income of the Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Israel calls stipends for militants and their families a “pay for slay” policy that encourages violence.&nbsp; 
Palestinians hail their jailed brethren as heroes in a struggle for an independent state and their families as deserving of support.

Qadri Abu Baker, head of prisoners affairs in the Palestine Liberation Organization, called the Israeli measure a crime of “terror and piracy.”

(With inputs from agencies)

Israeli cabinet said on Sunday that Israel will withhold USD 180 million in tax revenue it collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority (PA). This is about 7 per cent of total tax revenue of the PA.

Israeli cabinet said on Sunday that Israel will withhold USD 180 million in tax revenue it collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority (PA). This is about 7 per cent of total tax revenue of the PA. Israel said that this decision has been taken to offset stipends paid to militants and their families Under a 2018 law, Israel calculates each year how much it believes the Palestinian Authority has paid in stipends to militants, and deducts that amount from the taxes it has collected on the Palestinians` behalf. Taxes collected by Israel form about half of the income of the Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Israel calls stipends for militants and their families a “pay for slay” policy that encourages violence. Palestinians hail their jailed brethren as heroes in a struggle for an independent state and their families as deserving of support. Qadri Abu Baker, head of prisoners affairs in the Palestine Liberation Organization, called the Israeli measure a crime of “terror and piracy.” (With inputs from agencies)

Israel withholds USD 180 million Palestinian funds over militant stipends

A Palestinian man was killed by Israeli gunfire in the West Bank on Saturday, July 3, in an incident Israel's army described as a "violent confrontation" between Palestinians and Jewish settlers.

The statement by Israeli army did not confirm the fatality. However, it said that the troops had fired at a suspect who threw "a suspicious object that exploded on the soldiers", amid the unrest.&nbsp;

As per the Palestinian health ministry, Mohammad Fareed Hasan, who was in his 20s, was killed in his village of Qusra near the city Nablus by Israeli gunfire, while two others were wounded.

"Hasan was standing on the rooftop of his home when he was shot dead," said a report on the official Wafa news agency.&nbsp; 
Israel's army said, "a violent confrontation between tens of Palestinians and Israeli settlers developed adjacent to the village of

Qusra, south of Nablus, during which both sides hurled rocks at each other.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-strikes-gaza-after-incendiary-balloon-launch-395339">Also Read |&nbsp;Israel strikes Gaza after incendiary balloon launch</a>

"Troops who were present at the scene operated to distance both sides from the area using riot dispersal means.

"During the activity, a suspect was identified throwing a suspicious object that exploded on the soldiers, who responded by firing at the threat," the statement added.&nbsp;

Eleven days of deadly fighting between Israel and Gaza's Hamas Islamist rulers, as well as other Palestinian armed groups based in the enclave, ended on May 21 with a ceasefire declaration. There was no immediate indication as to which Gaza-based group was responsible for the balloon launch.&nbsp;

The conflict has killed 260 Palestinians including some fighters, according to Gaza authorities. In Israel, 13 people were killed, including a soldier, by rockets fired from Gaza, the police and army said.

Israel has maintained a crippling blockade on Gaza since 2007. This is the year Hamas took power, which the Jewish state says is necessary to contain armed groups in the enclave.&nbsp;

A Palestinian man was killed by Israeli gunfire in the West Bank on Saturday, July 3, in an incident Israel's army described as a "violent confrontation" between Palestinians and Jewish settlers.

A Palestinian man was killed by Israeli gunfire in the West Bank on Saturday, July 3, in an incident Israel's army described as a "violent confrontation" between Palestinians and Jewish settlers. The statement by Israeli army did not confirm the fatality. However, it said that the troops had fired at a suspect who threw "a suspicious object that exploded on the soldiers", amid the unrest. As per the Palestinian health ministry, Mohammad Fareed Hasan, who was in his 20s, was killed in his village of Qusra near the city Nablus by Israeli gunfire, while two others were wounded. "Hasan was standing on the rooftop of his home when he was shot dead," said a report on the official Wafa news agency. Israel's army said, "a violent confrontation between tens of Palestinians and Israeli settlers developed adjacent to the village of Qusra, south of Nablus, during which both sides hurled rocks at each other. Also Read | Israel strikes Gaza after incendiary balloon launch "Troops who were present at the scene operated to distance both sides from the area using riot dispersal means. "During the activity, a suspect was identified throwing a suspicious object that exploded on the soldiers, who responded by firing at the threat," the statement added. Eleven days of deadly fighting between Israel and Gaza's Hamas Islamist rulers, as well as other Palestinian armed groups based in the enclave, ended on May 21 with a ceasefire declaration. There was no immediate indication as to which Gaza-based group was responsible for the balloon launch. The conflict has killed 260 Palestinians including some fighters, according to Gaza authorities. In Israel, 13 people were killed, including a soldier, by rockets fired from Gaza, the police and army said. Israel has maintained a crippling blockade on Gaza since 2007. This is the year Hamas took power, which the Jewish state says is necessary to contain armed groups in the enclave.

Israeli fire kills Palestinian man in West Bank unrest

Israel's government has reached a deal for Jewish settlers to vacate an illegal West Bank outpost. Dozens of settler families several weeks ago started to build the Eviatar wildcat settlement in defiance of both international and Israeli law.

Israel's government has reached a deal for Jewish settlers to vacate an illegal West Bank outpost. Dozens of settler families several weeks ago started to build the Eviatar wildcat settlement in defiance of both international and Israeli law. This sparked protests from Palestinians in nearby villages. The Palestinians harassed the settlers by burning car tyres, sounding horns and pointing laser beams at them, leading to deadly clashes with Israeli security forces. The hilltop area where the settlers have established their settlement of trailer homes and tents lies near Nablus in the West Bank, which is a Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967. According to the reports by AFP, the settlers will leave by 4:00 pm (1300 GMT) Friday. However, their temporary homes will remain and the Israeli army will establish a presence in the area. Also Read | US drops sanctions on three Iranians, says move unrelated to nuclear talks Palestinians in the nearby village of Beita have rejected any outcome other than a permanent evacuation of the settlers. "This agreement was made between settlers and the army and we have nothing to do with it," Beita's deputy mayor Mussa Hamayel told AFP. "Obviously, as long as any settler, or any soldier, remains on our land, clashes and protests will continue." All Jewish settlements in the West Bank are considered 'illegal' by most of the international community. However, the settlement expansion has proliferated in recent years, with 475,000 Jewish Israelis now living in the West Bank alongside roughly 2.8 million Palestinians. As of now, four Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops in unrest over Eviatar. Further pressures may emerge as the settlers agitate for a return to the site, where they paved asphalt roads and connected some 50 trailers to electricity and plumbing in the time span of a week.

Israel PM strikes deal for settlers to leave West Bank outpost

The&nbsp;Israeli government and Jewish settlers have reached a deal to vacate and remove a West Bank outpost that has become a flashpoint for clashes with Palestinians who also claim the land.

Under the agreement with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, the settlers will leave the Givat Eviatar outpost in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. But it seemed likely that at least some of the outpost's new buildings would remain, locked and under military guard, an outcome that is certain to anger Palestinian protesters who demand it be removed.

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The hilltop settlement outpost near the Palestinian city of Nablus was established without Israeli government permits in May and is now home to more than 50 settler families.

The Israeli military ordered it to be cleared, presenting an early challenge for the new prime minister. Bennett was once a leader of the settler movement and heads a pro-settler party, putting him at odds with some of his own voter base if the settlers were forcibly evicted.

But his ruling coalition only survives with the support of left-wing and Islamist Arab parties, making sensitive policy decisions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict difficult.

An official with Israel's Defence Ministry, which administers the settlements, said the Givat Eviatar families had agreed to leave voluntarily by the weekend.

Troops would stay on and a land survey conducted to determine if a government-backed settlement can be established there, the official told Reuters.

Settler leader Yossi Dagan said the families would leave on Friday under the deal. The structures serving as their homes would be locked, he said, suggesting they would not be dismantled.&nbsp;

On Wednesday Moussa Hamayel, deputy mayor of the nearby Palestinian village Beita, said: "We will continue our popular activities (protests) until the settlement is removed and our land is returned to us." Beita's residents claim ownership of the area on which Givat Eviatar sits.

Most world powers deem all of the settlements, built on land Israel captured and occupied in a 1967 Middle East war, to be illegal. Israel disputes this, citing historical ties to the land on which they sit, and its own security needs.

