Tension eased in some areas of Jerusalem, but it tightened elsewhere as clashes continued across the region. In the occupied Palestinian territories, a week of border skirmishes ended with thousands of Jewish and Muslim worshippers gathering for prayers that held a fragile calm, underscoring how quickly momentum can swing in this volatile conflict. The scene outside the capital also carried a stark message: even as international voices urged restraint, a march by settlers, run by a coalition of right-wing figures, signaled that settlement expansion remains a live political objective.
Hours after the protests, authorities reported the death of Lucy Dee, age 48. Her relatives, Rina and Maia, aged 20 and 15, were also killed in the days following a prior attack that targeted Israeli settlers. The assailant responsible for that incident has not been located. In a separate confrontation, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said Muhamed Fayez Bilhan, 15, was shot by Israeli forces in the Aqabat Jabr camp near Jericho, marking another tragic moment in the ongoing cycle of violence.
deadliest year
The current year has already proven the deadliest since the turn of the century for Palestinians, with 96 deaths attributed to violence involving Israeli forces and 19 fatalities among Israelis. Yet families remain pressed by relentless developments on the ground. Tensions persisted on Monday north of the occupied West Bank, where repeated acts of violence have unfolded for months. Large-scale protests by Israeli settlers and a visible deployment of thousands of army and police personnel were intended to prevent clashes that have become more common during overlapping Jewish and Muslim holidays.
Betha, Nablus—Palestinian demonstrators in Beita reported heavy teargas use by occupying forces during protests against what they described as a state-backed war crime and the massive illegal settler march in the occupied West Bank. A social media post from Yunus Tiraawi documented the scene, linking the confrontation to broader tensions in the region.
During the march, Itamar Ben Gvir, Israeli Minister of National Security, declared, “We are returning home to the land of Israel and to the Temple Mount.” The protestors faced sound devices and other measures used by security forces to manage the crowd. The movement also drew attention to a dispersed outpost north of the occupied territories that had been evacuated by the previous Israeli government in 2021, a site long contested over land expropriation that remains a flashpoint in the conflict.
presence of ministers and deputies
A social media post from Benjamin Netanyahu highlighted reports of the demonstration, while the broadcast coverage illustrated a broader political display. At least seven ministers from Netanyahu’s cabinet, including the finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, attended alongside a bloc of roughly 20 coalition lawmakers. The speakers framed the event as a demonstration of national strength and resolve, declaring, “We are here to say: the nation of Israel is strong, and we are here and we will stay here.” While the authorities publicly termed the march controlled, observers noted a permissive stance that allowed the event to unfold under tight security. The episode has intensified political pressures on Netanyahu at a moment when his popularity has faced a downturn, raising questions about how government policy aligns with on-the-ground realities in contested areas.