Tensions have escalated once again in the Middle East as Israel has announced plans to construct 22 new settlements in West Bank territory, a move that coincides with increasing international criticism regarding humanitarian aid operations in Gaza. The new decision, revealed yesterday, marks the 599th day of Israel’s continued offensive in Gaza and represents the largest expansion of settlements in decades. This significant development concerning 22 new settlements in West Bank lands has sparked condemnation from Palestinian authorities and several international organizations, who argue it further undermines the possibility of an independent Palestinian state.
In parallel to this announcement, Gaza has witnessed tragic developments around humanitarian aid distribution centers. Over the past two days, at least 10 people lost their lives at a distribution site operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). The center, recently established under a joint initiative by Israel and the United States, became the epicenter of both an explosion and accusations of violating neutrality in distributing aid. Several international aid bodies, including the United Nations, have accused the GHF of executing a politically motivated aid plan intended to support a wider strategy of evacuating parts of Gaza under the pretext of humanitarian support.
Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes have continued to cause heavy casualties across Gaza. In the last 24 hours alone, 55 people have been reported dead. Among these, seven individuals died in a targeted attack on a kindergarten and the residence of the Azzam family in Jabalia, located in northern Gaza. The Gaza Health Department confirmed that another 19 people were killed in several strikes on residential buildings within the Buraiz refugee camp in central Gaza. These ongoing attacks only intensify the humanitarian crisis and raise concerns over civilian safety.
Yesterday, several explosions were also heard near the GHF aid center situated in the Netzarim Corridor in central Gaza. However, the reasons behind these blasts and any resulting casualties were not immediately known. Further deepening the crisis, the Gaza government’s media office reported that Israeli forces opened fire on people gathering food at a GHF center in southern Gaza on both Tuesday and Wednesday. These attacks resulted in the deaths of 10 individuals and injuries to another 62.
International aid agencies, led by the UN, have now boycotted the GHF. They argue that the foundation is not operating within the core principles of neutrality and impartiality that define humanitarian aid. Jonathan Whittle, the UN’s top humanitarian official in the Palestinian territories, stated that the aid model used by the GHF actively supports a policy of deprivation. He declared that the UN had refused to participate in the aid plan due to its factual ineffectiveness and because it represents a clear violation of accepted humanitarian standards.
According to Whittle, this initiative to use humanitarian aid as a tool to serve political or military agendas cannot be justified, especially when it involves the deprivation of essential resources from already suffering populations. The GHF began distributing aid only this Tuesday, and already it has drawn severe scrutiny from the international community.
Further chaos erupted on Wednesday when a large group of desperate civilians stormed a food warehouse managed by the UN World Food Programme in central Gaza. The incident, reported by the BBC, left two people dead and several others injured. Footage captured by the AFP news agency showed dozens of hungry civilians entering the Al-Ghafari warehouse in Deir al-Balah and leaving with sacks of food and flour while gunshots rang out. The source of the shooting remains unverified, and the WFP is still working to confirm all the details.
The WFP stressed that the humanitarian situation in Gaza has spiraled out of control. Nearly three months of Israeli blockades have pushed the population to the brink of starvation, and although those restrictions have eased slightly, it is not enough to prevent a total disaster. The organization warned that unless aid distribution is expanded urgently, starvation-related deaths could become widespread.
The announcement concerning 22 new settlements in West Bank territory adds another layer of tension to an already volatile region. These settlements will be built along Route 443, the highway connecting Jerusalem and Tel Aviv through Modiin. Alongside this development, Israel has also approved the legalization of several previously unauthorized settlements in East Jerusalem and other parts of the West Bank.
The news was made public by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who both described the expansion as a strategic move. Smotrich, who resides in a settlement himself, emphasized that these new communities will strengthen Israel’s territorial hold and prevent the emergence of a Palestinian state, which he referred to as a national threat.
The Israeli government first captured the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War. Although Israel withdrew its military from Gaza later on, it continued to establish and support settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem—actions considered illegal under international law. Despite global objections, successive Israeli governments have expanded these settlements, many of which were built without any official approval.
Since 1967, about 160 settlements have been established, housing nearly 700,000 Israelis. This continued expansion is viewed by many as a deliberate strategy to alter the demographic and political landscape, preventing the realization of Palestinian sovereignty.
Palestinian leaders have condemned the move. A spokesperson for President Mahmoud Abbas labeled the settlement announcement a dangerous provocation, arguing that Israel is deliberately steering the region toward prolonged violence and unrest. He asserted that the extremist stance of the Israeli government is aimed squarely at stopping the formation of an independent Palestinian state, deepening the occupation and inflaming regional tensions.
The global community is now watching closely as both the construction of 22 new settlements in West Bank territory and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza unfold simultaneously. These developments reflect a worsening situation that demands urgent international attention and action.
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