Peace Now said Israel’s security cabinet approved the move “secretly” in early April, adding that the new settlements come in addition to 68 others authorized since the government led by Benjamin Netanyahu took office in 2022.

The Israeli defense ministry, which oversees settlement activity in the West Bank, declined to comment on the reports.According to Israeli media, including i24News, 10 of the newly approved sites are existing outposts previously considered illegal under Israeli law but now set to be retroactively legalized.

The remaining 24 settlements have yet to be constructed.News outlet Ynet reported that military chief Eyal Zamir warned during a security cabinet meeting on April 1 that increased operational demands, including the protection of additional settlements, could strain military capacity.

Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, and settlements there are widely considered illegal under international law. More than 500,000 Israelis live in settlements in the territory, excluding East Jerusalem, alongside approximately three million Palestinians.

Settlement expansion has been a consistent policy across successive Israeli governments, but rights groups say approvals, land seizures and settler-related violence have accelerated since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023.

Lebanon’s health ministry said at least 203 people were killed and more than 1,000 wounded in widespread Israeli strikes on Wednesday, marking the deadliest day in over five weeks of renewed fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah.

Netanyahu said Israel was continuing to strike Hezbollah targets with “force, precision, and determination,” adding that operations would persist until security is restored in northern Israel.

The Israeli military said it was also conducting ground operations in southern Lebanon and had struck crossings used by Hezbollah fighters, along with weapons storage sites and command centers.The escalation comes despite a ceasefire announced earlier this week by U.S. President Donald Trump following heightened tensions with Iran.

Israel and Washington have said the truce does not apply to Lebanon, while other countries have called for its expansion to include the country.Lebanon’s cabinet moved to tighten state control over security, with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam directing authorities to restrict weapons in Beirut to state institutions.

The government had previously banned Hezbollah’s military activities, though the group has continued operations.Iran warned that continued Israeli attacks on Hezbollah would carry “explicit costs and strong responses,” as diplomatic efforts to resolve the broader conflict remained uncertain.

Tehran has said no agreement would be reached while strikes on Lebanon continue.The Israeli military said it had killed a relative of Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem in recent strikes, identifying him as a close aide involved in the group’s operations.

Hezbollah said it had resumed attacks on Israeli positions after initially indicating it would pause operations in line with the ceasefire, firing across the border and targeting Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.

Rescue teams continued searching for survivors under rubble in Beirut and other affected areas after strikes hit densely populated neighborhoods, many without prior warning, according to local accounts.

The conflict has also intensified pressure on global energy markets, with disruptions linked to the broader regional crisis pushing oil prices sharply higher and raising concerns about supply stability.

Lebanese state media reported fresh Israeli strikes, while the Israeli military issued an evacuation warning for a building near the southern city of Tyre, signaling ongoing operations despite the broader regional truce.

Hezbollah, which entered the conflict by launching attacks on Israel on March 2, has not claimed any operations since early Wednesday. Three Lebanese sources close to the group told Reuters it had halted fire on northern Israel and Israeli forces in Lebanon as part of the ceasefire arrangement involving Iran.

The Israeli military said it “continues fighting and ground operations” against Hezbollah, underscoring that hostilities along the Lebanon front remain active.Lebanon’s army warned residents against returning to southern areas, citing ongoing Israeli attacks and the presence of advancing Israeli forces.

It urged civilians to avoid exposed zones until conditions stabilize.An AFP correspondent in the Tyre region reported limited civilian movement southward, despite the displacement of hundreds of thousands since the conflict expanded into Lebanon.

Hezbollah is expected to issue a formal statement clarifying its position on the ceasefire and Netanyahu’s assertion that Lebanon is excluded from the agreement, the Lebanese sources said.

French President Emmanuel Macron, while welcoming the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, said the situation in Lebanon remained critical and called for its inclusion in any broader de-escalation framework.

Iran and the United States have agreed to a conditional two-week ceasefire, marking a temporary pause in hostilities that have disrupted regional stability and threatened global energy supply routes, according to statements from officials in both countries and mediators involved in the talks.

