In a surprise move, Israel's government coalition announced on Thursday that it will pause the West Bank annexation bills that had passed a preliminary vote in the Knesset just a day earlier. Ofir Katz, chairman of the coalition, said the plans for full annexation and the integration of Maale Adumim near Jerusalem "will not be advanced until further notice."
The parliamentary vote, held during U.S. Vice President JD Vance's visit, drew swift backlash at home and abroad. Vance labeled the move a "stupid political stunt" with no real-world impact, while key U.S. allies and regional powers, including Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, TĂĽrkiye and 13 other Muslim-majority nations, condemned the decision.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office defended the vote as an "intentional provocation by the opposition to sow discord" during Vance's trip. Meanwhile, EU leaders in Brussels urged Israel to halt settlement expansion and military actions, even as they welcomed early ceasefire gains in Gaza.
Against this political backdrop, rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas have convened in Cairo to discuss the next phase for Gaza's post-war recovery. Led by senior negotiators Khalil al-Hayya and Hussein al-Sheikh, the talks aim to map out steps on U.S. President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan and prepare for a November conference on reconstruction.
On the ground in Gaza, humanitarian agencies warn of a deepening crisis. A UN assessment in Gaza City highlighted critical water shortages, crippled sanitation systems and widespread skin diseases. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports immediate needs for latrine repairs, clean water, hygiene kits and cash assistance for winter supplies.
The World Health Organization has evacuated 41 critically ill patients and 145 companions since the October 10 ceasefire, yet an estimated 15,000 still await approval for medical care outside the Gaza Strip.
As international diplomacy unfolds, the intertwining of high-stakes politics and urgent humanitarian needs underscores the complex road ahead for peace and recovery in the region.
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Israel's West Bank annexation bid condemned as Fatah, Hamas meet
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