Israeli soldiers have shot dead five Palestinians during stone-throwing protests since the outpost was set up, Palestinian officials said. The military did not comment on fatalities, but said troops used live fire only as a last resort.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Israeli government and Jewish settlers have reached a deal to vacate and remove a West Bank outpost that has become a flashpoint for clashes with Palestinians who also claim the land.

The Israeli government and Jewish settlers have reached a deal to vacate and remove a West Bank outpost that has become a flashpoint for clashes with Palestinians who also claim the land. Under the agreement with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, the settlers will leave the Givat Eviatar outpost in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. But it seemed likely that at least some of the outpost's new buildings would remain, locked and under military guard, an outcome that is certain to anger Palestinian protesters who demand it be removed. The hilltop settlement outpost near the Palestinian city of Nablus was established without Israeli government permits in May and is now home to more than 50 settler families. The Israeli military ordered it to be cleared, presenting an early challenge for the new prime minister. Bennett was once a leader of the settler movement and heads a pro-settler party, putting him at odds with some of his own voter base if the settlers were forcibly evicted. But his ruling coalition only survives with the support of left-wing and Islamist Arab parties, making sensitive policy decisions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict difficult. An official with Israel's Defence Ministry, which administers the settlements, said the Givat Eviatar families had agreed to leave voluntarily by the weekend. Troops would stay on and a land survey conducted to determine if a government-backed settlement can be established there, the official told Reuters. Settler leader Yossi Dagan said the families would leave on Friday under the deal. The structures serving as their homes would be locked, he said, suggesting they would not be dismantled. On Wednesday Moussa Hamayel, deputy mayor of the nearby Palestinian village Beita, said: "We will continue our popular activities (protests) until the settlement is removed and our land is returned to us." Beita's residents claim ownership of the area on which Givat Eviatar sits. Most world powers deem all of the settlements, built on land Israel captured and occupied in a 1967 Middle East war, to be illegal. Israel disputes this, citing historical ties to the land on which they sit, and its own security needs. Israeli soldiers have shot dead five Palestinians during stone-throwing protests since the outpost was set up, Palestinian officials said. The military did not comment on fatalities, but said troops used live fire only as a last resort. (With inputs from agencies)

Israeli government and Jewish settlers reach deal to vacate West Bank outpost

Hundreds of Palestinians attended a funeral on Thursday&nbsp;in the West Bank town of Beita, for a teenager who medical sources said had died after being shot by&nbsp;Israeli soldiers during clashes in the town.

Mourners carried the boy's body on their shoulders, waved Palestinian flags, and chanted slogans, including "To Jerusalem we go, martyrs in millions."

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The Palestinian Ministry of Health said that 15-year-old Ahmed Bani Shamsa was shot in the head on Wednesday evening. His death was announced on Thursday at Rafidia Hospital in Nablus.

The Israeli military said a group of Palestinians approached the troops and&nbsp;a suspicious object was hurled at them, which exploded later. A soldier fired in the air and then shot the Palestinian who threw the object.

The West Bank has been occupied by Israel since the Six-Day War of 1967 and, excluding annexed east Jerusalem, some 475,000 Israeli settlers now live alongside around 2.8 million Palestinians.

A Palestinian woman was also shot dead by Israeli troops on Wednesday, after what the army said was an attempt to ram Israeli soldiers with her car and attack them with a knife.

Local media identified her as&nbsp;Mai Afana, 29, from the town of Abu Dis, just outside Jerusalem.

On Wednesday afternoon, Palestinian militants again launched incendiary balloons from Gaza, hours after Israel retaliated for earlier launches.

The violence in Gaza was the first between Israel and Hamas since a ceasefire took effect on May 21, ending 11 days of heavy fighting.

In recent years, Israel has seen a series of shootings, stabbings, and car-ramming attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians in the West Bank. Most have been carried out by Palestinians with no apparent links to organized militant groups.

Palestinians and Israeli human rights groups say the soldiers often use excessive force and could stop the assailants without killing them. In some cases, they say that innocent people have been identified as attackers and shot.

The Palestinians seek the West Bank, where the Palestinian Authority exerts limited self-rule, as part of a future state along with the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem. Israel says Jerusalem is indivisible. Peace negotiations have stalled for many years.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Hundreds of Palestinians attended a funeral on Thursday in the West Bank town of Beita, for a teenager who medical sources said had died after being shot by Israeli soldiers during clashes in the town.

Hundreds of Palestinians attended a funeral on Thursday in the West Bank town of Beita, for a teenager who medical sources said had died after being shot by Israeli soldiers during clashes in the town. Mourners carried the boy's body on their shoulders, waved Palestinian flags, and chanted slogans, including "To Jerusalem we go, martyrs in millions." The Palestinian Ministry of Health said that 15-year-old Ahmed Bani Shamsa was shot in the head on Wednesday evening. His death was announced on Thursday at Rafidia Hospital in Nablus. The Israeli military said a group of Palestinians approached the troops and a suspicious object was hurled at them, which exploded later. A soldier fired in the air and then shot the Palestinian who threw the object. The West Bank has been occupied by Israel since the Six-Day War of 1967 and, excluding annexed east Jerusalem, some 475,000 Israeli settlers now live alongside around 2.8 million Palestinians. A Palestinian woman was also shot dead by Israeli troops on Wednesday, after what the army said was an attempt to ram Israeli soldiers with her car and attack them with a knife. Local media identified her as Mai Afana, 29, from the town of Abu Dis, just outside Jerusalem. On Wednesday afternoon, Palestinian militants again launched incendiary balloons from Gaza, hours after Israel retaliated for earlier launches. The violence in Gaza was the first between Israel and Hamas since a ceasefire took effect on May 21, ending 11 days of heavy fighting. In recent years, Israel has seen a series of shootings, stabbings, and car-ramming attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians in the West Bank. Most have been carried out by Palestinians with no apparent links to organized militant groups. Palestinians and Israeli human rights groups say the soldiers often use excessive force and could stop the assailants without killing them. In some cases, they say that innocent people have been identified as attackers and shot. The Palestinians seek the West Bank, where the Palestinian Authority exerts limited self-rule, as part of a future state along with the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem. Israel says Jerusalem is indivisible. Peace negotiations have stalled for many years. (With inputs from agencies)

Palestinian teenager shot by Israeli troops in West Bank dies

Palestinian medics and health ministry said on Friday that a Palestinian teenager died after Israeli army shot him during clashes in West Bank.

"Mohammad Said Hamayel, 15, died in clashes" with Israeli forces near Beita, south of Nablus, the Palestinian Red Crescent said.&nbsp;

Palestinian health ministry has said that six others were wounded due to live gunfire.

According to Palestinian news agency Wafa, violence took place during "a public protest against Israel's construction of a colonial settlement outpost near the village", to which the army responded with live fire and teargas.

The teenager's death has come just a day after three Palestinians were killed by Israeli special forces. The forces were on a mission to arrest suspected 'terrorists' in West Bank.

Violence in the West Bank increased in early May, with at least 30 Palestinians killed in clashes with Israeli forces and in alleged attacks.

That came amid a flare-up in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem that led to 11 days of fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza.

West Bank villages often hold Friday demonstrations against land confiscation, house demolitions and Israeli settlements deemed illegal under international law.

(With inputs from agencies)

Palestinian medics and health ministry said on Friday that a Palestinian teenager died after Israeli army shot him during clashes in West Bank. "Mohammad Said Hamayel, 15, died in clashes" with Israeli forces near Beita, south of Nablus, the Palestinian Red Crescent said.

Palestinian medics and health ministry said on Friday that a Palestinian teenager died after Israeli army shot him during clashes in West Bank. "Mohammad Said Hamayel, 15, died in clashes" with Israeli forces near Beita, south of Nablus, the Palestinian Red Crescent said. Palestinian health ministry has said that six others were wounded due to live gunfire. According to Palestinian news agency Wafa, violence took place during "a public protest against Israel's construction of a colonial settlement outpost near the village", to which the army responded with live fire and teargas. The teenager's death has come just a day after three Palestinians were killed by Israeli special forces. The forces were on a mission to arrest suspected 'terrorists' in West Bank. Violence in the West Bank increased in early May, with at least 30 Palestinians killed in clashes with Israeli forces and in alleged attacks. That came amid a flare-up in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem that led to 11 days of fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza. West Bank villages often hold Friday demonstrations against land confiscation, house demolitions and Israeli settlements deemed illegal under international law. (With inputs from agencies)

Palestinian teenager shot dead during clash with Israel army, say medics

Commander of Iran's Quds Force on Saturday asked Israelis to "go back" to Europe and USA and "rebuild lives" there. He also said that Palestinians were ready to take back control of occupied lands.