The agreement provides for an immediate halt to attacks and the reopening of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical corridor for global oil shipments. Iranian authorities said safe passage would be coordinated with their armed forces during the ceasefire period, indicating continued operational control over the waterway.

The announcement was confirmed by Shehbaz Sharif, who said the ceasefire would apply “everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere” and take effect immediately. Sharif also invited both sides to send delegations to Islamabad for talks aimed at reaching a longer-term settlement, positioning Pakistan as a key mediator in the process.

Officials in Washington and Tehran offered differing emphases on the agreement. Donald Trump described the ceasefire as a “total and complete victory” for the United States, stating that US military objectives had been achieved and that discussions toward a broader peace arrangement were already advanced. He added that Washington would suspend further military action, including previously stated threats against Iranian civilian infrastructure, contingent on compliance with the terms of the agreement.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Tehran would halt what he described as “defensive operations” to facilitate negotiations. He said Iran had submitted a 10-point proposal that Washington had accepted as the basis for talks, while also reviewing a separate 15-point proposal put forward by the United States.

Despite these developments, there were inconsistencies in how the ceasefire’s geographic scope was described. Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the agreement did not extend to Lebanon, contradicting assertions by Pakistani officials and some US sources that the ceasefire would apply across multiple fronts. The discrepancy highlights ongoing uncertainty over the terms and implementation of the arrangement.

No official text of either proposal has been publicly released. However, details reported by Iranian state media suggest that Tehran’s 10-point plan includes provisions for maintaining its authority over the Strait of Hormuz, securing the lifting of sanctions, unfreezing overseas assets, and obtaining compensation for damages.

The proposal is also reported to call for the withdrawal of US forces from the region, recognition of Iran’s nuclear enrichment activities, and a binding United Nations resolution to formalize any final agreement.

Iranian diplomatic messaging has reinforced these positions, emphasizing continued control over strategic waterways and a cessation of hostilities across multiple regional theaters. Tehran has also indicated that any lasting agreement would need to address broader geopolitical and economic demands, including sanctions relief and security guarantees.

By contrast, the US proposal is reported by regional sources cited by CNN to focus on nuclear and security constraints. The 15-point framework is believed to include commitments by Iran to forgo nuclear weapons development, surrender highly enriched uranium, limit its defense capabilities, and curtail support for regional proxy groups. It also includes provisions to ensure the continued operation of the Strait of Hormuz as an open international shipping route.

Iran has previously rejected these terms, describing them as “excessive, unrealistic and unreasonable,” suggesting that significant gaps remain between the two sides despite the temporary ceasefire.The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is a central component of the agreement, given its importance to global energy markets.

Any disruption to shipping through the waterway has immediate implications for oil prices and supply chains, making the ceasefire’s maritime provisions a key focus for international stakeholders.

The two-week timeframe underscores the provisional nature of the arrangement, with both sides framing the ceasefire as an opportunity to advance negotiations rather than a definitive resolution. Diplomatic engagement is expected to intensify in the coming days, particularly with the proposed talks in Islamabad.

While the agreement signals a de-escalation after a period of heightened tensions, the absence of a publicly verified framework and conflicting statements from key actors point to a fragile understanding that will depend on sustained diplomatic coordination and adherence to interim commitments.

Weekly protests, which began with small turnouts following the launch of joint military operations by Israel and the United States on February 28, are drawing gradually larger crowds, though still far below last year’s mass demonstrations over the Gaza conflict.

In Tel Aviv, security forces moved to break up a rally at HaBima Square, citing emergency regulations that prohibit gatherings of more than 50 people due to ongoing missile threats from Iran and Lebanon.Police said 13 people were arrested in the city, while an additional five were detained in Haifa after protesters blocked roads and ignored instructions to disperse.

Authorities described the demonstrations as illegal under wartime guidelines.Footage showed officers forcibly removing protesters, with some individuals pushed to the ground during clashes.

Organizers, including groups such as Standing Together, Peace Now and Women Wage Peace, accused authorities of suppressing dissent. A spokesperson for one organizing group said the demonstrations had not received official authorization.

