Israel approves new 31-unit settlement construction in Al-Khalil

The court rejected a petition submitted by the Peace Now rights group and the Municipality of Al-Khalil against the complex, which is built on Palestinian land in the heart of the occupied city.

Israel's Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said the new complex is part of a larger plan that includes building 60 settlement units in the wholesale market area in Al-Khalil.

It pointed out that work on the scheme began several years ago before it was temporarily frozen, but the court's decision is the last legal hurdle for expanding the Jewish neighbourhood.

The wholesale market, located in the heart of Hebron city, has been closed by the Israeli authorities since 1994 after the Ibrahimi Mosque massacre. The market contains 25 shops rented by citizens from the Hebron municipality.