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Senior Syrian and Israeli delegations met in Jordan on Sunday for US-mediated discussions aimed at easing tensions and reviving negotiations on a possible security agreement, Syria’s state news agency SANA reported, citing a diplomatic source. The Syrian delegation was led by Foreign Affairs Chief Asaad al-Shaibani and included the heads of the country’s general and military intelligence services. Israel also sent a senior delegation to the meeting, according to the source. The talks in Jordan came amid heightened tensions following recent Israeli strikes on Syrian territory and growing instability in southern Syria. The meeting was intended to promote stability in Syria and the broader region. According to the diplomatic source, the discussions centered on practical measures to stop Israeli attacks, arrests and other targeting operations, while exploring ways to resume negotiations on a security agreement that could eventually pave the way for a broader deal. The Syrian delegation emphasized that Syria is a sovereign country with the right to rebuild and strengthen its national military and choose its alliances and partnerships based on its national interests. Damascus made clear that it would reject any agreement or mechanism that limits those sovereign rights, the source said. The Syrian side also reiterated its position that the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights is Syrian territory. However, it said discussions on the territory’s final status and a broader settlement of the issue would be premature at this stage. For now, Damascus identified the withdrawal of Israeli forces to the positions they held before Dec. 8, 2024, and the complete restoration and implementation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement as its immediate priorities. The talks also included efforts to reduce differences between Türkiye and Israel and prevent tensions between the two regional powers from affecting Syrian territory, according to the source. The Syrian delegation stressed that any future security arrangements must respect Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and sovereign rights, while both sides explored practical measures to ease tensions and resume negotiations. Israel carried out a strike on the Abu al-Duhur military airport in northwestern Syria on Tuesday, claiming that Damascus was preparing to allow Turkish forces to deploy there. Syria and Türkiye rejected the Israeli allegation.

Military officials from Uganda and Burundi visited Israel last week for talks on deploying troops to Gaza as part of an international security force proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, officials said. A Board of Peace official told The media that Ugandan officials accompanied a Burundian military delegation during the visit. Uganda is now working to finalize details of its participation after its parliament approved the deployment of troops earlier this month. No agreement has been reached with Burundi, but the official said discussions with the country were expected to move forward. The official, who spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to discuss negotiations with potential troop-contributing countries, said the talks involved an exchange of significant information and that Burundian representatives showed interest in the mission. A senior Burundian military official said three other high-ranking officers accompanied the delegation to Israel and indicated that Burundi appeared interested in joining the force. The official also spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly. It remains unclear how many troops Uganda or Burundi could provide or what incentives they might receive. Military spokespersons in both countries did not respond to requests for comment. International force faces delaysIf Burundi joins, it would become the latest country to commit personnel to the proposed Gaza force. Morocco, Kosovo, Kazakhstan and Albania have already pledged troops. Uganda has committed about 1,200 personnel, while Morocco has offered up to 500. Kosovo, Kazakhstan and Albania have collectively pledged about 80 troops. Indonesia had earlier announced plans to send 8,000 troops, the largest proposed contribution, but suspended the deployment after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran. The proposed force is expected to comprise about 20,000 personnel and be commanded by U.S. Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers. Current commitments remain well below that target. Trump announced last month an agreement calling for Hamas to disarm and Israel to withdraw its forces from Gaza. Under the plan, the International Stabilization Force would operate in parts of Gaza administered by an incoming technocratic committee, while Israeli troops would pull back. The force would be tasked with monitoring the ceasefire, training Palestinian police and helping ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid. The Gaza ceasefire, which took effect last October, has faced repeated obstacles over disagreements about an Israeli withdrawal and Hamas’ disarmament. Earlier this month, a U.S. delegation held lengthy talks with Hamas’ leadership before meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an effort to advance the agreement. Hamas has accepted the latest U.S. proposal, while Netanyahu has rejected it, saying Israel will not withdraw from the roughly 60% of Gaza currently under its control until Hamas is fully disarmed. Even after Netanyahu met with the U.S. delegation, which included negotiator Jared Kushner, Israeli officials made no firm commitment to a withdrawal. Uganda, Burundi bring Somalia experiencePaul D. Williams, director of the security policy studies program at George Washington University, said Uganda and Burundi have extensive peacekeeping experience from years of deployments in Somalia as part of an African Union mission fighting the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab militant group. Their governments have demonstrated a willingness to sustain significant casualties without pulling their forces out, Williams said. He also noted that as the Somalia mission winds down, both countries may seek additional financial and logistical support for their militaries. “Deploying to Gaza with U.S. support is one way to do that,” Williams said. A Ugandan military officer familiar with preparations for the mission said troops were being selected for possible deployment to Gaza. The officer spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to discuss the plans publicly.