Brigadier General Esmail Ghaani, the commander of the Quds Force made the comments during a ceremony in Iran's capital Tehran.

Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas have established ceasefire last week but tensions are still high in the region. The ceasefire halted the 11-day fighting between the two warring parties that saw rocket attacks and airstrikes causing casualties on both sides.

Iran supports Hamas that rules the Gaza Strip. Iran does not recognise Tehran.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hamas-fighters-display-weapons-in-gaza-after-truce-with-israel-388205">Hamas fighters display weapons in Gaza after truce with Israel&nbsp;</a>

Israeli strikes on Gaza during the 11-day conflict killed 248 Palestinians, including 66 children, and have wounded more than 1,900 people, the Gaza health ministry says.

Rockets and other fire from Gaza claimed 12 lives in Israel, including one child and an Arab-Israeli teenager, an Israeli soldier, one Indian, and two Thai nationals, medics say. Some 357 people in Israel were wounded.

There is controversy about how many of those killed in Gaza were combatants, and how many were civilians.

(With inputs from agencies)

Commander of Iran's Quds Force on Saturday asked Israelis to "go back" to Europe and USA and "rebuild lives" there. He also said that Palestinians were ready to take back control of occupied lands.

Commander of Iran's Quds Force on Saturday asked Israelis to "go back" to Europe and USA and "rebuild lives" there. He also said that Palestinians were ready to take back control of occupied lands. Brigadier General Esmail Ghaani, the commander of the Quds Force made the comments during a ceremony in Iran's capital Tehran. Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas have established ceasefire last week but tensions are still high in the region. The ceasefire halted the 11-day fighting between the two warring parties that saw rocket attacks and airstrikes causing casualties on both sides. Iran supports Hamas that rules the Gaza Strip. Iran does not recognise Tehran. Also Read | Hamas fighters display weapons in Gaza after truce with Israel Israeli strikes on Gaza during the 11-day conflict killed 248 Palestinians, including 66 children, and have wounded more than 1,900 people, the Gaza health ministry says. Rockets and other fire from Gaza claimed 12 lives in Israel, including one child and an Arab-Israeli teenager, an Israeli soldier, one Indian, and two Thai nationals, medics say. Some 357 people in Israel were wounded. There is controversy about how many of those killed in Gaza were combatants, and how many were civilians. (With inputs from agencies)

Israelis should 'go back' to Europe, US: Iran's Quds Force commander

Israeli forces on Friday shot dead a Palestinian man during clashes in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said.

Zakaria Hamayel was struck by a bullet to the chest in the village of Beita, south of Nablus, during a protest against Israeli settlement expansion on Palestinian land, the ministry said.

Tensions remain high in the region despite a ceasefire reached last week between&nbsp;Israel&nbsp;and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza that ended 11 days of fighting.

A few hundred Palestinians had gathered near Nablus in the northern West Bank to protest against&nbsp;Israeli settlements.

The&nbsp;Israeli military said there had been "a violent riot" at the scene with Palestinians setting fires, burning tyres and hurling rocks at troops, who then "responded with riot dispersal means".

"We are aware of reports regarding a killed Palestinian. The cause of the injury is still unknown. The incident is being examined," a military spokeswoman said.

Israeli forces have been carrying out arrests across the West Bank following violence that erupted around the 11-day conflict between Israel and Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas that broke out on May 10 and ended with an Egyptian-brokered truce last week.

Israeli air strikes and artillery fire on Gaza killed 254 Palestinians including 66 children and some fighters from May 10, the Gaza authorities says.

Rocket and other fire from Gaza claimed 12 lives in&nbsp;Israel, including one child, an Arab-Israeli teenager, and an Israeli&nbsp;soldier, medics say.

The Israeli bombardment of Gaza has ravaged homes and businesses as well as key power and water networks in the already impoverished enclave, which has been under Israeli blockade since 2007.

Some 258 buildings, comprising 1,042 housing and commercial units, have been completely destroyed, authorities in Gaza say, while the United Nations says at least 6,000 people have been made homeless.

The conflict flared after Hamas demanded&nbsp;Israeli security forces leave the al-Aqsa mosque compound in East Jerusalem following confrontations there with Palestinians, and later launched rockets towards&nbsp;Israel.

The compound sits atop the Old City plateau known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif, or The Noble Sanctuary, and to Jews as Temple Mount. It is the most sensitive site in the&nbsp;Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The West Bank has been occupied since 1967, when the Israeli army captured it along with the Gaza Strip in the so-called Six-Day War.

(With inputs from agencies)

Israeli forces on Friday shot dead a Palestinian man during clashes in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said. Zakaria Hamayel was struck by a bullet to the chest in the village of Beita, south of Nablus, during a protest against Israeli settlement expansion on Palestinian land, the ministry said.

Israeli forces on Friday shot dead a Palestinian man during clashes in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said. Zakaria Hamayel was struck by a bullet to the chest in the village of Beita, south of Nablus, during a protest against Israeli settlement expansion on Palestinian land, the ministry said. Tensions remain high in the region despite a ceasefire reached last week between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza that ended 11 days of fighting. A few hundred Palestinians had gathered near Nablus in the northern West Bank to protest against Israeli settlements. The Israeli military said there had been "a violent riot" at the scene with Palestinians setting fires, burning tyres and hurling rocks at troops, who then "responded with riot dispersal means". "We are aware of reports regarding a killed Palestinian. The cause of the injury is still unknown. The incident is being examined," a military spokeswoman said. Israeli forces have been carrying out arrests across the West Bank following violence that erupted around the 11-day conflict between Israel and Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas that broke out on May 10 and ended with an Egyptian-brokered truce last week. Israeli air strikes and artillery fire on Gaza killed 254 Palestinians including 66 children and some fighters from May 10, the Gaza authorities says. Rocket and other fire from Gaza claimed 12 lives in Israel, including one child, an Arab-Israeli teenager, and an Israeli soldier, medics say. The Israeli bombardment of Gaza has ravaged homes and businesses as well as key power and water networks in the already impoverished enclave, which has been under Israeli blockade since 2007. Some 258 buildings, comprising 1,042 housing and commercial units, have been completely destroyed, authorities in Gaza say, while the United Nations says at least 6,000 people have been made homeless. The conflict flared after Hamas demanded Israeli security forces leave the al-Aqsa mosque compound in East Jerusalem following confrontations there with Palestinians, and later launched rockets towards Israel. The compound sits atop the Old City plateau known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif, or The Noble Sanctuary, and to Jews as Temple Mount. It is the most sensitive site in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The West Bank has been occupied since 1967, when the Israeli army captured it along with the Gaza Strip in the so-called Six-Day War. (With inputs from agencies)

Israeli troops kill Palestinian during West Bank clash

Is there any way out of the Israel-Palestine conflict? This cycle of war and murder has gone on for more than 70 years. Experts often talk about the two-state solution. India supports it. As do many others.

So what is the two-state solution? In simple words, the creation of two states. One for the Jews, called Israel. And one for the Arabs, called Palestine.

The two-state solution was first pitched in 1937. On paper, it looks simple enough. In reality, it's anything but. Historians call it the most intractable conflict in the world.

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What do the people say? This is what a Gallup poll found in 2013.&nbsp;

70 per cent Palestinians in the West Bank support the two-state theory. 48 per cent in Gaza and 52 per cent in Israel. So the people are willing to live as neighbours.

Then why is the promise of Palestine still unfulfilled? To understand this we must look at the politics of Palestine. Both&nbsp;domestic and international. Who speaks for the Palestinian community? Who is their leader? And why are Arab states suddenly wary of supporting their cause?

For Arab states, choosing between Israel and Palestine was easy. They backed Palestine. But this time it's not so simple. Israel is now a recognised partner of the Arab world. Last year, four countries normalised ties with Israel. The UAE, Sudan, Bahrain and Morocco. Others were reportedly going to follow suit.

So what do these countries do?

Make vague statements of support for Palestine. Watch the conflict closely but not engage in it. Palestine is on the backburner because the Arab world has bigger priorities now. They see Israel as a strategic partner. A market with immense potential. And an ally against Iran, Turkey and the Muslim Brotherhood.

Arab people still support Palestine. They are flooding social media with hashtags. And marching on the streets.&nbsp;The only difference is that their leaders don't share this enthusiasm anymore. Their condemnation of Israel is more out of compulsion than concern.

That's the regional politics. What about the internal politics of Palestine?

For decades it was dominated by Yasser Arafat. The Palestinian struggle was synonymous with him. Until he was alive there was unity in the movement.

