Israel / Palestine

Israeli forces have intensified their military operations in the Gaza Strip since the roadmap for a second stage of the Palestinian enclave’s “ceasefire” was announced last week.

Hamas and other Palestinian factions have agreed to a document setting out a plan for their disarmament in Gaza, in what United States President Donald Trump has called “a monumental step” towards peace and security. Al Jazeera has received a copy of Thursday’s agreement, which stipulates that the precise disarmament roadmap must be prepared within 14 days, with possible extensions subject to the approval of an international verification body, and the agreement of all parties.

Israel’s government has approved the entry of the International Stabilization Force (ISF), part of United States President Donald Trump’s 20-point “peace plan,” to Gaza. An Israeli official reported on Sunday that Israel’s security cabinet had approved the key legal measures and that the force would operate “in full coordination with” the Israeli military, according to the Times of Israel.

Amid intensified deadly Israeli attacks in Gaza, the UN chief and top officials condemned the killings while a surge violence rocked the West Bank and aid agencies scrambled to help Palestinians.

The Gaza recovery plan being pursued by Donald Trump’s Board of Peace (BoP) has shrunk dramatically from an ambitious blueprint for the reconstruction of the whole territory to a small pilot project in the south of the strip.

The European Commission and more than a dozen countries launched an initiative on Monday to deliver Є 883.6 million ($1 billion) in aid projects to help Gaza recover from war.

Israel's parliament on Sunday said it had set the country's national elections for October 27, the latest date permitted by law, which will allow the ruling coalition to complete a full four-term. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the country's longest-serving premier, announced that he "intends to win" despite polls showing that a majority of Israelis want him out of office over multiple corruption trials, controversial judicial reforms, and concerns over the ongoing wars in Gaza and Iran. 

This decision could pave the way for the territory to be administered by an already-formed technocratic committee, whose mission is to ensure Palestinian representation in institutions.

The continued expansion of areas under Israeli control in Gaza since October’s ceasefire agreement is placing civilians at greater risk and severely constraining humanitarian operations, the UN and humanitarian partners warned on Wednesday. The alert comes amid continued displacement and mounting humanitarian pressures across the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). 

The European Union has appointed Felix Andåker as Head of the European Union Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories (EUPOL COPPS) for the period from 1 July to 30 September this year, … .