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Israeli occupier attacks threaten historic Christian presence in West Bank town

In Taybeh, one of the few Palestinian communities with a Christian majority in the occupied West Bank, fears are growing that Israeli occupier attacks on farmland and property could push more families to emigrate, threatening the town’s demographic character and historic Christian presence. Local officials and clergy warned of the impact of rising violence by Israeli occupiers, which has coincided with worsening living and economic conditions in the town. Taybeh, east of Ramallah, is one of the few Palestinian towns in the West Bank that still has a Christian majority, according to church and local accounts. Residents say the town’s Christian roots go back thousands of years. Residents say the attacks have deepened fears in the town, even as they stress their determination to remain on their land. Also Read: Pakistan raises red flag over illegal settlements in West Bank, calls for Israel accountability In recent years, Israeli occupiers have established several ill...
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Truce between Israel and Hamas extended for two days

A truce between Israel and Hamas will be extended by two days, mediator Qatar said hours before the pause was due to end Tuesday, as more captives were freed from Gaza in exchange for the release of dozens of Palestinian prisoners. "The Palestinian and Israeli sides have reached an agreement to extend the humanitarian pause in Gaza for two additional days under the same conditions," Qatar's foreign ministry said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter. Palestinian resistance group Hamas also confirmed the extension and Israeli media reported the government had received a new list of 10 more captives who would be freed. However, there was no official word from Israel. The news of the extension came as 11 more captives were freed from Gaza overnight, along with the release of another 33 Palestinian prisoners -- the last exchange under the existing deal. The extension of the truce, which had been scheduled to end at 7:00am (0500 GMT), was welcomed internationally. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called it "a glimpse of hope and humanity in the middle of the darkness of war". Palestinians walk amid debris of buildings hit in Israeli strikes, near Al-Zawiya market in Gaza City. PHOTO: AFP Israel's brutal retaliatory ground and air operation following the October 7 raid by Hamas has killed almost 15,000 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, with a large majority of them children. Late Monday, 11 captives arrived in Israel, the country's military said. "Our forces will accompany them until they are reunited with their families," it said in a statement, adding that the military "salutes and embraces the released hostages upon their return home". Most of the group are dual nationals, with Argentinians, Germans and French among those released, and all 11 were from the Nir Oz kibbutz, the community said. The releases brought "a sigh of relief to our community, however we remain deeply concerned about our loved ones that are still held hostage," kibbutz official Osnat Peri said. Shortly after the arrival of the captives was confirmed, Israel's prison authority said 33 Palestinian inmates had been released. In east Jerusalem, prisoner Muhammad Abu Al-Humus called his release "an indescribable joy" and kissed his mother's hand as he entered his home, while crowds in the West Bank town of Beitunia waved green Hamas flags to greet those arriving on a coach. But nearby there were also clashes with Israeli troops by Ofer prison, with Palestinians burning tyres and throwing stones. The Palestinian health ministry said one person was killed. In all, 50 Israeli captives have been released under the truce deal, in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners, with another 19 hostages freed under separate agreements, including Thai workers and a dual Russian-Israeli citizen. Hamas said it was now drawing up lists of additional hostages to be released, though the process is reportedly complicated by the fact that some are held by other militant groups. US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that "in order to extend the pause, Hamas has committed to releasing another 20 women and children". Israel views the truce as temporary to secure captive releases and plans to continue its war, with the government agreeing to a 30.3 billion shekel ($8.2 billion) war budget that will now go to parliament. But it faces increasing pressure for a more lasting ceasefire and the ramp-up of humanitarian aid to Gaza, where an estimated 1.7 million people have been displaced, according to the United Nations. This week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will pay his third wartime visit to the Middle East, meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv and Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas in Ramallah. "The secretary will stress the need to sustain the increased flow of humanitarian assistance to Gaza, secure the release of all hostages and improve protection to civilians in Gaza," a senior US official said. He will discuss "the principles he laid out for the future of Gaza and the need to establish an independent Palestinian state," the official added. Inside Gaza, the Hamas-run health ministry said no fuel had arrived for generators at hospitals in the territory's north, despite the truce. Displaced Palestinians gather next to tents sheltering people in Khan Yunis near the border fence between Israel and the southern Gaza Strip. PHOTO: AFP And UN official Tor Wennesland warned the humanitarian situation "remains catastrophic." It "requires the urgent entry of additional aid and supplies in a smooth, predictable, and continuous manner to alleviate the unbearable suffering of Palestinians in Gaza," the UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process said. The truce has allowed residents who fled fighting in northern Gaza to return to Gaza City, which has been ravaged by relentless Israeli bombardment. People walked or bicycled along debris-lined streets, where the cars were flattened and buildings torn apart. Gaza City Mayor Yahya al-Siraj said that without fuel, the territory could not pump clean water or clear waste accumulating in the streets, warning of a potential public health "catastrophe". The fighting has left many with devastating injuries, which doctors in Gaza have struggled to treat because of limited supplies. Clean-up was underway at Gaza's largest hospital, Al-Shifa, which Israel targeted saying it was used as a command centre by Hamas. "We hope it can soon resume its activities," said Gaza health ministry spokesman Mahmud Hammad. A limited number of Palestinians have been airlifted to the United Arab Emirates for treatment after crossing from Gaza to Egypt, including seven-year-old Yussef, who gnawed on his nails next to his mother Nouzha Fawzi. "He was not like that before," she said of Yussef, who suffers the blood disorder hemophilia. "Since the war, he no longer speaks much. He is afraid of everything," she added. "He asks me if he will die."  

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