But Arafat died in 2004. And with his death factionalism crept in. Today, Palestinian politics is a story of fragmented leadership. In the West Bank, the Fatah party, founded by Arafat, calls the shots.

In Gaza, it's the Hamas.

Hamas was founded in 1987 around the same time as the first Intifada or uprising. They were an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Unlike the Fatah, Hamas has a military wing. And they are not shy of using it.

Canada, the EU, the US, Israel and Japan have listed them as a terror group.

What about India? New Delhi does not classify Hamas as a terror group. In 2018 they abstained from a UN vote condemning them. Both civilian and military targets are fair game for Hamas. Some of their attacks have been classified as war crimes.&nbsp;

But before their military adventurism Hamas was actually a political success. They won the 2006 Palestinian elections. They were set to dominate West Bank politics. But that's when the West stepped in, the powers of the western world. They made two key demands from Hamas.

One, a commitment to non-violence.

And two, the recognition of Israel.

Hamas refused both.

Unlike the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO), Hamas doesn't recognise the state of Israel. They consider violence to be a legitimate tool of the movement. Thanks to all this, foreign aid dwindled. Palestinian leaders grew uneasy. The split between Hamas and Fatah widened.

In 2007, it reached tipping point with the battle of Gaza. The battle ended with Hamas taking over the Gaza strip. And since then they have ruled this Palestinian enclave.&nbsp;

In these 14 years, their approach hasn't changed. Hamas prefers rockets over diplomacy. So they make more headlines than the Fatah.

Most of the leaders of Hamas live in fancy hotels in Turkey, away from Gaza and the war. They have their swimming pools and country clubs, even private bodyguards. All this when people in Gaza suffer.

Forbes listed Hamas as the third richest terror group in the world. Their annual income was 700 million dollars.

So it's clear that Hamas does not speak for all Palestinians. Most of them would prefer a peaceful solution to this conflict. But Hamas is dead set on military victories. And none of it is surprising.

Every movement in history has had two factions, the moderates and the extremists. Hamas is the extremist group here.

Their only claim to legitimacy is the fact that Israel is bombing them.&nbsp;

But war cannot be the way forward. Especially against a superior power like Israel. The little gains that Palestine has made have been through diplomacy. There have been none on the battlefield. So the picture of Hamas fighters resisting Israel is a romanticised reality.

It makes for great headlines, but nothing else.

Is there any way out of the Israel-Palestine conflict? This cycle of war and murder has gone on for more than 70 years. Experts often talk about the two-state solution.

Is there any way out of the Israel-Palestine conflict? This cycle of war and murder has gone on for more than 70 years. Experts often talk about the two-state solution. India supports it. As do many others. So what is the two-state solution? In simple words, the creation of two states. One for the Jews, called Israel. And one for the Arabs, called Palestine. The two-state solution was first pitched in 1937. On paper, it looks simple enough. In reality, it's anything but. Historians call it the most intractable conflict in the world. × What do the people say? This is what a Gallup poll found in 2013. 70 per cent Palestinians in the West Bank support the two-state theory. 48 per cent in Gaza and 52 per cent in Israel. So the people are willing to live as neighbours. Then why is the promise of Palestine still unfulfilled? To understand this we must look at the politics of Palestine. Both domestic and international. Who speaks for the Palestinian community? Who is their leader? And why are Arab states suddenly wary of supporting their cause? For Arab states, choosing between Israel and Palestine was easy. They backed Palestine. But this time it's not so simple. Israel is now a recognised partner of the Arab world. Last year, four countries normalised ties with Israel. The UAE, Sudan, Bahrain and Morocco. Others were reportedly going to follow suit. So what do these countries do? Make vague statements of support for Palestine. Watch the conflict closely but not engage in it. Palestine is on the backburner because the Arab world has bigger priorities now. They see Israel as a strategic partner. A market with immense potential. And an ally against Iran, Turkey and the Muslim Brotherhood. Arab people still support Palestine. They are flooding social media with hashtags. And marching on the streets. The only difference is that their leaders don't share this enthusiasm anymore. Their condemnation of Israel is more out of compulsion than concern. That's the regional politics. What about the internal politics of Palestine? For decades it was dominated by Yasser Arafat. The Palestinian struggle was synonymous with him. Until he was alive there was unity in the movement. But Arafat died in 2004. And with his death factionalism crept in. Today, Palestinian politics is a story of fragmented leadership. In the West Bank, the Fatah party, founded by Arafat, calls the shots. In Gaza, it's the Hamas. Hamas was founded in 1987 around the same time as the first Intifada or uprising. They were an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Unlike the Fatah, Hamas has a military wing. And they are not shy of using it. Canada, the EU, the US, Israel and Japan have listed them as a terror group. What about India? New Delhi does not classify Hamas as a terror group. In 2018 they abstained from a UN vote condemning them. Both civilian and military targets are fair game for Hamas. Some of their attacks have been classified as war crimes. But before their military adventurism Hamas was actually a political success. They won the 2006 Palestinian elections. They were set to dominate West Bank politics. But that's when the West stepped in, the powers of the western world. They made two key demands from Hamas. One, a commitment to non-violence. And two, the recognition of Israel. Hamas refused both. Unlike the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO), Hamas doesn't recognise the state of Israel. They consider violence to be a legitimate tool of the movement. Thanks to all this, foreign aid dwindled. Palestinian leaders grew uneasy. The split between Hamas and Fatah widened. In 2007, it reached tipping point with the battle of Gaza. The battle ended with Hamas taking over the Gaza strip. And since then they have ruled this Palestinian enclave. In these 14 years, their approach hasn't changed. Hamas prefers rockets over diplomacy. So they make more headlines than the Fatah. Most of the leaders of Hamas live in fancy hotels in Turkey, away from Gaza and the war. They have their swimming pools and country clubs, even private bodyguards. All this when people in Gaza suffer. Forbes listed Hamas as the third richest terror group in the world. Their annual income was 700 million dollars. So it's clear that Hamas does not speak for all Palestinians. Most of them would prefer a peaceful solution to this conflict. But Hamas is dead set on military victories. And none of it is surprising. Every movement in history has had two factions, the moderates and the extremists. Hamas is the extremist group here. Their only claim to legitimacy is the fact that Israel is bombing them. But war cannot be the way forward. Especially against a superior power like Israel. The little gains that Palestine has made have been through diplomacy. There have been none on the battlefield. So the picture of Hamas fighters resisting Israel is a romanticised reality. It makes for great headlines, but nothing else.

How representative is Hamas of Palestinians?

Palestine's envoy to India Adnan Mohammad Jaber&nbsp;Abualhayjaa&nbsp;has said that his government has been&nbsp;'working for the ceasefire from the first day'&nbsp;when it comes to the ongoing situation with Israel.

According to him,&nbsp;over 200 people have lost lives in West Bank and Gaza due to actions&nbsp;of&nbsp;Israel.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Speaking to WION&nbsp;Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal exclusively, Amb Adnan&nbsp;Abualhayjaa&nbsp;hoped that India won't make reference to Temple Mount, as it is&nbsp;'encouraging Israelis in the manner which may lead to religious war'.

Temple Mount, which is the holiest site in Judaism, is known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif, the third holiest site in Islam after Mecca and Medina.&nbsp;

He also condoled the death of Indian&nbsp;national Soumya Santhosh.

Santhosh,&nbsp;a caregiver,&nbsp;died in Israel's Ashkelon in a rocket strike&nbsp;and&nbsp;is survived by&nbsp;nine-year-old son and husband.

This is his first-ever interview amid the ongoing escalating violence between Israel and Palestine. The fighting began&nbsp;after violence&nbsp;erupted&nbsp;in Jerusalem and possible eviction of Palestinians in the Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan&nbsp;neighbourhood.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

WION: What is the current situation when it comes to the ongoing conflict?&nbsp;Will&nbsp;you&nbsp;call it a full-scale war?&nbsp;

Adnan Mohammad Jaber: The current situation in Palestine is mainly for&nbsp;two&nbsp;reasons. First is the occupation, as long as the occupation continues. Who is ignoring the Oslo Agreement, who is ignoring all the agreements with Palestinian authorities, who is killing, jailing every day in the West Bank, restricting the movement of Palestinian people via the 600 military checkpoints, is controlling 60% of the west bank, restricting the people's movement, controlling tax money of Palestinians, refusing elections in&nbsp;Jerusalem?

Secondly, there was the&nbsp;fourth election in Israel and&nbsp;Netanyahu&nbsp;has failed to form a government. Netanyahu&nbsp;knows&nbsp;how to make problems, so he started&nbsp;telling&nbsp;the right-wing of the Israelis to go to Al Aqsa to restrict the worshippers from&nbsp;praying.