 The Israeli military said Wednesday it would launch criminal investigations into the deaths of 5-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab and her family, as well as 15 Palestinian paramedics killed in separate incidents during the Gaza war. The decision followed a review of 150 cases involving the conduct of Israeli troops during the conflict. However, the military said it would not open criminal investigations into three other incidents involving the deaths of aid workers from World Central Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders. Rajab was killed in February 2024 when Israeli forces fired on a vehicle carrying her, her aunt, uncle and four cousins as they attempted to escape Gaza City during an Israeli military operation. The incident drew widespread international condemnation. In another case, 15 Palestinian paramedics were killed in March 2025 after Israeli troops opened fire on their emergency vehicles in Rafah. The bodies were later bulldozed into a mass grave. Phone footage and testimony from the lone survivor indicated that troops first fired on an ambulance sent to evacuate casualties and later attacked other emergency vehicles searching for it. Australia criticizes decision over aid workers Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed strong anger Thursday over Israel's decision not to pursue criminal charges in the deaths of seven World Central Kitchen workers, including Australian national Zomi Frankcom. Wong said Australian officials were notified of the decision only shortly before it was made public, leaving them unable to inform Frankcom's family in advance. She said several questions remained unanswered, including why the aid convoy was struck three times despite operating in a designated humanitarian area and why a senior brigade officer involved in the operation had signed a letter calling for restrictions on aid entering Gaza. Australia also had not received drone footage from the incident despite repeatedly requesting it, Wong said. She argued that removing two officers from their posts and reprimanding three others did not amount to adequate accountability for the deaths. Wong had earlier summoned Israel's ambassador to Canberra, Hillel Newman, but said Australia would not expel him because diplomatic engagement remained important. Newman expressed sympathy for Frankcom's family but stopped short of apologizing for her death. He defended the military's findings, saying the decision followed two years of independent investigation. Israeli strikes kill 10 in Gaza At least 10 Palestinians were killed Wednesday in two Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, according to local hospitals and the Palestinian Red Crescent. The strikes raised further concerns over efforts by the United States to revive a fragile ceasefire. Two days after U.S. negotiators reportedly urged Israel to reduce attacks in Gaza, Israeli troops allegedly crossed the ceasefire line in southern Gaza and detained a Hamas police colonel, according to witnesses and a Hamas official. Iranian parliament speaker visits Iraq Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf arrived in Iraq for a three-day visit, where he is expected to meet senior Iraqi officials and leaders of an Iran-backed political alliance. Qalibaf praised Iran-aligned Iraqi militias, calling them an important part of Iraq's national strength. His remarks came as Baghdad continues efforts to bring the militias under greater state control. Iraq has also asked Iran to provide special arrangements for its oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been heavily disrupted by the Iran-U.S. war. Iraq depends on oil revenues for about 90% of its government budget and has been forced to use more costly alternative export routes. France, Iran expel diplomats France said it would expel two employees of Iran's embassy in Paris in retaliation for Tehran's expulsion of two French diplomats earlier this week. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot accused Iranian authorities of failing to investigate what he described as a deliberate attack on French diplomatic personnel last month. He rejected Iranian allegations that the two French diplomats had attended a secret meeting involving people suspected of foreign interference, calling the claims fabricated. The two Iranian diplomats are expected to leave France in the coming days.

