Health authorities state at least 70 Palestinians in the West Bank have been killed since the start of 2025, with the figure including 10 children [Getty]
US President Donald Trump announced his plan on Tuesday for the US to “take over” Gaza, further fuelling tensions in a series of comments made during a conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Triggering widespread fury, Trump said Palestinians would “love to leave Gaza” and suggested that he sees the US owning Gaza in the long term, eventually bringing economic prosperity to the enclave.
Hamas immediately issued a statement lambasting the plan, with senior official Sami Abu Zuhri calling the statements “ridiculous and absurd” and adding that “the people of Gaza will not allow such plans to pass.”
Other countries and international rights groups, including Saudi Arabia, China, Amnesty International and the Council on American-Islamic Relations, decried Trump’s plans.
Australian senator Lidia Thorpe said the plan was a “blatant call for ethnic cleansing and colonisation” on social media.
However, far-right extremist Israeli politician Itamar Ben-Gvir backed Trump’s comments, writing: “Donald, this looks like the beginning of a beautiful friendship” on social media platform X.
Israel’s Channel 12 also reported that Ben-Gvir hinted that there is an increased likelihood that he may return to Netanyahu’s coalition following the comments.
This comes as Israeli media also reported that five freed Israeli captives said they would like to return to serving in the Israeli military, two weeks after they were released.
According to the Jerusalem Post, the Israeli army told them it was too early for their return, and that they must continue recovering after being held in captivity for over a year.
Meanwhile, health authorities and Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem reiterated that Israel is continuing to prevent essential aid from reaching Gaza. This includes fuel, equipment to clear rubble and tents.
Thousands of Palestinians have been forced to sleep out in the cold as temperatures drop after returning to their homes to find them destroyed.
West Bank operation expanded
The latest developments coincide with Israel expanding its military assault in the occupied West Bank, with at least 380 Palestinians arrested since the start of the Gaza ceasefire.
Israel has been launching an offensive on the city of Jenin for 16 days, parallel to a similar offensive on the Tulkarem camp which has been ongoing for 10 days. Â
The offensive has been dubbed “Iron Wall” by the Israeli army and has caused severe destruction to Palestinian homes.
Health authorities state at least 70 Palestinians in the West Bank have been killed since the start of 2025, with the figure including 10 children.
A UN official confirmed on Tuesday that the Israeli aggression in the two cities has displaced around 5,500 Palestinian families since December.
The head of Tulkarem camp’s popular committee also confirmed that an estimated 80 percent of the camp’s 15,000 residents have been forcibly displaced.
Israeli forces have been carrying out attacks on homes, arresting individuals and bulldozing infrastructure.
Israel also restricted the movement of goods into the camp triggering a shortage of water and putting communication services to a standstill.
Residents also reported that the assault had left them unable to obtain basic goods such as baby formula, nappies and medication, according to The New Arab’s Arabic edition, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.
The crackdown continued in other West Bank cities too, with Israeli forces arresting a 24-year-old French activist named Camelia in Hebron. The activist was at the headquarters of the Youth Against Settlements group at the time of her arrest.
Numerous rights groups including Doctors Without Borders, known by their acronym MSF, have slammed the Israeli attacks.
“Since the ceasefire was implemented in Gaza, there has been an escalation of extreme violence occurring across the West Bank, particularly in Jenin, Tulkarem and Tubas. This is unacceptable,” the organisation said in a statement.
The UN agency UNRWA also warned the situation in the West Bank is moving in a “catastrophic” direction.
