Israel Reopens Rafah Crossing, Facilitates Medical Transfers for Palestinian Patients
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Tensions escalated in the West Bank late Monday night when suspected Israeli settlers attacked two Palestinian villages, setting cars and property ablaze. The incidents occurred in Jinsafut and al-Funduq, roughly 30 miles north of Jerusalem. Local officials reported that masked men vandalized homes, a nursery, and a carpentry shop, injuring at least 12 individuals due to the attacks. The Israeli military stated that the assailants hurled rocks at soldiers dispatched to disperse the crowd and announced that an investigation into the events is underway.
The timing of the attacks coincided with U.S. President Donald Trump’s cancellation of sanctions against Israelis accused of violence in the territory. Initially imposed nearly a year ago amid rising tensions during the Israel-Hamas conflict, these sanctions had targeted individuals deemed radical or violent. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich welcomed the decision, asserting it rectified foreign intervention in Israel’s affairs.
This violent outbreak comes as international negotiators from Qatari, U.S., and Egyptian teams have established a communications hub in Cairo to uphold a fragile ceasefire in Gaza. Recent reports of breaches, including the injury of eight individuals in Gaza by Israeli gunfire, underscore the challenges to lasting peace.
Qatari officials expressed confidence that the U.S. administration would support the ceasefire agreement, which began following recent hostilities. The ceasefire's initial phase is set to last for six weeks, although trust remains low on both sides, necessitating robust communication efforts to prevent further escalation.