Israel approves land registration in the West Bank, first step towards annexation

According to medical sources, Israeli forces killed at least nine Palestinians in fresh attacks in Gaza, in yet another violation of the 'ceasefire' brokered by the US in October. AlJazeera reports.

An attack in the Khan Younis area of the southern Gaza Strip killed four people. Four others were killed in an attack near Jabalia, in the northern part of the Strip.

The attacks were launched after five gunmen approached troops on the Israeli side of the Yellow Line last night, in what the army called a 'blatant violation' of the ceasefire.

"In the last few hours, the IDF has been conducting attacks against Hamas after several armed militiamen hid near the rubble east of the Yellow Line in the Beit Hanoun area yesterday, close to the troops, after emerging from underground infrastructure." This was reported by the military spokesman, emphasising that "crossing the Yellow Line near the army, while armed, constitutes a violation of the truce and shows how Hamas violates the agreement to target troops". "Attacks are conducted against Hamas targets in a targeted manner, in accordance with the principles of international law."

For the first time since 1967, the Israeli government has approved the opening of theland registration process in the West Bank. This was reported by public TV channel Kan, according to which the importance of the decision lies in paving the way for the regularisation of farms and essentially taking 'another step towards annexation'. The Palestinian Presidency immediately reacted with a note warning of the serious consequences of the decision to declare land in the West Bank as state property, calling the measure a 'serious escalation and a blatant violation of international law'.