![Far-right Israeli groups gather to stage a march toward the Gaza border, demanding for the allegedly creation of illegal Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip, where 2.3 million Palestinians reside, amid ongoing Israeli attacks on April 25, 2024 near Yad Mordechai, South Ashkelon, Israel. [Mostafa Alkharouf - Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/AA-20240425-34377942-34377930-FARRIGHT_ISRAELI_GROUPS_MARCH_NEAR_ASHKELON_AMIDST_ONGOING_ISRAELI_ATTACKS.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
Israeli settlement leaders and organisations are calling for the annexation of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank and a halt to the release of Palestinian security prisoners.
According to the Times of Israel, the Yesha Council, representing municipal authorities in the illegal settlements, urged the Israeli occupation government to “decisively defeat Arab terrorism” and impose “Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank” to prevent what they described as the creation of a “terror state” in the region.
The head of the West Bank Settlement Council, Yossi Dagan, urged for a military onslaught in the West Bank “exactly the same way as terrorism infrastructure was eliminated in Gaza.” He further urged the Israeli prime minister and defence minister to order the targeted elimination of “terror heads” and abandon any consideration of releasing security prisoners into the West Bank.
Earlier today, two Israeli occupation soldiers succumbed to their injuries after a Palestinian gunman opened fire at the Tayasir checkpoint in the northern occupied West Bank. The assailant was killed in an exchange of fire after reinforcements arrived, reported Reuters.
Preliminary investigations suggest the gunman infiltrated a military installation near the checkpoint and fired on troops from a lookout position. Palestinian media reported an Israeli drone strike on the nearby town of Tamun shortly after the incident.
A ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and a prisoner exchange between Hamas and Israel came into effect on 19 January, consisting of three stages, each lasting 42 days. Negotiations are being held during the first stage regarding the second and third stages, under the mediation of Egypt and Qatar and the support of the US.
Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation army began a military operation in the city of Jenin and its refugee camp on 21 January, which has led to the killing of 25 Palestinians as of Sunday evening. The Israeli aggression expanded last week to include the city of Tulkarm, where three Palestinians were killed.
The occupation army is also continuing its aggression against Palestinians and their property in the Far’a camp and the town of Tamoun in the Tubas Governorate in the northern occupied West Bank for the third consecutive day.
Coinciding with the start of the genocidal war in Gaza, the Israeli army and settlers expanded their attacks in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which has resulted in the killing of 905 Palestinians, the wounding of around 7,000, and the arrest of 14,300 others, according to official Palestinian data.
READ: 2 Israel soldiers killed, 6 injured in shooting east of Tubas