A Palestinian family divided between Israel and Gaza has reunited after nearly two years of war, displacement and personal tragedy. Mais al-Gharam, 23, had not seen her seven younger siblings since leaving Gaza for Israel shortly before the war began. During the conflict, an Israeli airstrike destroyed the family's home in central Gaza, killing her parents and one of her brothers. Earlier this month, Mais waited outside Israel's Kerem Shalom crossing, searching the crowd for her surviving siblings as they emerged from Gaza. "We never stopped being a family," she said. "But every day I wondered whether I would see them again." After years of legal efforts, Mais was finally able to bring her brothers and sisters, aged 8 to 22, to Israel. The siblings reunited at the border crossing and then travelled together to Nazareth, where relatives welcomed them with hugs and home-cooked meals. The reunion brought both relief and grief. Although the family was together again, they were also mourning the loss of their parents and younger brother. Their grandfather, Faraj al-Gharam, described the moment as "coming back from the grave." The family's story began in 2002 when Murad al-Gharam, a resident of Gaza, met Amal Karim, a Palestinian citizen of Israel from Nazareth, while working in Israel on a temporary permit. After marrying, the couple moved permanently to Gaza, where they raised eight children in Nuseirat refugee camp. Life changed dramatically after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and led to Israel's military campaign in Gaza. Mais had already returned to Nazareth, where she married and found work. Her seven siblings, who were born in Gaza, were eligible to apply for Israeli citizenship through their mother, but their father was not. The family initially decided to remain together in Gaza rather than leave without him. As fighting intensified, they were displaced multiple times before returning to their home in Nuseirat. On July 10, 2024, an airstrike struck the house, killing Murad, Amal and their 11-year-old son, Maisara. The surviving children were injured but managed to reach Al Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, where doctors confirmed the deaths of their parents and brother. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the strike. After the attack, the older siblings took responsibility for caring for the younger children. They cooked, cleaned, collected firewood for heat and water, and even opened a small bakery to earn money while receiving support from relatives in Nazareth. Meanwhile, Mais worked with Israeli rights group HaMoked to secure permits, legal guardianship papers and citizenship applications for her siblings. According to HaMoked, the Israeli Interior Ministry initially rejected the request because the children's mother had died. The family was later required to undergo DNA testing to prove their relationship to Mais before the applications were approved. Nearly two years after the airstrike, the siblings crossed into Israel on July 8 and travelled to Nazareth. After arriving, they spoke not about politics but about ordinary plans for the future, including going back to school, seeing doctors and spending time with relatives. "Family is the most important thing," said Jwaher, one of the siblings.

Israel has been rapidly constructing a large earthen barrier inside the Gaza Strip, according to satellite images, reinforcing its control over more than half of the territory and raising concerns that the temporary military line could become a more permanent boundary. Satellite imagery reviewed by The Associated Press shows that more than 23 kilometres of the barrier have been built in recent months through areas where Palestinian communities were demolished. The structure stretches across much of Gaza, which is about 40 kilometres long and home to more than two million people. The Israeli military confirmed it has built a physical barrier along the so-called "yellow line" — the area where its forces withdrew under the ceasefire agreement reached with Hamas in October. The line was intended to be a temporary military boundary until a broader Israeli withdrawal could take place. However, with the ceasefire process stalled, many Palestinians fear the barrier could eventually become a permanent border dividing the enclave. The Israeli military said it has also established a security zone along the line equipped with surveillance and other technology. It said the barrier is intended to prevent infiltration and protect Israeli troops and nearby Israeli communities but declined to say how far the construction will extend. Construction progressing rapidlySatellite images indicate the barrier is expanding quickly. In southern Gaza, one section of the earthworks grew from about 500 metres to roughly 2.4 kilometres between July 1 and July 15, cutting across the area between the Israeli-controlled ruins of Rafah and the Muwasi area, where many displaced Palestinians are living in tent camps. The longest continuous section of the barrier now stretches nearly 17 kilometres from Khan Younis toward Gaza City. Construction on that section began in February and has continued steadily, with more than one kilometre added between late June and early July. Smaller, disconnected sections have also been built near the heavily damaged town of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza. Large areas under Israeli controlMost of Gaza's population is now concentrated west of the yellow line, where many people are living in overcrowded tent camps and relying on humanitarian aid. Satellite images show that on the Israeli-controlled side of the line, many towns, including much of Rafah, have been flattened by bulldozers and explosives. Roads, military bases and other infrastructure have been built in their place. Israel says it is destroying Hamas infrastructure as part of its military operations. The exact route of the yellow line has never been clearly defined. The Israeli military said it is working to mark the boundary more clearly to reduce accidental crossings. Israeli forces have repeatedly opened fire on Palestinians approaching or crossing the area. The military says it targets people suspected of posing a threat, although reports indicate that civilians, including children, have also been killed near the line. Ceasefire remains stalledAccording to Palestinian health officials, more than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli military operations since the ceasefire began, most in airstrikes and drone attacks. During the same period, militant attacks have killed five Israeli soldiers. On Tuesday, an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City killed a couple and their four children, aged between 6 and 13, according to Shifa Hospital. The Israeli military said it had targeted Hamas militants operating in the area. The ceasefire agreement calls for Israel to eventually withdraw its forces to the edges of Gaza, where an international security force would take over. However, implementation has stalled amid continued disagreements between Israel and Hamas. Israel says Hamas has failed to disarm, while Hamas accuses Israel of violating the ceasefire. The war began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Since then, Israel's military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 73,000 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which says women and children account for about half of the fatalities.

