Live Updates: Israel demolishes Palestinian shops in occupied East Jerusalem

Monday, July 22, 2024

05:20 GMT — Israel demolishes Palestinian shops in occupied East Jerusalem

The Israeli army has demolished two commercial establishments and excavated land belonging to Palestinians in Beit Hanina in occupied East Jerusalem.

The Israeli army raided the town of Beit Hanina, demolishing a commercial shop and a car showroom, and excavating land, according to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa.

The agency did not mention the reason for the Israeli army taking this measure, but it usually uses “construction without a permit” as an excuse for demolishing Palestinians’ homes in occupied Palestinian territories.

04:00 GMT — Netanyahu to visit US as Biden withdraws from presidential race

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit the US as President Joe Biden dropped out from the 2024 presidential race.

Netanyahu will arrive in Washington, DC late Monday and is scheduled to meet with Biden on Tuesday at the White House ahead of his address to a joint session of the Congress on Wednesday. Some senators, including Bernie Sanders, already said they won't attend his speech.

Biden and Netanyahu will discuss ways to reach a deal on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the return of hostages.

03:00 GMT — Israeli families protest at Tel Aviv, demand hostage swap deal

Families of Israeli prisoners in Gaza have demonstrated at the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, demanding a hostage swap deal with Palestinian resistance forces in Gaza.

The protest came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to fly to Washington early Monday for talks with US officials, including President Joe Biden.

Dozens of families of the hostages, as well as their supporters, gathered at the airport and demanded a hostage swap deal, the state-run public broadcaster KAN reported.

Large police forces were present at the site of the protest, the broadcaster noted.

For our live updates from Sunday, July 21, 2024, click here.