Morning recap Good morning Middle East Eye readers, Here are the latest updates from Israel's war on Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank: Fourteen countries, including Britain, Canada, Denmark and France, have condemned Israel’s approval of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, warning the decision is illegal and threatens regional stability. In a joint statement, the countries said Israel’s actions “violate international law” and risk derailing the fragile Gaza ceasefire, as mediators attempt to push talks towards a second phase. The signatories warned that settlement expansion undermines “long-term peace and security across the region”, coming as Israel’s genocide in Gaza has killed almost 71,000 Palestinians. Israeli occupation forces assaulted a young man in the town of Kafr al-Balad, east of Tulkarm, on Wednesday evening, according to Palestinian news agency Wafa. Local sources told Wafa that Israeli forces stormed the town, deployed across streets and alleys, stopped residents, detained several people and severely beat one young man. Settler violence was also reported near Hebron, where settlers threw stones at a house on the outskirts of the West Bank village of Sa'ir, Palestinian sources said. The attack injured a toddler, who reportedly suffered head wounds after a stone smashed through a window of the house. Reports said settlers also attempted to set a vehicle on fire during the incident. Belgium has formally joined South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, adding to mounting legal pressure over Israel’s conduct in Gaza.