Israeli forces have shot dead two Palestinian teenagers in the Kafr Aqab neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem, according to the Wafa news agency. Meanwhile, a displaced Palestinian was killed outside the so-called “yellow line” south of Khan Younis city, a source at Nasser Hospital confirmed to international media. The killings follow reports from Gaza’s Government Media Office that Israeli forces and tanks advanced approximately 300 meters (984 feet) beyond the “yellow line” in eastern Gaza City earlier this week. Amid ongoing military operations, Israel has announced plans to expropriate parts of Sebastia, a historically significant site in the occupied West Bank. According to a government document obtained by Peace Now, an anti-settlement watchdog, the proposed confiscation covers about 1,800 dunams (180 hectares or 450 acres) and would constitute Israel’s largest seizure of archaeologically significant land in the area. The Israeli Civil Administration’s order lists parcels of land targeted for confiscation in the north of Sebastia, which Palestinian residents were given only 14 days to contest. Sebastia, believed to sit atop the ancient kingdom of Samaria, is considered sacred by both Christians and Muslims, as it is thought to contain the burial site of John the Baptist. Israeli authorities stated the seizure is intended to develop Sebastia into a tourist attraction, with excavations already underway and over 30 million shekels (around $9.24 million) allocated to the project. The developments come as Israel faces mounting international criticism for failing to curb settler violence in Palestinian territories, often carried out with military backing. Peace groups warn that recent actions in Sebastia and other parts of the West Bank reflect a broader pattern of land confiscation and settlement expansion.
Israel launches airstrikes on Gaza, two kill in East Jerusalem clashes
Israeli soldiers take their positions along a street during a raid in Nablus city, in the occupied West Bank.