A team of independent experts commissioned by the United Nations has accused Israel of deliberately targeting children in Gaza and reiterated its allegation that Israel has committed genocide in the Palestinian territory. The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which operates under the UN Human Rights Council, said in a report released Tuesday that about 30 percent of Palestinians killed between October 2023 and October 2025 were children, amounting to more than 20,000 deaths. The commission said many more children are believed to be missing or buried in unmarked graves. The report alleged that the impact of the conflict on children in Gaza constituted war crimes and genocide, reinforcing accusations the commission first made against Israel in September. "Even after the October 2025 ceasefire, children continue to be killed and seriously injured, with continued disregard by Israel for the ceasefire and for the protection owed to Palestinian children under international law," said Srinivasan Muralidhar, chair of the commission. The report identified specific Israeli military divisions operating in areas where children, including infants, were killed and detailed the types of munitions used. It also highlighted incidents in which children were allegedly killed by quadcopter drones and sniper fire, often by a single gunshot. Doctors interviewed by the commission said autopsies in such cases indicated "a high degree of precision in the use of force," suggesting the shots were deliberately aimed rather than accidental or indiscriminate. The commission also documented cases of children being killed after the October 2025 ceasefire, including some reportedly collecting firewood near areas under Israeli military control. According to the report, Israeli authorities have sought to deflect responsibility by describing the slain children as "suspects" or "terrorists" rather than civilian casualties. Israel has strongly rejected the allegations, including the accusation of genocide. The Israeli Foreign Ministry described the report as a "libelous sham" and said its claims were unverified. It also criticized the commission as "a fundamentally flawed mechanism" aimed at singling out and vilifying Israel rather than establishing the truth. Israel maintains that it does not deliberately target civilians and says it takes measures to minimize civilian casualties, including harm to children. The war began with the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and resulted in the abduction of 251 others. Israel's subsequent military offensive in Gaza has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians, including those killed since the ceasefire, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The ministry, which is run by Hamas and staffed by medical professionals, does not differentiate between civilians and militants but says women and children account for around half of all fatalities. Its figures are generally regarded as reliable by UN agencies and independent experts.

More than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip since a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect last October, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry said on Wednesday that 1,005 people have been killed in Israeli military operations since the truce began, amid continued airstrikes, shelling and gunfire in various parts of the enclave. The latest casualties followed a series of Israeli drone strikes over recent days targeting towns, refugee camps in central Gaza and areas of Gaza City. In the latest incident, an Israeli strike in Khan Younis in southern Gaza killed two Palestinians and injured six others, according to health officials at Nasser Hospital. The Israeli military confirmed carrying out the strike, saying it targeted a “terrorist,” but provided no further details. Relatives of the victims told hospital authorities that the attack hit a group of people near the beach in the Mawasi tent camp, where hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians are sheltering. Israel has maintained that it continues to conduct operations against Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza and has expanded the territory under its control inside the enclave. In a separate statement, the Israeli military said it had killed two militants belonging to Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement in strikes carried out over the weekend. Meanwhile, Gaza’s Health Ministry said on Sunday that the overall death toll from the Israel-Hamas war, which began in October 2023, has surpassed 73,000. The ministry does not distinguish between civilian and combatant casualties, though its records are generally regarded by international organizations as credible and are maintained by medical professionals.

