Israel's military closed the Palestinian Christian village of Taybeh in the West Bank to non-residents on Sunday, citing the need to prevent growing attacks on Palestinians by Israeli settlers. The closure follows a series of coordinated settler attacks across the West Bank that injured residents and damaged property.
Israeli prosecutors have charged settler Yinon Levi with killing Palestinian activist Awdah (Odeh) Hathaleen in Umm al-Khair village in the occupied West Bank. This marks the first indictment of an Israeli for killing a Palestinian in the West Bank since the October 7, 2023 attacks, according to Israeli rights group B'Tselem.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced the allocation of 113 million shekels ($37 million) to develop and take control of more than 70 historical and archaeological sites across the occupied West Bank, expanding Israeli control over Palestinian heritage locations amid intensified settlement expansion.
The United Nations human rights office issued a warning about worsening violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, calling for international action as settlement construction reaches record levels.
A UN committee voted to inscribe the archaeological site of Sebastia in the occupied West Bank and five castles in southern Lebanon as World Heritage sites, defying strong objections from Israel.
The Dutch government announced it will prohibit the import and sale of goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories beginning September 22, 2026, joining Ireland, Belgium, and Spain in imposing such restrictions. The ban, announced in May but only now dated, is intended to reflect the Netherlands' obligations under international law, though enforcement is expected to be challenging due to inadequate product labeling.
Four major European powers issued a joint statement condemning Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, warning that Israeli government policies are undermining prospects for a two-state solution.
EU foreign ministers formally green-lighted sanctions targeting violent Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stating 'extremisms and violence carry consequences.' Israeli PM Netanyahu condemned the move as 'moral bankruptcy.'
