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Fifteen Lives Lost in Tragic Boat Collision Off Chios

Greek emergency personnel wait to transfer bodies of dead migrants, following migrant’s boat collision with coast guard off the island of Chios, in the port of Chios, Greece, February 3, 2026. A deadly maritime collision near the Greek island of Chios has left fifteen migrants dead and prompted urgent questions about how the incident unfolded. According to early reports, a migrant vessel carrying dozens of people struck a Hellenic Coast Guard patrol boat during the night, causing the smaller craft to overturn. Rescue teams recovered multiple bodies from the water while continuing to search the surrounding area for any additional survivors. Twenty‑five people were pulled from the sea alive, several of whom were transported to local hospitals for treatment. Authorities have opened an investigation to determine the sequence of events leading up to the crash, including the movements of both vessels and the conditions at the time. The tragedy adds to the growing concerns over the dangers...

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Israel Approves New Parcel of West Bank Land for Settlement

 

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has declared 800 hectares in the occupied West Bank as state land. This move aims to facilitate the use of the ground for settlement building. The announcement comes on the same day that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Israel for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Despite growing international opposition, the Israeli government remains determined to press ahead with settlement construction in the West Bank.

The designation of 1,976 acres of land in the Jordan Valley as state land follows a similar decision regarding 300 hectares (740 acres) in the Maale Adumim area of the West Bank. The latter area is crucial to the Palestinians’ vision of a future independent state.

Last month, the United States stated that Israel’s expansion of settlements in the West Bank was inconsistent with international law, aligning with the global consensus that considers these settlements illegal. Israel, however, disputes this view, citing historical and Biblical ties to the land. Meanwhile, the Palestinians view the expansion of settlements as a deliberate Israeli policy aimed at undermining their aspiration for an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned this latest move, describing it as “a continuation of the extermination and displacement of our people from their homeland.”

Despite the controversy, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s declaration underscores the government’s commitment to settlement building in the West Bank. The situation remains highly contentious, with implications for regional stability and peace efforts.

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