Israel expands footprint for settlements

‘Civilian air strike’ clips investigated

Israel has said it will investigate after videos emerged of Palestinians being killed by air strikes in Gaza despite appearing to be non-combatants.

One clip, first published by Al Jazeera, purportedly showed four civilians walking in the southern city of Khan Yunis before being attacked by an Israeli drone, which carried out multiple strikes after two Palestinians survived the first blast. Another video, posted by an Israeli soldier, appeared to show five Palestinians walking with a horse carrying their possessions, before all are killed by an air strike. An Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson told i the first incident took place “in an active combat zone”. But the IDF did not comment on the second clip, or answer whether soldiers have faced disciplinary action over alleged abuses in Gaza.

Israel’s finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, declared 800 hectares in the occupied West Bank as state land yesterday, which will enable the building of settlements that are illegal under international law.

The announcement came as the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, visited Israel for talks with the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, underlining the government’s determination to press ahead with the settlements despite international opposition.

Mr Smotrich, himself a resident of a settlement, made clear that the move was intended to preface new construction in Palestinian territory. “While there are those in Israel and in the world who seek to undermine our right to Judea and Samaria and the country in general, we promote settlement through hard work and in a strategic manner all over the country,” he said, using biblical names for the West Bank.