Israel approved new settlements in the occupied West Bank, while its troops have reached the outskirts of Gaza City. The developments raise questions about the viability of a cease-fire proposal.

Israel demolishes a number of homes in the West Bank’s northern Jordan Valley, despite an order postponing the demolitions until September 3 amid a legal battle by local residents against the demolitions.

claim the “West Bank” (that is, west of the Jordan River) as their own, based on generations of Arab presence there – at present, almost 3 million Palestinians call it home. Israel has historical and security arguments for holding on to the biblical ...

Israel Defense Forces spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said it now controls the outskirts of Gaza City, which was one of Hamas' last strongholds.