Before it became&nbsp;a&nbsp;military&nbsp;issue, it was the issue of Al Aqsa and Sheikh Jarrah area where they want to displace 28 families living in their houses for 70 years. He wants to put obstacles in forming the government, so he has started with these problems because if other parties are able to form the government, Netanyahu, because of corruption, might go to jail.&nbsp;

Surely,&nbsp;it's a war, and a very bad war&nbsp;because the victims&nbsp;of this war&nbsp;are&nbsp;civilians&nbsp;mainly. We are on the eighgth day of the war and we have lost 218 people in the West Bank and Gaza, more than 5,600 people have been injured. In the West Bank,&nbsp;there are&nbsp;no weapons&nbsp;with Palestinian people, no rockets, nothing.&nbsp;250 of the wounded&nbsp;got injured&nbsp;due to&nbsp;the metal bombs. Israelis are&nbsp;committing war crimes on both sides, in Gaza and in the West Bank.&nbsp;Hope it will end soon.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

WION: How do you think the international community can support Palestine?&nbsp;

Adnan Mohammad Jaber: Israel is an exact copy of South Africa during the apartheid time. We live in an apartheid regime in Palestine.

There are&nbsp;two&nbsp;kinds of&nbsp;laws in Israel. There is a law for the Jewish people&nbsp;and&nbsp;there is a law for a Palestinians,&nbsp;who have&nbsp;Israeli nationality and there is another law, the military law for Palestinian people living in the occupied area, West Bank, including Jerusalem and Gaza&nbsp;Strip.

The international community could help a lot, first of all, they should boycott Israel, exactly as South Africa had&nbsp;been boycotted. Secondly, Americans should stop&nbsp;pressurising&nbsp;other countries to&nbsp;not&nbsp;take action against Israel. Many of the European countries&nbsp;want&nbsp;to&nbsp;take action&nbsp;but don’t act due to&nbsp;American pressure. Hope&nbsp;there will be real pressure from the international community to follow the United Nations&nbsp;resolution. Israel is the only country&nbsp;in the world which is over the international community.&nbsp;Not just&nbsp;UN resolutions, they refuse everything. Hundreds of resolutions, from the security council to the general assembly of the UN. It is the only country that can refuse everything.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

WION: Will Palestinian authorities call for a ceasefire?&nbsp;

Adnan Mohammad Jaber: We&nbsp;were&nbsp;in the beginning&nbsp;and&nbsp;had talks with some Arab countries like Egypt. Because Egypt normally coordinates in these matters. With&nbsp;Qatar...&nbsp;we spoke with France, Britain. Our foreign minister was in Europe, he was working hard with the European Union for the ceasefire. From the first day, we started to work on the ceasefire. We called on the security council, to have a resolution for the ceasefire. But&nbsp;three&nbsp;times, Americans refused, including on Sunday.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;

WION: Then there is the issue of Hamas's rocket attacks, something that has been condemned globally...&nbsp;

Adnan Mohammad Jaber: First of all,&nbsp;let me present my condolences for that lady who passed away in Israel. We feel sorry that we have lost one Indian in this conflict. So,&nbsp;my condolences to the Indian people and her family.

Secondly, the rockets of Hamas are a reaction, not an action. The main thing is the occupation. I am&nbsp;ok&nbsp;with destroying all weapons&nbsp;and&nbsp;Israel and Palestine not using weapons. When we signed the Oslo agreement, we signed it to live side by side in peace, security, coordinate in everything together as&nbsp;neighbours. Since that time, 1993, up to now, Israel is refusing everything, destroying everything. I think we will go to the question of&nbsp;two&nbsp;state solutions and they are destroying&nbsp;two&nbsp;state solutions. Rockets is a reaction, and hope,&nbsp;we won't see any aggression on the Palestinian people in Gaza and West Bank.&nbsp;

WION: Can President Mahmoud Abbas prevail over Hamas, and is Hamas trying to exploit political space?&nbsp;

Adnan Mohammad Jaber: President Mahmoud Abbas&nbsp;is&nbsp;in connection with the leaders of Hamas&nbsp;and&nbsp;was working for the ceasefire from the first day. Any war&nbsp;inflicts damages on&nbsp;both sides.&nbsp;You need to control the Israelis and their crimes, otherwise, we will see another war. Without&nbsp;the&nbsp;end&nbsp;of&nbsp;this occupation,&nbsp;difficult&nbsp;for&nbsp;neighbours&nbsp;to live side by side, according to the international resolutions.&nbsp;Agreements have been signed with the Israelis,&nbsp;but&nbsp;there is no security in the area at all.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;

WION: Is Hamas trying to use the political vacuum in Gaza, West Bank vis a vis the election schedule?&nbsp;

Adnan Mohammad Jaber: We are a democratic state,&nbsp;and have&nbsp;democratic institutions. If Hamas via elections, takes&nbsp;advantage and wins&nbsp;the election,&nbsp;we have no problem. Let Hamas control the country. They are the main party of the Palestinian&nbsp;people,&nbsp;they have a political department as the&nbsp;organisation. If they win the elections, we will welcome that and we will give them the authority. we have no&nbsp;problem,&nbsp;this is a democracy.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

WION: How do you see India's statement at the UNSC? New Delhi reiterated its&nbsp;'strong support to the just Palestinian cause and its unwavering commitment to the&nbsp;two-state&nbsp;solution".&nbsp;

Adnan Mohammad Jaber: India is&nbsp;a&nbsp;very close friend&nbsp;of&nbsp;Palestine and I would like to thank Indian&nbsp;government for&nbsp;strongly supporting&nbsp;the cause of the Palestinian people.

Only one thing, there is something which I have seen in the statement, which is Al Masjid Al Aqsa/Temple Mount,&nbsp;which is a new expression. Al-Masjid Al Aqsa since the British was nominated to rule&nbsp;by&nbsp;Palestine.&nbsp;In&nbsp;1929,&nbsp;a mission had come from the United Nations after some conflict between the Palestinian Muslims and Jews at that time. They checked everything in Al Aqsa and said Al Aqsa is a Muslim place and Jewish people pray near the wall. It was like that without any problem. Secondly, Al&nbsp;Aqsa mosque&nbsp;is registered in UNESCO as a Muslim place.

So,&nbsp;hope this&nbsp;is not&nbsp;used again&nbsp;as&nbsp;encouraging Israelis in that matter will lead to religious war,&nbsp;which is not acceptable to anyone. India is supporting Palestine&nbsp;and&nbsp;we thank them very much, not only&nbsp;on the political&nbsp;level,&nbsp;but they also helped in many other things,&nbsp;such as&nbsp;building hospitals, schools, diplomatic institutions, women empowerment centers,&nbsp;so&nbsp;they help Palestine in many ways.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

WION:&nbsp;What is&nbsp;current situation of the Covid crisis when it comes to the Palestinian territories.&nbsp;

Adnan Mohammad Jaber: Now,&nbsp;a little bit better. Last month, before it was very bad, still a little bit better but we don't have enough vaccines to say the truth. It's not bad, these days at least. It is much better than&nbsp;two&nbsp;months ago.&nbsp;

Palestine's envoy to India Adnan Mohammad Jaber Abualhayjaa has said that his government has been 'working for the ceasefire from the first day' when it comes to the ongoing situation with Israel.

