Israel approves West Bank settlement expansion as Gaza death toll mounts
Shafaq News/ Israel has approved the construction of 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, further entrenching its presence and undermining prospects for a future Palestinian state, Israeli media reported Thursday.
The plan reportedly includes both new settlements and the retroactive legalization of unauthorized outposts. Channel 14 said four will be built in the Jordan Valley, extending Israeli control near the Jordanian border, adding that the move also reverses parts of the 2005 Disengagement Law.
Officials called the expansion critical to securing the West Bank. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich praised it as 'a major milestone,' while Defense Minister Israel Katz framed it as retaliation for 'Palestinian terrorism.'
In Gaza, Israeli airstrikes escalated. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported 37 deaths on Thursday, including children and women, after strikes on homes and a daycare in Jabalia.
Since October 7, 2023, more than 54,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed and over 123,000 injured, with thousands remaining buried under rubble, as large parts of Gaza are in ruins.
The humanitarian crisis continues to deteriorate under ongoing border closures and restricted aid. At the UN Security Council, Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour appealed for urgent action, stating, 'Dozens of children are dying of starvation. To watch Palestinians suffer while the world stays silent—it's more than any decent human being should have to bear.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
3 hours ago
- Shafaq News
US envoy: Hamas response to ceasefire proposal unacceptable
Shafaq News/ On Saturday, US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff revealed that he had received Hamas' response to Washington's ceasefire proposal, describing it as 'totally unacceptable'. Witkoff urged Hamas in a post on X to adopt the current framework as the basis for proximity talks, which he said could begin this coming week, adding that the proposal offers the only path toward securing a 60-day ceasefire in the coming days. @POTUS @VP @SecRubio @SecDef @CIADirector @DNIGabbard @SusieWiles @USAmbIsrael @StephenM @PressSec @StevenCheung47 @lightstonea @LindseyGrahamSC — Office of the Special Envoy to the Middle East (@SE_MiddleEast) May 31, 2025 While Hamas has not publicly disclosed the content of its response, Israeli media outlets reported that the group submitted several amendments to the US-backed framework, including a demand for a ceasefire lasting up to seven years, a full Israeli military withdrawal from areas captured since March.
Shafaq News
3 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Iraqi MP accused of exploiting oil job Issue for votes
Shafaq News/ On Saturday, an Iraqi labor rights official accused members of parliament in Basra of exploiting a long-standing employment issue in the oil sector to boost their campaigns ahead of Iraq's upcoming elections. Speaking to Shafaq News, Hakim al-Aidani, director of the Center for the Defense of Workers in Oil Fields, pointed to the renewed spotlight on the long-demanded 'safety passport,' a certification required by many seeking jobs in the province's oil industry. 'The issue first emerged when BP began operating in the fields,' al-Aidani recalled. 'Thousands of young people appealed for action, but the file remained ignored for years.' The current version of the document, known locally as the 'red passport,' is not accepted by oil companies, even for entry-level jobs such as cleaners at fields like Rumaila. Job seekers who obtain it are often rejected when they apply. Al-Aidani noted that Total, which now oversees multiple projects in Basra, requires a different type of certification. This shift follows earlier patterns, including a period when a Chinese operator invalidated the previously used 'green passport.' Each transition, he added, renders older documents useless and forces applicants to restart the process. He also questioned the move to offer the passport free of charge, after years during which applicants paid more than $500 to obtain it. 'Where were officials when young people were bearing these costs?' he asked.
Shafaq News
7 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Iraq's water crisis deepens as Dokan Dam levels plunge
Shafaq News / In the face of a sharp decline in water levels at Dokan Dam in al-Sulaymaniyah province, Kirkuk's Water Directorate has issued an urgent appeal to residents to conserve water, warning of potential disruptions to the daily supply if current usage patterns persist. Dokan Dam, one of the largest in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, is crucial for supplying drinking water to millions across al-Sulaymaniyah, Kirkuk, and surrounding areas. Technical sources report that the dam's reserves have dwindled to under 3 billion cubic meters, nearly half of its maximum capacity of 6.8 billion cubic meters, due to scarce rainfall last winter. To manage the crisis, authorities have cut water releases from 70 cubic meters per second to 30 cubic meters per second in a bid to preserve what remains. Kirkuk's Water Director, Abbas Ismail Ali, told Shafaq News that the province is entering a critical phase that demands broad cooperation. 'With the reduced water releases from Dokan Dam, residents must use water wisely and avoid wasteful practices such as washing cars and streets,' he said. In response, Kirkuk authorities have launched a field campaign to crack down on illegal connections and wasteful water practices that hinder supply to various neighborhoods. Starting June 1, 2025, the water department will enforce financial penalties under Resolution 296 (1990) and Law No. 56 (1977), targeting anyone found guilty of wasting potable water. Ali emphasized the importance of raising public awareness through educational videos and campaigns, urging media outlets and social media activists to help convey critical conservation messages and support the province's efforts to navigate this mounting water crisis.