Participants expressed frustration over the lack of clarity surrounding the war’s objectives. “Nobody actually knows what is the aim,” said Yoram, a 52-year-old tour guide attending the Tel Aviv protest.Another protester, Joanne Levine, 76, criticized the government’s strategy, linking the conflict to the policies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Despite the protests, public backing for the war remains strong. A poll by the Israel Democracy Institute found that 78 percent of Jewish Israelis support the conflict, compared to 19 percent among Arab Israeli citizens.

However, opposition is increasing, with the share of those against the war rising to 11.5 percent from 4 percent earlier in March, according to the survey.The demonstrations come as Israel continues to face sustained rocket and missile fire amid escalating regional hostilities.

We’re going after the IRGC,” Netanyahu said during the visit, adding that Israel would pursue its leadership, installations and economic assets.

The missile strike on Arad injured at least 59 people, according to Israeli medics, while nearby Dimona widely believed to be near Israel’s nuclear research facilities also sustained significant damage from a direct hit.

Rescue teams were deployed to affected neighbourhoods, where buildings were partially destroyed and debris scattered across residential areas. Authorities described the incident as a mass casualty event.

Netanyahu urged residents to strictly follow instructions from Israel’s Home Front Command and seek shelter during air raid sirens, describing the current situation as one in which “the entire home front is a frontline.

”He said adherence to safety protocols was critical to preventing casualties during continued missile barrages.

Iranian officials, including parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, have described recent strikes as marking a new operational phase in the conflict, as Iranian missiles penetrated Israeli air defences in areas previously considered highly protected.

The exchange of attacks comes amid a wider regional escalation involving Iranian-backed groups, including Hezbollah, and follows strikes on key sites in both countries as the conflict enters its fourth week.

Trump issued the warning in a social media post on Saturday, saying Washington would “obliterate” Iranian power facilities if the strategic waterway remained closed. The strait, a critical conduit for global oil flows, has been effectively shut amid the ongoing hostilities.

Iran’s military command, Khatam al-Anbiya, said any attack on its fuel and energy infrastructure would trigger strikes on U.S. and Israeli assets, including critical civilian-linked systems.

The statement, carried by state media, underscored a widening scope of potential targets beyond conventional military sites.

Iranian officials also indicated that access through the Strait of Hormuz would be restricted, with passage permitted selectively, reflecting Tehran’s control over the route during the conflict.

The escalation coincided with renewed Iranian missile barrages on Israel, including strikes near the southern cities of Dimona and Arad, close to the Negev Desert nuclear research area.

Israeli authorities said dozens were injured and residential buildings sustained heavy damage.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the impact in Arad caused extensive destruction but no fatalities, while urging adherence to air raid warnings. Israel’s military acknowledged that some missiles were not intercepted, marking a breach in air defence coverage in the area.

Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the strikes indicated a shift to a new operational phase in the conflict.

The conflict has extended beyond Iran and Israel, with Hezbollah claiming responsibility for a deadly strike in northern Israel, while Gulf states reported drone and missile activity targeting energy infrastructure.

Iran also targeted the joint UK-U.S. military facility at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, though officials said the strike was unsuccessful. Military assessments cited in reports suggested the possibility of longer-range capabilities or alternative launch methods, though no confirmation was provided by Tehran.

The disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has halted most tanker traffic, contributing to supply constraints and rising global energy prices. Countries including the United Arab Emirates, Britain, Germany, France and Japan have expressed readiness to support efforts to restore safe navigation through the waterway.

U.S. Central Command said earlier that strikes on Iranian coastal facilities had degraded Tehran’s ability to target vessels in the strait. Additional U.S. naval assets and personnel are being deployed to the region as part of ongoing operations.

Casualties have mounted across multiple theatres, with Iran reporting more than 1,500 deaths, while Israel, the United States and Gulf states have also recorded military and civilian losses.

Speaking at his second press conference since the start of the war, Netanyahu said pipelines running west across the Arabian Peninsula to Israel could bypass vulnerabilities in the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.

“Just have oil pipelines, gas pipelines, going west through the Arabian Peninsula, right up to Israel,” Netanyahu said, describing the concept as a long-term structural change that could emerge from the conflict.