Palestine's envoy to India Adnan Mohammad Jaber Abualhayjaa has said that his government has been 'working for the ceasefire from the first day' when it comes to the ongoing situation with Israel. According to him, over 200 people have lost lives in West Bank and Gaza due to actions of Israel. Speaking to WION Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal exclusively, Amb Adnan Abualhayjaa hoped that India won't make reference to Temple Mount, as it is 'encouraging Israelis in the manner which may lead to religious war'. Temple Mount, which is the holiest site in Judaism, is known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif, the third holiest site in Islam after Mecca and Medina. He also condoled the death of Indian national Soumya Santhosh. Santhosh, a caregiver, died in Israel's Ashkelon in a rocket strike and is survived by nine-year-old son and husband. This is his first-ever interview amid the ongoing escalating violence between Israel and Palestine. The fighting began after violence erupted in Jerusalem and possible eviction of Palestinians in the Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan neighbourhood. WION: What is the current situation when it comes to the ongoing conflict? Will you call it a full-scale war? Adnan Mohammad Jaber: The current situation in Palestine is mainly for two reasons. First is the occupation, as long as the occupation continues. Who is ignoring the Oslo Agreement, who is ignoring all the agreements with Palestinian authorities, who is killing, jailing every day in the West Bank, restricting the movement of Palestinian people via the 600 military checkpoints, is controlling 60% of the west bank, restricting the people's movement, controlling tax money of Palestinians, refusing elections in Jerusalem? Secondly, there was the fourth election in Israel and Netanyahu has failed to form a government. Netanyahu knows how to make problems, so he started telling the right-wing of the Israelis to go to Al Aqsa to restrict the worshippers from praying. Before it became a military issue, it was the issue of Al Aqsa and Sheikh Jarrah area where they want to displace 28 families living in their houses for 70 years. He wants to put obstacles in forming the government, so he has started with these problems because if other parties are able to form the government, Netanyahu, because of corruption, might go to jail. Surely, it's a war, and a very bad war because the victims of this war are civilians mainly. We are on the eighgth day of the war and we have lost 218 people in the West Bank and Gaza, more than 5,600 people have been injured. In the West Bank, there are no weapons with Palestinian people, no rockets, nothing. 250 of the wounded got injured due to the metal bombs. Israelis are committing war crimes on both sides, in Gaza and in the West Bank. Hope it will end soon. WION: How do you think the international community can support Palestine? Adnan Mohammad Jaber: Israel is an exact copy of South Africa during the apartheid time. We live in an apartheid regime in Palestine. There are two kinds of laws in Israel. There is a law for the Jewish people and there is a law for a Palestinians, who have Israeli nationality and there is another law, the military law for Palestinian people living in the occupied area, West Bank, including Jerusalem and Gaza Strip. The international community could help a lot, first of all, they should boycott Israel, exactly as South Africa had been boycotted. Secondly, Americans should stop pressurising other countries to not take action against Israel. Many of the European countries want to take action but don’t act due to American pressure. Hope there will be real pressure from the international community to follow the United Nations resolution. Israel is the only country in the world which is over the international community. Not just UN resolutions, they refuse everything. Hundreds of resolutions, from the security council to the general assembly of the UN. It is the only country that can refuse everything. WION: Will Palestinian authorities call for a ceasefire? Adnan Mohammad Jaber: We were in the beginning and had talks with some Arab countries like Egypt. Because Egypt normally coordinates in these matters. With Qatar... we spoke with France, Britain. Our foreign minister was in Europe, he was working hard with the European Union for the ceasefire. From the first day, we started to work on the ceasefire. We called on the security council, to have a resolution for the ceasefire. But three times, Americans refused, including on Sunday. WION: Then there is the issue of Hamas's rocket attacks, something that has been condemned globally... Adnan Mohammad Jaber: First of all, let me present my condolences for that lady who passed away in Israel. We feel sorry that we have lost one Indian in this conflict. So, my condolences to the Indian people and her family. Secondly, the rockets of Hamas are a reaction, not an action. The main thing is the occupation. I am ok with destroying all weapons and Israel and Palestine not using weapons. When we signed the Oslo agreement, we signed it to live side by side in peace, security, coordinate in everything together as neighbours. Since that time, 1993, up to now, Israel is refusing everything, destroying everything. I think we will go to the question of two state solutions and they are destroying two state solutions. Rockets is a reaction, and hope, we won't see any aggression on the Palestinian people in Gaza and West Bank. WION: Can President Mahmoud Abbas prevail over Hamas, and is Hamas trying to exploit political space? Adnan Mohammad Jaber: President Mahmoud Abbas is in connection with the leaders of Hamas and was working for the ceasefire from the first day. Any war inflicts damages on both sides. You need to control the Israelis and their crimes, otherwise, we will see another war. Without the end of this occupation, difficult for neighbours to live side by side, according to the international resolutions. Agreements have been signed with the Israelis, but there is no security in the area at all. WION: Is Hamas trying to use the political vacuum in Gaza, West Bank vis a vis the election schedule? Adnan Mohammad Jaber: We are a democratic state, and have democratic institutions. If Hamas via elections, takes advantage and wins the election, we have no problem. Let Hamas control the country. They are the main party of the Palestinian people, they have a political department as the organisation. If they win the elections, we will welcome that and we will give them the authority. we have no problem, this is a democracy. WION: How do you see India's statement at the UNSC? New Delhi reiterated its 'strong support to the just Palestinian cause and its unwavering commitment to the two-state solution". Adnan Mohammad Jaber: India is a very close friend of Palestine and I would like to thank Indian government for strongly supporting the cause of the Palestinian people. Only one thing, there is something which I have seen in the statement, which is Al Masjid Al Aqsa/Temple Mount, which is a new expression. Al-Masjid Al Aqsa since the British was nominated to rule by Palestine. In 1929, a mission had come from the United Nations after some conflict between the Palestinian Muslims and Jews at that time. They checked everything in Al Aqsa and said Al Aqsa is a Muslim place and Jewish people pray near the wall. It was like that without any problem. Secondly, Al Aqsa mosque is registered in UNESCO as a Muslim place. So, hope this is not used again as encouraging Israelis in that matter will lead to religious war, which is not acceptable to anyone. India is supporting Palestine and we thank them very much, not only on the political level, but they also helped in many other things, such as building hospitals, schools, diplomatic institutions, women empowerment centers, so they help Palestine in many ways. WION: What is current situation of the Covid crisis when it comes to the Palestinian territories. Adnan Mohammad Jaber: Now, a little bit better. Last month, before it was very bad, still a little bit better but we don't have enough vaccines to say the truth. It's not bad, these days at least. It is much better than two months ago.

Working on ceasefire, says Palestine's envoy; Hopes India won't make reference to 'Temple Mount', condoles death of Indian national

Israel and &nbsp;Palestine are once again entangled in a series of bloody clashes as part of the on-going decades-long conflict. The conflict has entered into second week, resulted in significant loss of life and property and more importantly, there are no signs of either side willing to retract.

Brief Background to the Conflict&nbsp;

Even though the origins of the conflict can be traced deep into the history of the region, its modern phase can be said to have begun in in early 20th century. Palestine was one of the Provinces of Turkish Ottoman &nbsp;Empire till it came under British control in 1922 as a fall out of World war 1, and remained so till 1948.&nbsp;

During this period the migration of Jews to the region increased palpably and resultantly tensions between the Arab Muslims and Jews also grew considerably. As the end of Britain’s Palestine Mandate drew closer, Britain referred the Palestine Issue to UN in April, 1947.&nbsp;

The UN came forward with a plan (UN Resolution 181 of 29th November 1947) to partition Palestine into Arab and Jewish States with the city of Jerusalem as a Corpus separatum i.e. separate entity to be governed by a special international regime under UN. The Plan was accepted by the Jews but rejected by the Arabs.

The Jews of Palestine went ahead and created an independent sovereign State in May 1948. &nbsp;What followed was a series of Arab-Israel wars and repeated armed clashes which keep erupting from time to time, including the current conflict which began in early May this year and has escalated since then and threatens to assume serious proportions.

Core Elements of the Conflict&nbsp;

What is at the core of the conflict? Essentially, the conflict has three important dimensions: ethno-religious, right to self-determination and independent homeland, and related to that are the territorial claims. The Arab Muslim Palestinians and Israeli Jews are the two parties to this ethno-religious conflict. &nbsp;

The Jews have succeeded in establishing an independent sovereign State i.e. Israel, and in securing the full membership of the United Nations and recognition from a large number countries except from some Arab League and OIC Member States.&nbsp;

In contrast, the Palestinians have so far managed to secure the status of a Non-Member &nbsp;UN Observer State. The city of Jerusalem-sacred to Muslims, Jews as well as Christians for their own valid reasons - is at the core of the territorial dimension of this conflict.

It also houses the Indian Hospice which is a historic place associated with a great Indian Sufi saint Baba Farid. &nbsp;

The city including East Jerusalem (occupied by &nbsp;Israel in 1967 war and later annexed in 1980) is under de-facto control of Israel who considers “whole and united” Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, a claim not recognised by the entire international community. &nbsp;

On the other hand, the Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future independent State of Palestine to be established in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967 Arab-Israel war.&nbsp;

Israel’s de facto control of Jerusalem on the ground has enabled it to invest vast resources and efforts into changing the physical and demographic characteristics of the City. The Palestinians also stake claim to whole of West Bank where the Palestine Authority is in administrative control of about half the territory.

