Israeli leaders voice opposition

JERUSALEM, Nov 16 (AFP): Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his government underscored their opposition to a Palestinian state ahead of a UN Security Council vote Monday on a resolution endorsing a US-backed Gaza peace plan.
The draft resolution would follow up on the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas brokered by US President Donald Trump, giving the council's blessing for a transitional administration and a temporary international security force in the devastated territory.
Unlike previous drafts, the latest version of the resolution mentions a possible future Palestinian state, which the Israeli government is vehemently against.
"Our opposition to a Palestinian state on any territory has not changed," Netanyahu said at a cabinet meeting on Sunday.
Netanyahu had come in for criticism from coalition members, including far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who had accused him of failing to respond to a recent wave of recognition of Palestinian statehood by Western countries.
"Formulate immediately an appropriate and decisive response that will make it clear to the entire world-no Palestinian state will ever arise on the lands of our homeland," Smotrich urged Netanyahu on X.
Palestinian killed by Israeli
army in West Bank
The Israeli military said Sunday it had killed one person overnight during an operation in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus, with the Palestinian health ministry reporting a teenager had been shot dead.
"Overnight (Sunday), IDF reserve soldiers... conducted an operational activity in the area of Nablus during which a terrorist hurled an explosive device towards the soldiers," the military said in a brief statement.
"The soldiers responded with fire and eliminated the terrorist. No IDF injuries were reported."
The Ramallah-based Palestinian health ministry said: "Hassan Ahmed Jamil Moussa (19 years old) was killed last night by fire from the occupation forces in the Askar refugee camp.".
Gaza health ministry
receives bodies of
15 Palestinians
The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza confirmed Saturday it had received the bodies of 15 Palestinians the day before under the US-brokered ceasefire exchange deal.
"The Ministry of Health announces the receipt of 15 bodies of martyrs who were released yesterday, Friday, by the Israeli occupation through the Red Cross. This brings the total number of bodies received to 330" as part of the deal, the ministry said, adding it had so far identified 97.
They were returned in exchange for the remains of 73-year-old Israeli hostage Meny Godard, which Hamas returned via the Red Cross on Thursday.