Israel has approved plans to build nearly 5,300 new homes in the occupied West bank. It is believed to be part of a campaign to speed up the expansion of Israeli settlements in the territory, to solidify Israel’s control and prevent the creation of a future Palestinian state there. Israeli forces have carried out near-daily arrest raids across the West Bank since the October 7 Hamas attack, causing the deaths of more than 550 Palestinians – according to their health ministry. Israel captured the West Bank, along with Gaza and east Jerusalem, in the 1967 Mideast war and Palestine wants all thre…