Netanyahu said U.S. President Donald Trump had asked Israel to refrain from further attacks on Iranian gas infrastructure following a strike on Iran’s South Pars field, which marked a significant escalation in the war.

“President Trump asked us to hold off on future attacks,” Netanyahu said, adding that Israel had carried out the operation independently.

The comments reflect growing U.S. concern over rising energy prices and the broader economic impact of strikes on critical infrastructure, particularly as Washington pushes allies to help secure maritime routes in the Gulf.

Netanyahu said that after nearly three weeks of fighting, Iran no longer had the ability to enrich uranium or produce missiles, though he did not provide supporting evidence.

The claim was contested by Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, who said in a media interview that significant elements of Iran’s nuclear programme remained intact.

The war began after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Feb. 28 following the collapse of negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear programme, and has since expanded to include attacks on energy facilities across the Gulf.

Netanyahu also signaled that Israel’s campaign could broaden beyond air operations, hinting at a possible ground component inside Iran.

He did not elaborate on timing or scope, but said Israel would continue military action to achieve its objectives, as hostilities between the two countries continue to drive volatility in global energy markets and regional security dynamics.

The accord would mark a major foreign policy victory for Trump, who has pledged to bring resolution to protracted global conflicts including those in Gaza and Ukraine.

Israeli hostages held in Gaza may be released as early as Saturday under a U.S.-brokered plan aimed at ending the devastating war in the enclave, according to a source familiar with the agreement. The Israeli military is expected to complete the first stage of a partial withdrawal from Gaza within 24 hours of the deal being signed.

The formal signing of the ceasefire agreement, which constitutes the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace initiative for Gaza, is scheduled for Thursday at noon Israel time (0900 GMT), the source said.

The deal comes amid cautious optimism and widespread relief across both Israel and the Palestinian territories after Trump announced late Wednesday that Israel and Hamas had reached consensus on a ceasefire and hostage release plan — a move that could mark the most significant diplomatic breakthrough since the war erupted two years ago.

A war that reshaped the Middle East

The conflict, which began following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, has left more than 67,000 people dead in Gaza, according to local authorities, and has drawn in regional actors including Iran, Yemen, and Lebanon.

Israel’s assault flattened much of the coastal strip, while sparking growing global condemnation over what rights experts and a U.N. inquiry have described as possible genocide — an accusation Israel strongly denies, maintaining its operations constitute self-defense.

“Thank God for the ceasefire, the end of bloodshed and killing,” said Abdul Majeed Abd Rabbo, speaking from the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. “All of Gaza is happy, all Arab people are happy, and the world is happy with the end of the bloodshed.”

Despite the jubilation, analysts warn that the agreement remains fragile, lacking clarity on several core issues including post-war governance of Gaza and the long-term fate of Hamas.

Trump announces breakthrough

“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first phase of our Peace Plan,” Trump said on Truth Social. “This means that all of the hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their troops to an agreed line as the first steps toward a strong, durable, and everlasting peace.”

If successfully implemented, the accord would mark a major foreign policy victory for Trump, who has pledged to bring resolution to protracted global conflicts including those in Gaza and Ukraine.

“This deal brings us closer than any previous effort to halting a war that has engulfed the region,” a senior Western diplomat involved in the talks told Al Arabiya English on condition of anonymity. “But much will depend on how both sides implement the next steps.”

Netanyahu hails ‘national victory’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his government would convene on Thursday to formally approve the plan.

“With the approval of the first phase of the plan, all our hostages will be brought home,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “This is a diplomatic success and a national and moral victory for the State of Israel.”

The conflict, which saw Israel assassinate top leaders of Hamas, Hezbollah, and several Iranian commanders, has redrawn the Middle East’s political landscape. Yet Israel has faced unprecedented global backlash over the scale of civilian casualties and destruction in Gaza.

Under the new accord, Israel is to withdraw troops from specific areas of Gaza while maintaining “security control” along agreed buffer zones. In exchange, Hamas is expected to release all surviving hostages, with their return to begin within 72 hours of the agreement’s ratification.

Hostage release expected within days

Families of hostages gathered in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv to welcome the announcement, many waving Israeli flags and holding photos of their loved ones.

