Middle East: Israel approves West Bank settlement project – DW – 08/20/2025
Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced the plan last week.
It calls for development in an open tract of land east of Jerusalem, known as E1. The Israeli government would build nearly 3,500 new apartments to enlarge the Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, which lies next to E1.
The UN has warned that the plan would divide the West Bank and make any two-state solution untenable.
A statement released by Smotrich's office announcing the settlements said they were "burying the idea of a Palestinian state."
The plan Smotrich presented would divide the occupied West Bank, Aviv Tatarsky, a researcher at the Ir Amim organization, told DW when it was introduced last week.
"It breaks up the West Bank into a northern part and the southern part," he said, adding that it would make a Palestinian state "not possible."
Plans for new Israeli settlements in the West Bank have been widely condemned and are considered illegal under international law, which Israel has consistently disputed.
Israel's Defense Ministry has approved plans to call up tens of thousands of reservists ahead of a planned operation in Gaza City.
The newspaper, citing military officials, reported on Monday that about 60,000 reservists would be called up in stages. The majority, numbering 40,000 to 50,000 troops, have been ordered to report for duty at the beginning of September. Another, smaller, contingent is due in November, and a third will be called up in February.
About 130,000 reservists are expected to be active during the planned offensive.
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Israel's military leadership has signed off on a preliminary plan to take over Gaza City, according to officials speaking off the record to Israeli and international media.
The plan has been approved by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, the Defense Ministry told the AFP news agency.
The start date of the operation is currently unclear. However, an unnamed Israeli military official told AP news agency that the operation will be in parts of Gaza City where the Israeli military has not yet operated and where Hamas is still active.
Israeli troops are currently operating in the Zeitoun and Jabaliya neighborhoods of Gaza City to prepare for the expanded operation, the official said.
The official added that the plan will proceed to final approval now that the military has signed off.
The preliminary approval comes weeks after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel planned to completely take over Gaza City, with the objective of eliminating the threat of Hamas militants and recovering the remaining hostages who were abducted in the terror attacks in southern Israel on October 7.
It comes after Hamas said it had accepted a new ceasefire proposal yesterday. However, Israel has not yet provided an official response to the proposal.
Plans for a full takeover of the Gaza Strip had earlier met pushback from Israeli armed forces Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, who dropped opposition to the framework plan last week.
Humanitarian organizations are warning of mass displacement and a humanitarian catastrophe for Palestinians living in Gaza's most densely populated area.
The plan has also been condemned by countries like UK, Germany, Italy, Australia, New Zealand.
Israel's military says Gaza City is Hamas' main stronghold, and the militant group is still actively regrouping and carrying out attacks.
Israel, Germany, the United States and several other countries designate Hamas a terrorist organization.
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Today, we are reporting on an expanded Israeli offensive in Gaza City that has reportedly just received military officials' approval.
Details are still emerging, but reports indicate that tens of thousands of reservists will be called up in September to begin the new operation.
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