Israeli strikes killed at least 12 Palestinians in Gaza on Sunday, local health officials said, in the latest escalation in a conflict that has intensified alongside political moves in the occupied West Bank and mounting international concern.
The deaths were reported after airstrikes hit residential areas in the Gaza Strip, according to medical sources cited by regional media, while Israel’s military said it continued operations targeting militant infrastructure. The fighting comes amid worsening humanitarian conditions and warnings from aid groups that civilian casualties continue to rise as military operations expand.
At the same time, Israel’s parliament advanced measures related to West Bank land policy, with lawmakers backing steps to designate additional areas as state land—moves Palestinians and many foreign governments say could amount to de facto annexation and undermine prospects for a negotiated two-state solution. Palestinian officials described the decision as a “serious escalation,” while armed groups and political factions condemned what they called an attempt to permanently change the territory’s status.
Diplomatic tensions have risen in parallel. Several governments have renewed warnings that unilateral annexation or settlement expansion would violate international law and risk further destabilizing the region, according to recent diplomatic reporting and statements cited by international media.
The latest violence also comes as indirect negotiations and mediation efforts have struggled to gain traction. Analysts say that political pressure inside Israel, combined with continuing hostilities in Gaza, has narrowed the space for compromise, while Palestinian authorities face internal divisions and a deepening humanitarian crisis.
Regional observers note that the convergence of battlefield developments and legislative steps in the West Bank reflects a broader shift in the conflict, in which military operations and territorial policy are increasingly intertwined. Aid agencies and diplomats have warned that without a sustained ceasefire and renewed political dialogue, civilian casualties and displacement are likely to continue rising in the weeks ahead.
For now, residents in Gaza report continuing airstrikes and shortages of basic supplies, while in the West Bank, fears of further land seizures and unrest remain high. With diplomacy stalled and violence ongoing, the past 24 hours have underscored how rapidly events on the ground—and decisions in parliament—can reshape the trajectory of a conflict now deep into its second year.
