Following comments by President Biden that he does not trust the death toll reported by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, the ministry released a report with the names, ages and ID numbers of close to 7,000 victims of Israel’s war on Gaza.

Amid the Jewish holiday season, Palestinians across the occupied territory pay the price, as settlers increase their attacks and the military and police restrict Palestinian access to holy places.

Amit Halevi, a member of Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling Likud party, has proposed dividing the Al-Aqsa Mosque between Jews and Muslims. Such plans can no longer be disregarded as extremist fantasies but increasingly represent mainstream Israeli politics.

Longtime Israel lobbyist Martin Indyk says Joe Biden’s rebuke of Benjamin Netanyahu last month will have dramatic consequences on the Israeli leader’s ability to influence US politics.

The State Department swiftly changed the subject from Israel’s storming of Muslim holy sites to rocket attacks on Israel. “We recognize that Israel has the legitimate right to defend itself against all forms of aggression.”