Israel announced on Sunday that it is expanding its military offensive across the occupied West Bank and has deployed tanks in the northern West Bank city of Jenin for the first time in over 20 years. 

The country is preparing for its troops to remain in some refugee camps for the next year. Defence Minister, Israel Katz, stated that the army had “evacuated” three refugee camps in northern West Bank and had been ordered to remain there “to prevent the return of [Palestinian] residents”. 

Sinn Féin leaders have announced that they will not be traveling to Washington DC for St Patrick’s Day events at the White House in protest over Donald Trump’s position on Gaza. 

Addressing a news conference, Sinn Féin party leader Mary Lou McDonald said she could not visit Washington “while there was a threat of mass expulsion hanging over the Palestinian people”. 

The new measures targeting Russia’s aluminium and oil exports come as Brussels fears Trump could ease US sanctions on Moscow as part of a peace deal struck with President Vladimir Putin without Europe’s involvement.

Following the conclusion of the first formal day of US-Russia peace talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. US secretary Marco Rubio hinted that EU restrictions on Russia's economy, defence industry and oligarchs who help to maintain the war could be part of the negations.