“President Trump, thank you very much,” said Hatan Angrest, whose son Matan is among those still held. “Our children would not be coming home without your help.”

According to a Hamas source, living hostages will be handed over within 72 hours of the deal’s approval, while recovery of the bodies of deceased hostages — believed to number about 28 — “will take longer” due to the extensive destruction in Gaza.

Trump told Fox News’ “Hannity” program that hostages could be released by Monday, adding that coordination was underway with Qatari and Egyptian mediators to oversee the exchange.

Israeli officials say 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage during the Hamas-led cross-border assault in 2023. Of the 48 hostages confirmed to remain in Gaza, around 20 are believed to still be alive.

Hamas confirms deal includes withdrawal, prisoner exchange

Hamas confirmed in a statement that it had agreed to the terms of the ceasefire, which include an Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza and a hostage-prisoner exchange.

“We affirm that the sacrifices of our people will not be in vain,” Hamas said. “We will remain true to our pledge — never abandoning our people’s national rights until freedom, independence, and self-determination are achieved.”

In the southern city of Khan Younis, Palestinian resident Khaled Shaat described the news as “historic.”

“These are long-awaited moments after two years of killing and genocide that were committed against the Palestinian people,” he said.

However, several key aspects of the deal remain unresolved — particularly who will govern Gaza once Israeli troops withdraw and whether Hamas will retain any administrative or security role.

Post-war governance unclear

The next phase of Trump’s 20-point framework envisions the creation of an international oversight body led by the U.S. and including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to help manage Gaza’s post-war transition. The body would coordinate reconstruction, security, and humanitarian operations during a two-year interim period.

But Hamas has rejected any foreign administration, saying it would only accept a Palestinian technocratic government under the supervision of the Palestinian Authority and backed by Arab and Muslim countries.

“We will not accept foreign rule or trusteeship over Gaza,” a Hamas political official told Al Arabiya English. “Gaza’s future must be decided by Palestinians.”

Arab states insist on path to Palestinian statehood

Several Arab governments that have quietly backed the Trump plan said any long-term settlement must pave the way toward the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

“Peace will not be sustainable without addressing the core issue — Palestinian sovereignty,” a senior Arab diplomat said. “Any arrangement that ignores this will eventually fail.”

Israeli officials, however, have reiterated that no Palestinian state will be established under Netanyahu’s government. The Israeli leader has repeatedly stated that his priority remains ensuring “complete demilitarization of Gaza” and preventing Hamas or any other armed group from re-emerging.

Economic and regional impact

News of the potential ceasefire triggered a sharp fall in global oil prices, as investors welcomed reduced risk to supply chains amid fears of a wider Middle East escalation. Analysts noted that a sustained truce could ease regional tensions and reopen diplomatic channels between Israel and Arab states that had been strained since the war began.

“This is a significant de-escalation signal,” said an energy strategist in Dubai. “Markets are responding to the likelihood that the most immediate source of instability — the Gaza war — may finally be nearing its end.”

Skepticism remains

Despite the optimism, observers cautioned that previous ceasefire efforts have repeatedly collapsed, often within days of being declared.

“The fact that this deal has been brokered directly through Washington gives it weight,” said a former Israeli intelligence official. “But without guarantees from Egypt and Qatar — and without addressing Hamas’s long-term status — it could unravel quickly.”

Trump and Netanyahu spoke by phone late Wednesday, congratulating each other on what both described as a “historic achievement.” Netanyahu’s office said the Israeli leader had invited Trump to address the Knesset following the official signing ceremony.

For war-weary civilians on both sides, the agreement offers a rare glimmer of hope — though uncertainty lingers over what will follow.

“People in Gaza have lost everything,” said a humanitarian worker in Rafah. “If this ceasefire holds, it will be the first real chance in years for families to rebuild their lives — but peace will need more than a pause in fighting.”

There are signs that some in politics are tiring of Netanyahu’s dominance. In 2021, he was ousted by an unlikely coalition that united left-wing, far-right and Arab political parties keen to block him from power.  

Israel’s fifth election in less than four years opens on Tuesday, pitting familiar rivals against each other. None is more familiar than former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is aiming to capitalise on the current political upheaval and return to power.