Conflict Resolution&nbsp;

The Quartet, comprised of the USA, Russian Federation, European Union and United Nations, and established in 2002 to facilitate peace process negotiations developed a “Performance Based Road Map to a Permanent Two States Solution” and has met numerous times in pursuance of its objectives but has prima-facie, failed to deliver, presumably due to irreconcilable positions adopted by the parties to the conflict.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Israel has gradually normalised its relations with some of the key Arab countries including Egypt, Bahrain, Jordan, UAE, and is said to be moving in this direction with Saudi Arabia as well. The Palestinians have reacted by describing these developments as betrayal of the Palestinian cause by these Arab countries. &nbsp;

The rapprochement between Israel and Arab States may not augur well for the Palestinians who may not find some of them on their side in hours of desperate need if they are required to choose between Israel and Palestine. &nbsp;

The situation is further complicated by the lack of unity amongst Palestinians who went through a civil war in 2006-2007 and are now divided into two broad groups: the militant Hamas in control of Gaza and relatively moderate Fateh-led Palestine Authority in control of parts of the West Bank.&nbsp;

Current Scenario

At present the energies of the international community are focussed on finding ways and means to de-escalate the confrontation leading to cessation of hostilities. Several countries in their individual capacities have made appeals to achieve these objectives. Regrettably,&nbsp;the UN, which has a poor track record in resolving global conflicts, looks toothless once again in bringing the situation under control.&nbsp;

The UN Security Council held a public virtual meeting on 16th May preceded by two closed-door meetings earlier in the previous week but has failed to issue any official statement on the outcome of its deliberations.&nbsp;

Reports at hand suggest that the USA, a staunch ally of Israel, was instrumental in blocking resolutions/joint statement which would have condemned Israel’s military response to rocket attacks by Hamas, besides calling for an immediate cease-fire.

India’s Position

India has been consistent in its support for the “just cause” of Palestinians. For several years, even after establishing diplomatic relations with Israel in 1992, India was looking at its relations with Palestine through the prism of its relations with Israel and vice versa.&nbsp;

By undertaking a standalone first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Israel in 2017, PM Modi signalled de-hyphenation of India’s policy towards Palestine and Israel but nevertheless has not wavered in its principled position on Israel-Palestine conflict despite rapidly growing relations with Israel.

In its statement at the UNSC meeting, India has therefore reiterated its “strong support to the just Palestinian cause and its unwavering commitment to the two-State solution”.

Interestingly, while India has condemned the “indiscriminate rocket firings from Gaza targeting the civilian population in Israel” it has described the Israeli airstrikes as “retaliatory” without any condemnation. &nbsp;

India has thus in a way endorsed Israeli action though it stopped short of openly endorsing Israel’s right to self-defence as done by the USA in its initial statements. The condemnation of the rocket attacks by Hamas can possibly also be seen as India’s rejection of Hamas’ modus-operandi for attaining its political objectives through violent means.

What's in store?&nbsp;

It is matter of academic debate as to who between Israel and Palestine should be held responsible for triggering the current conflict. Expectedly, each one of the two is blaming the other. The Israelis are describing the rocket fires by Hamas as premeditated and their own action as retaliatory in self-defence, whereas Hamas is justifying it as its response to Israeli aggression.&nbsp;

Fortunately, the chances of a full-scale Arab-Israel war with participation by select Arab countries alongside Palestine looks remote.&nbsp;

Yet, as rightly pointed by India and many other countries, the need of the hour is to de-escalate so as to arrest any further slide towards the brink.&nbsp;

We can expect to see a flurry of diplomatic activity including by Quartet and some individual countries with the immediate objective of cessation of hostilities. Final and lasting resolution of the conflict, meeting the aspirations of the parties to the conflict, however, is nowhere on the horizon.&nbsp;

At this point in time, an agreement to ceasefire would be a great achievement. The pertinent question is how soon can we expect a ceasefire? It is somewhat intriguing in this context that the key player USA is not showing any sense of urgency. Is this by design? Is the idea behind it is to allow sufficient time to Israel to weaken Hamas as much as possible before a truce is reached? It is noteworthy that Hamas has been designated as a terrorist organization, inter-alia, by Israel, USA and the EU, and Israel has let it be known that it is targeting Hamas leaders and its infrastructure.

Hopefully, the wise sense will prevail soon and it will be possible to prevent further loss of precious human lives and damage to property.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Israel and Palestine are once again entangled in a series of bloody clashes as part of the on-going decades-long conflict. The conflict has entered into second week, resulted in significant loss of life and property and more importantly, there are no signs of either side willing to retract.

Israel and Palestine are once again entangled in a series of bloody clashes as part of the on-going decades-long conflict. The conflict has entered into second week, resulted in significant loss of life and property and more importantly, there are no signs of either side willing to retract. Brief Background to the Conflict Even though the origins of the conflict can be traced deep into the history of the region, its modern phase can be said to have begun in in early 20th century. Palestine was one of the Provinces of Turkish Ottoman Empire till it came under British control in 1922 as a fall out of World war 1, and remained so till 1948. During this period the migration of Jews to the region increased palpably and resultantly tensions between the Arab Muslims and Jews also grew considerably. As the end of Britain’s Palestine Mandate drew closer, Britain referred the Palestine Issue to UN in April, 1947. The UN came forward with a plan (UN Resolution 181 of 29th November 1947) to partition Palestine into Arab and Jewish States with the city of Jerusalem as a Corpus separatum i.e. separate entity to be governed by a special international regime under UN. The Plan was accepted by the Jews but rejected by the Arabs. The Jews of Palestine went ahead and created an independent sovereign State in May 1948. What followed was a series of Arab-Israel wars and repeated armed clashes which keep erupting from time to time, including the current conflict which began in early May this year and has escalated since then and threatens to assume serious proportions. Core Elements of the Conflict What is at the core of the conflict? Essentially, the conflict has three important dimensions: ethno-religious, right to self-determination and independent homeland, and related to that are the territorial claims. The Arab Muslim Palestinians and Israeli Jews are the two parties to this ethno-religious conflict. The Jews have succeeded in establishing an independent sovereign State i.e. Israel, and in securing the full membership of the United Nations and recognition from a large number countries except from some Arab League and OIC Member States. In contrast, the Palestinians have so far managed to secure the status of a Non-Member UN Observer State. The city of Jerusalem-sacred to Muslims, Jews as well as Christians for their own valid reasons - is at the core of the territorial dimension of this conflict. It also houses the Indian Hospice which is a historic place associated with a great Indian Sufi saint Baba Farid. The city including East Jerusalem (occupied by Israel in 1967 war and later annexed in 1980) is under de-facto control of Israel who considers “whole and united” Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, a claim not recognised by the entire international community. On the other hand, the Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future independent State of Palestine to be established in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967 Arab-Israel war. Israel’s de facto control of Jerusalem on the ground has enabled it to invest vast resources and efforts into changing the physical and demographic characteristics of the City. The Palestinians also stake claim to whole of West Bank where the Palestine Authority is in administrative control of about half the territory. Conflict Resolution The Quartet, comprised of the USA, Russian Federation, European Union and United Nations, and established in 2002 to facilitate peace process negotiations developed a “Performance Based Road Map to a Permanent Two States Solution” and has met numerous times in pursuance of its objectives but has prima-facie, failed to deliver, presumably due to irreconcilable positions adopted by the parties to the conflict. Meanwhile, Israel has gradually normalised its relations with some of the key Arab countries including Egypt, Bahrain, Jordan, UAE, and is said to be moving in this direction with Saudi Arabia as well. The Palestinians have reacted by describing these developments as betrayal of the Palestinian cause by these Arab countries. The rapprochement between Israel and Arab States may not augur well for the Palestinians who may not find some of them on their side in hours of desperate need if they are required to choose between Israel and Palestine. The situation is further complicated by the lack of unity amongst Palestinians who went through a civil war in 2006-2007 and are now divided into two broad groups: the militant Hamas in control of Gaza and relatively moderate Fateh-led Palestine Authority in control of parts of the West Bank. Current Scenario At present the energies of the international community are focussed on finding ways and means to de-escalate the confrontation leading to cessation of hostilities. Several countries in their individual capacities have made appeals to achieve these objectives. Regrettably, the UN, which has a poor track record in resolving global conflicts, looks toothless once again in bringing the situation under control. The UN Security Council held a public virtual meeting on 16th May preceded by two closed-door meetings earlier in the previous week but has failed to issue any official statement on the outcome of its deliberations. Reports at hand suggest that the USA, a staunch ally of Israel, was instrumental in blocking resolutions/joint statement which would have condemned Israel’s military response to rocket attacks by Hamas, besides calling for an immediate cease-fire. India’s Position India has been consistent in its support for the “just cause” of Palestinians. For several years, even after establishing diplomatic relations with Israel in 1992, India was looking at its relations with Palestine through the prism of its relations with Israel and vice versa. By undertaking a standalone first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Israel in 2017, PM Modi signalled de-hyphenation of India’s policy towards Palestine and Israel but nevertheless has not wavered in its principled position on Israel-Palestine conflict despite rapidly growing relations with Israel. In its statement at the UNSC meeting, India has therefore reiterated its “strong support to the just Palestinian cause and its unwavering commitment to the two-State solution”. Interestingly, while India has condemned the “indiscriminate rocket firings from Gaza targeting the civilian population in Israel” it has described the Israeli airstrikes as “retaliatory” without any condemnation. India has thus in a way endorsed Israeli action though it stopped short of openly endorsing Israel’s right to self-defence as done by the USA in its initial statements. The condemnation of the rocket attacks by Hamas can possibly also be seen as India’s rejection of Hamas’ modus-operandi for attaining its political objectives through violent means. What's in store? It is matter of academic debate as to who between Israel and Palestine should be held responsible for triggering the current conflict. Expectedly, each one of the two is blaming the other. The Israelis are describing the rocket fires by Hamas as premeditated and their own action as retaliatory in self-defence, whereas Hamas is justifying it as its response to Israeli aggression. Fortunately, the chances of a full-scale Arab-Israel war with participation by select Arab countries alongside Palestine looks remote. Yet, as rightly pointed by India and many other countries, the need of the hour is to de-escalate so as to arrest any further slide towards the brink. We can expect to see a flurry of diplomatic activity including by Quartet and some individual countries with the immediate objective of cessation of hostilities. Final and lasting resolution of the conflict, meeting the aspirations of the parties to the conflict, however, is nowhere on the horizon. At this point in time, an agreement to ceasefire would be a great achievement. The pertinent question is how soon can we expect a ceasefire? It is somewhat intriguing in this context that the key player USA is not showing any sense of urgency. Is this by design? Is the idea behind it is to allow sufficient time to Israel to weaken Hamas as much as possible before a truce is reached? It is noteworthy that Hamas has been designated as a terrorist organization, inter-alia, by Israel, USA and the EU, and Israel has let it be known that it is targeting Hamas leaders and its infrastructure. Hopefully, the wise sense will prevail soon and it will be possible to prevent further loss of precious human lives and damage to property. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Opinion | Israel-Palestine: Where is the conflict heading?

