Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir defended his hardline stance on Gaza and vowed to accelerate settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank during a ceremony for a new neighbourhood in Hinanit. Ben-Gvir claimed he had long advocated bombing Gaza even before the October 7 Hamas attacks and said Israel was now following the path he had championed. His remarks came after the Israeli government approved an $2.3 billion plan to expand settlements, including 12,000 new housing units. The move has drawn international criticism, with most countries and the International Court of Justice considering Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank illegal under international law—a position Israel rejects.
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