Key facts
- Israel is expanding control in Gaza with new barriers.
- The expansion tightens the siege on over two million Palestinians.
- Israeli detonations near Beaufort Castle in Lebanon threaten a peace deal.
- Lebanese President Joseph Aoun described the detonations as a dangerous escalation.
- Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir rejected a Gaza peace deal.
- Ben-Gvir stated halting assassinations of Hamas members is unacceptable.
- Ben-Gvir called for continued Palestinian emigration from Gaza.
- Campaigners claim reopening UK oil fields could profit Delek Group.
- Delek Group is linked to illegal West Bank settlements.
- Delek Group is blacklisted by the UN and supplies the Israeli military.
Israel is reportedly expanding its control within Gaza, displacing families and establishing new boundaries with earth and concrete barriers. This expansion intensifies the siege on over two million Palestinians, restricting them to a smaller area. The actions are seen as redrawing the post-ceasefire boundary.
In southern Lebanon, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has stated that Israeli army detonations near the historic Beaufort Castle are a "direct threat" to a recent framework deal with Israel. He characterized these actions as a dangerous escalation occurring ahead of upcoming talks, indicating a potential threat to regional peace.
Within Israel, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has rejected a draft peace deal for Gaza, deeming it "unacceptable to Israel." Ben-Gvir explicitly stated that any agreement to cease assassinations of Hamas members would be tantamount to allowing Hamas to regroup for future attacks. He also advocated for the continued emigration of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.
Separately, in the United Kingdom, campaigners are arguing that the reopening of North Sea oil and gas fields, under Prime Minister Andy Burnham, would contravene international law. Their objection stems from a stakeholder company's alleged connections to illegal West Bank settlements. These campaigners assert that profits from the reopened fields could benefit Delek Group, a company blacklisted by the United Nations, which also reportedly supplies the Israeli military.