UN rights chief says Israeli settlements surging to record levels
Since the Gaza war began, Israel has dramatically expanded its illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, bringing them to “shocking new levels”, said the UN’s human rights chief, Volker Turk. By transferring more of Israel’s population to the occupied territory, the settlements amount to a war crime, Turk said, and risk destroying chances for a future Palestinian state.
The UN official’s remarks come after Israel’s settlement-planning authority greenlit permits on Wednesday for nearly 3,500 new illegal settlement housing units, a step the US said was “disappointing” and “counterproductive” to peace.
‘Shocking new levels’: 603 Israeli settler attacks in occupied West Bank
The latest UN figures show there have been at least 603 attacks by illegal Israeli settlers on Palestinians since October 7. A total of 1,222 Palestinians from 19 herding communities have been displaced as a direct result of settler violence, a UN report says.
The UN documented at least nine Palestinians killed by settlers using firearms, with a further 396 killed by Israeli forces, and two killed by either Israeli troops or settlers. Since October 7, at least 592 people, including 282 children, have been displaced in the occupied West Bank after their homes were demolished.
“The West Bank is already in crisis,” said Volker Turk, UN high commissioner for human rights. “Yet settler violence and settlement-related violations have reached shocking new levels, and risk eliminating any practical possibility of establishing a viable Palestinian state.”
Israeli military carries out arrests in towns in Nablus and Ramallah
The Israeli military has arrested three citizens in two towns in Nablus governorate, the Wafa news agency reports. Israeli forces arrested two men in the western neighbourhood of the town of Beita, south of Nablus, while a third man was arrested in the village of Urif, south of Nablus.
The Israeli military has also arrested a Palestinian from the town of Beitunia, west of Ramallah, Wafa reports.
Israeli troops storm Hebron, carry out detentions: Wafa
Israeli forces have raided neighbourhoods in the city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank and detained several Palestinians, the official Palestinian news agency Wafa says. Troops arrested a Palestinian in the town of Yatta south of Hebron after searching his house, according to security sources quoted by the news agency.
Israeli forces also beat a civilian before detaining him for several hours as they stormed the town of Dura, southwest of Hebron.
They also detained three members of a family – father, mother and son – at a military checkpoint at the entrance of the Jaber neighborhood in southern Hebron for several hours before releasing them.
Raids and detentions were also reported since Thursday in Bethlehem and Qalqilya.
Israeli forces arrest man in town of Urif, erect barriers at Al-Aqsa Mosque
Local media are reporting that Israeli forces have stormed the town of Urif, south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, and arrested a freed Palestinian prisoner.
Our Al Jazeera Arabic colleagues are also reporting that Israeli forces have erected iron barriers at the Lion’s Gate in the vicinity of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem to prevent people from attending Friday prayers there.
Raids and arrests have been reported elsewhere in the occupied West Bank in the following locations:
- The city of Salfit
- The city of Dura, south of Hebron
- The town of al-Khader, south of Bethlehem
- The town of Yatta, south of Hebron
- The town of Azzun, east of Qalqilya
Israelis will be allowed to visit Al-Aqsa during Ramadan: Report
Israel’s police forces say that Israelis will be allowed to visit Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the first week of Ramadan. The statement quoted by The Associated Press news agency raised concerns about the access for Palestinians to the revered site during the holy month.
The authorities in Israel say they will work to maintain freedom of worship for Muslims at Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during Ramadan, set to begin next week, while maintaining security and safety needs. Earlier this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the same number of people as last year would be allowed to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque for prayers during the first week of Ramadan.
Israeli forces beat, arrest worshippers around Al-Aqsa Mosque: Report
Israeli forces have attacked and beaten worshippers at the Lions Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem, the official Palestinian news agency, Wafa, reports. Troops prevented worshippers from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, to perform prayers and arrested two of them, according to Wafa, which quoted witnesses.
Soldiers reportedly set up checkpoints around the area after the incident. Wafa said Israeli forces continue to impose strict military measures at the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque and in the Old City ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, which begins next week.
Raids and in some cases detentions have also been reported in the West Bank cities of Nablus, Hebron, Bethlehem, Ramallah and Qalqilya overnight and in the morning.
Four soldiers wounded near Israeli settlement
What we understand is this incident at Homesh happened at an illegal settlement, an outpost that is now occupied by settlers.
The Israeli government dismantled this settlement and destroyed all the houses there in 2005. What we’ve been seeing consistently for many years now – and it has ratcheted up since the war began on October 7 – are settlers coming and trying to reoccupy these areas. Homesh is between Nablus and just south of Jenin.
In the hours since the incident, there have been at least four more shooting incidents at checkpoints around Nablus. There have been no casualties reported, but we have heard Israeli positions have been fired on by gunmen.
Of the incident that took place where these four Israeli soldiers were injured, one is now in critical condition.
Israeli soldiers are seen in Balata, a Palestinian refugee camp in Nablus, occupied West Bank
