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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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Israeli defence minister vows military to remain in Gaza

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday that Israel’s military would never fully withdraw from the Gaza Strip for security reasons and that a civilian-military army unit would be established in the Palestinian enclave. Under a US-backed peace plan signed by both Israel and Hamas in October, the Israeli military is meant to gradually withdraw completely from the coastal enclave, and Israel would not re-establish civilian settlements there. “We are located deep inside Gaza and we will never leave all of Gaza. There will never be such a thing. We are there to protect, to prevent what happened,” Katz said in a speech, referring to Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 raid on Israel. The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to comment. Read More: Dozens mourn six killed in Israeli shelling of Gaza shelter Referring to units of the Israeli military, Katz said: “When the time comes, in northern Gaza ... we will build Nahal units instead of the (Israeli) communities that were displaced. We will do so in the right way at the right time.” “We don’t trust anybody else to protect our citizens,” he added, pointing to what he said was also a need to be present in Lebanon and Syria. Katz’s mention of displaced communities appeared to refer to Israel’s withdrawal of all Jewish settlements from Gaza in 2005. Netanyahu has repeatedly ruled out the possibility of re-establishing settlements in Gaza throughout the two-year war, although some ultra-nationalist members of his coalition have called for reoccupation. Also Read: Israel’s security cabinet approves 19 new settlements in West Bank Nahal units in Israel’s armed forces are for civilians interested in enlisting in the military and include a year of pre-military preparatory and volunteer programmes. These units have historically played a role in establishing Israeli communities. Israel is heading into an election year in 2026, and the issue of settlements is expected to be a key topic. Katz was speaking at a ceremony in the Israeli-occupied West Bank announcing the establishment of 1,200 housing units in the Israeli settlement of Beit El. The units are being built on the site of an Israeli military base that is being shut down. Speaking about the West Bank, Katz said: “Netanyahu’s government is a settlements government... it strives for action. If we can get sovereignty, we will bring about sovereignty... We are in the practical sovereignty era.”

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At least 32 miners dead after bridge fails at cobalt site in southeast DR Congo

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