The United States and Iran have reached a tentative agreement aimed at extending their fragile ceasefire and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route, though major uncertainties remain as Israel continues military operations and refuses to pull back from occupied territory in Lebanon. Details of the understanding were not immediately made public. The deal is expected to allow the flow of oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz, which is vital for global energy supplies. Iran, however, said the agreement would only take effect after it is formally signed, which Pakistan, acting as a key mediator, said would happen on Friday in Switzerland. Despite the announcement, the agreement quickly faced obstacles. Israel’s ongoing fighting with the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon continued, including Israeli strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs on Sunday. Israel joined the US in launching the war on February 28. In its first response after the deal was announced, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israel would not withdraw from territories it has seized in Lebanon under any interim arrangement. He said Israel intends to remain in occupied areas in Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip indefinitely. Iran has linked progress on the deal to an end to Israeli attacks on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon. Katz also warned that any Iranian attack in response to Israeli strikes would trigger a strong Israeli retaliation. Over the past two and a half years, Israel has taken control of roughly 1,000 square kilometres of territory across Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, an area slightly smaller than New York City. The agreement between the US and Iran also sets a 60-day timeline to address Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium and its nuclear programme, a long-standing point of dispute. The issue had earlier been addressed in the 2015 nuclear deal, from which the US withdrew during President Donald Trump’s first term, worsening tensions that later escalated into conflict. Trump, celebrating his 80th birthday, announced the development on social media and said the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened and a US naval blockade lifted. He later clarified that the opening would depend on the signing scheduled for Friday. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi also confirmed the agreement on state television, saying Tehran would not begin implementing it until it is signed. He said the talks involved mediation by Qatar. The announcement was welcomed by several world leaders, including those in China and Europe, who said reopening the Strait of Hormuz was crucial for stabilising global energy prices and trade. Chinese officials urged both sides to proceed with signing the memorandum as planned. France said the agreement could help end hostilities across the region, including in Lebanon, while urging all parties to respect the deal. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas expressed hope that the signing would go ahead and said reopening the strait was essential for global stability, although some leaders, including Luxembourg’s foreign minister, remained cautious about the outcome. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also welcomed the breakthrough, calling for efforts to restore free navigation in the strategic waterway and to build lasting peace in the region. Pakistan announced the agreement first, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif saying both sides had agreed to an immediate halt to military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon. Pakistani officials said broader technical negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme would continue over the next 60 days, with the possibility of an extension if needed. Iranian state media, citing the Supreme National Security Council, said the war would end immediately once implementation begins and that the US blockade would be lifted in full. Qatari mediators later left Tehran after lengthy talks, while further preparatory meetings are expected in Doha this week. It remains unclear who will sign the agreement on Iran’s behalf. US Vice President JD Vance said preparations were still underway for Friday’s signing, adding that President Trump could also attend. However, some Republican lawmakers in the US expressed concern, including Senator Lindsey Graham, who said Iran’s interpretation of the deal appeared to differ from that of US negotiators.