Israeli planes renewed air strikes in Gaza early on Saturday and Hamas militants responded by firing rockets into Israel as their battle entered a fifth night and US and Arab diplomats sought an end to the violence.&nbsp;

Palestinian medics said at least 12 people were killed overnight in air strikes throughout Gaza. Health officials said a woman and her three children were among the dead after their house was hit in a refugee camp.&nbsp;

The Israeli military said it carried out strikes on a Hamas military intelligence facility and a number of rocket launching sites in northern Gaza.&nbsp;

The Palestinian religious affairs ministry said Israeli planes destroyed a mosque. A military spokesman said the army was checking the report.&nbsp;

Across the border, sirens sounded throughout much of southern Israel, sending residents running for shelter. In the cities of Beersheba and Ashdod buildings were struck by rockets. There were no immediate reports of injuries.&nbsp;

With no sign of an end to the fighting, casualties spread further afield, with Palestinians reporting on Friday 11 killed in the occupied West Bank amid clashes between protesters and Israeli security forces.&nbsp;

At least 132 people have been killed in Gaza since Monday, including 32 children and 21 women, and 950 others wounded, Palestinian medical officials said.&nbsp;

Among the eight dead in Israel were a soldier patrolling the Gaza border and six civilians, including two children, Israeli authorities said.&nbsp;

Ahead of a session of the UN Security Council on Sunday to discuss the situation, Biden administration envoy Hady Amr, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Israel and Palestinian Affairs, flew in on Friday.&nbsp;

The US Embassy in Israel said the aim was "to reinforce the need to work toward a sustainable calm."&nbsp;

Israel launched day-long attacks on Friday to destroy what it said were several kilometres of tunnels, launch sites and weapons manufacturing warehouses used by the militants in an effort to halt the rocket attacks.&nbsp;

Across central and southern Israel, from small towns bordering Gaza to metropolitan Tel Aviv and southern Beersheba, people have adjusted to sirens wailing, radio and TV broadcast interruptions and the beeps of cellphones bearing red alerts that send them rushing for cover.&nbsp;

Cross-border hostilities between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza have been accompanied by violence in mixed communities of Jews and Arabs in Israel. Synagogues have been attacked and street fights have broken out, prompting Israel's president to warn of civil war. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Israeli planes renewed air strikes in Gaza early on Saturday and Hamas militants responded by firing rockets into Israel as their battle entered a fifth night and US and Arab diplomats sought an end to the violence.

Israeli planes renewed air strikes in Gaza early on Saturday and Hamas militants responded by firing rockets into Israel as their battle entered a fifth night and US and Arab diplomats sought an end to the violence. Palestinian medics said at least 12 people were killed overnight in air strikes throughout Gaza. Health officials said a woman and her three children were among the dead after their house was hit in a refugee camp. The Israeli military said it carried out strikes on a Hamas military intelligence facility and a number of rocket launching sites in northern Gaza. The Palestinian religious affairs ministry said Israeli planes destroyed a mosque. A military spokesman said the army was checking the report. Across the border, sirens sounded throughout much of southern Israel, sending residents running for shelter. In the cities of Beersheba and Ashdod buildings were struck by rockets. There were no immediate reports of injuries. With no sign of an end to the fighting, casualties spread further afield, with Palestinians reporting on Friday 11 killed in the occupied West Bank amid clashes between protesters and Israeli security forces. At least 132 people have been killed in Gaza since Monday, including 32 children and 21 women, and 950 others wounded, Palestinian medical officials said. Among the eight dead in Israel were a soldier patrolling the Gaza border and six civilians, including two children, Israeli authorities said. Ahead of a session of the UN Security Council on Sunday to discuss the situation, Biden administration envoy Hady Amr, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Israel and Palestinian Affairs, flew in on Friday. The US Embassy in Israel said the aim was "to reinforce the need to work toward a sustainable calm." Israel launched day-long attacks on Friday to destroy what it said were several kilometres of tunnels, launch sites and weapons manufacturing warehouses used by the militants in an effort to halt the rocket attacks. Across central and southern Israel, from small towns bordering Gaza to metropolitan Tel Aviv and southern Beersheba, people have adjusted to sirens wailing, radio and TV broadcast interruptions and the beeps of cellphones bearing red alerts that send them rushing for cover. Cross-border hostilities between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza have been accompanied by violence in mixed communities of Jews and Arabs in Israel. Synagogues have been attacked and street fights have broken out, prompting Israel's president to warn of civil war. (With inputs from agencies)

Death toll rises as violence rocks Gaza, Israel and West Bank 

Israeli army said on Sunday that it had killed a Palestinian who carried out knife attack in West Bank.

"A knife attack was reported at the Gush Etzion junction, south of Bethlehem," the army said in a statement. "The attacker was neutralised."

The incident took place at a bus station. Israeli military said that the the attacker ran at the soldiers holding a stick with three knive attached to it. No military personnel were wounded in the attack.

Gush Etzion, the area where the incident took place is a bloc of two dozen Israeli settlements and outposts near Bethlehem

There is frequent friction at the nearby junction, which has been the site of numerous so-called lone wolf Palestinian attacks. 
Israel has occupied the West Bank since the 1967 Six-Day War.&nbsp;

There are currently about 475,000 Jewish settlers in the West Bank living in communities considered illegal by most of the international community, alongside some 2.8 million Palestinians.

(With agency inputs)

Israeli army said on Sunday that it had killed a Palestinian who carried out knife attack in West Bank. "A knife attack was reported at the Gush Etzion junction, south of Bethlehem," the army said in a statement.

Israeli army said on Sunday that it had killed a Palestinian who carried out knife attack in West Bank. "A knife attack was reported at the Gush Etzion junction, south of Bethlehem," the army said in a statement. "The attacker was neutralised." The incident took place at a bus station. Israeli military said that the the attacker ran at the soldiers holding a stick with three knive attached to it. No military personnel were wounded in the attack. Gush Etzion, the area where the incident took place is a bloc of two dozen Israeli settlements and outposts near Bethlehem There is frequent friction at the nearby junction, which has been the site of numerous so-called lone wolf Palestinian attacks. Israel has occupied the West Bank since the 1967 Six-Day War. There are currently about 475,000 Jewish settlers in the West Bank living in communities considered illegal by most of the international community, alongside some 2.8 million Palestinians. (With agency inputs)

Palestinian killed by Israel army in attempted knife attack in West Bank

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