Source: cbsnews.com
Image content: The image shows a large construction site with several multi-story apartment buildings in various stages of completion. A tall tower crane and other equipment are visible, with piles of dirt and rocky ground in the foreground under a clear sky.
Summary
Israel’s government intensified its hold over the occupied West Bank by authorizing 22 new settlements and legalizing outposts, drawing sharp international condemnation and underscoring opposition to a two-state solution. Concurrently, ceasefire diplomacy over Gaza stalled as Hamas submitted a counterproposal seeking a permanent truce and full Israeli withdrawal, while the U.S.-backed framework offers a 60-day pause without ending the war. Israel also barred a rare high-level Arab ministerial visit to the West Bank ahead of a statehood-focused conference, reflecting regional maneuvering around Palestinian governance and potential Saudi-Israel normalization. Together, these developments deepen Israeli control on the ground, complicate ceasefire and hostage negotiations, and further strain prospects for Palestinian statehood amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Key Points
- Israel approved 22 new West Bank settlements, the largest expansion since Oslo, to reinforce claims and block Palestinian statehood.
- Hamas proposed a permanent ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal in exchange for phased hostage-prisoner swaps; the U.S. and Israel criticized the terms.
- The U.S.-backed plan envisions a 60-day truce, increased aid, and limited exchanges but no guarantee of ending the war.
- Israel barred foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, and Egypt from visiting Ramallah ahead of a statehood conference.
- International backlash grew, with European moves toward Palestinian recognition and regional diplomacy intensifying amid Gaza’s worsening humanitarian crisis.