Five people were killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon on Friday as Israeli attacks continued despite a US-brokered ceasefire and ongoing diplomatic efforts to end regional hostilities. Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported that the victim was killed in an air raid targeting the municipality of Maarakeh in the Tyre district. Israeli warplanes also carried out strikes on several towns and villages in southern Lebanon, including areas located north of the so-called “Yellow Line,” a zone Israel has sought to control in recent months. The renewed attacks came amid reports that the United States and Iran have reached preliminary agreement on the wording of a deal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday that mediators were working with both sides to finalize the agreement. According to Iranian media reports, the proposed deal would include an end to hostilities “on all fronts, including Lebanon.” The continued Israeli strikes have raised concerns that violence in Lebanon could undermine efforts to secure a broader regional agreement, particularly as Israel is not directly involved in the negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Israeli leaders have also indicated they do not intend to withdraw from Lebanese territory, adding to uncertainty over the prospects for lasting peace. The attacks occurred despite a ceasefire agreement reached earlier this month between Israeli and Lebanese officials, which called for a complete cessation of hostilities, particularly by Hezbollah. However, sporadic clashes and airstrikes have continued since the agreement was announced. A new round of talks between Israel and Lebanon is expected on June 22 as both sides seek to reach a more comprehensive arrangement aimed at ending cross-border hostilities. Source: Al Jazeera

Israel has intensified the demolition of Palestinian homes and the eviction of residents in east Jerusalem, according to rights groups and activists, who say the pace of such actions has increased significantly in recent years amid reduced international pressure and shifting global attention to conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. For Palestinian resident Fakhri Abu Diab, the issue is deeply personal. After years of legal battles to save his home in the al-Bustan neighborhood of Silwan, Israeli authorities demolished it in 2024. He and his wife now live in a mobile home placed on the site, which is also under threat of removal. Abu Diab said the demolition erased much of his family's history, including the home where he grew up and the garden he cultivated as a child. Rights group Ir Amim said more than 260 homes and structures in east Jerusalem have been demolished in 2025, marking a sharp rise from three years ago. The group reported at least 116 demolitions so far this year and described the current situation as unprecedented in scale. Israel captured east Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza during the 1967 Middle East war. Palestinians seek these territories for a future independent state, while much of the international community regards them as occupied territories. Israel considers Jerusalem its unified capital. Human rights groups say Israeli authorities continue to promote the expansion of Jewish settlements while restricting development in Palestinian neighborhoods, making it extremely difficult for Palestinians to obtain building permits. According to Israeli rights organization Bimkom, nearly 9,000 building permits were approved for Jewish residents in Jerusalem last year, compared with fewer than 700 for Palestinians, who account for around 40% of the city's population. Israeli officials argue that Palestinians submit relatively few permit applications, while many Palestinians say obtaining approval is nearly impossible. Those who build without permits risk demolition orders. At the same time, settler organizations have used various legal mechanisms to acquire or take control of Palestinian properties. The issue has become more prominent since President Donald Trump's first administration recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital, departing from previous US policies that viewed settlement expansion as an obstacle to peace efforts. The US State Department said policies in Jerusalem are determined by Israeli authorities but expressed an expectation that due process and the rule of law be respected. In al-Bustan, located near the Old City and close to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, around 1,500 Palestinians face the possibility of losing their homes. The area is part of Silwan, a densely populated Palestinian district that is also of significant religious and archaeological interest. The Jerusalem municipality said homes in al-Bustan are being removed because they were built without permits on land not designated for housing. Authorities say a public park and parking facilities will be developed in the area and that alternative housing plans had been proposed to residents. Abu Diab said part of his home existed before 1967 but was later expanded without permits because obtaining authorization was not feasible. Elsewhere in Silwan's Batan al-Hawah neighborhood, Palestinian families continue to face eviction orders. Resident Zuhair al-Rajabi said he and dozens of relatives were instructed to leave their property after Israel's Supreme Court ruled against them following years of legal proceedings. He said his family possesses documents dating back to 1966 proving ownership but now faces relocation with few affordable housing options available in Jerusalem. According to rights group B'Tselem, March saw the highest rate of state-backed evictions in the neighborhood in decades, with 15 families removed and hundreds more residents facing potential displacement. Israeli law allows Jews to reclaim properties owned by Jewish families before the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. Palestinians who lost homes during that conflict, however, are generally unable to reclaim those properties. B'Tselem said the evictions reflect cooperation between settler groups and state institutions under laws it considers discriminatory, with the result being increased Jewish settlement and reduced Palestinian presence in east Jerusalem. Israel's judiciary rejected accusations of coordination with settler organizations, saying courts decide cases based on legal merits, evidence and established precedent. Settler group Ateret Cohanim defended its activities, saying it seeks to restore Jewish communities that existed in parts of east Jerusalem before the early 20th century. The organization said dozens of Jewish families have moved into Batan al-Hawah since 2004 and more are expected to follow. For many displaced Palestinians, however, the struggle remains deeply emotional. Khalil Basbous, who was evicted from his home in January, now lives with relatives nearby but passes his former house every day. He said he still hopes to return one day.