Chelsea has advanced to the FA Cup fifth round, courtesy of a decisive victory over Hull City, with Pedro Neto scoring three goals in the match.

DETAILS OF THE MATCH: The FA Cup fourth-round encounter between Hull City and Chelsea ended in a 0-4 defeat for the Championship team.

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A senior Palestinian official in the West Bank has expressed concerns that Israel's recent expansion of control in the region may mark the end of the road for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, citing the significant impact on the peace process.

Asma al-Sharabati, the acting mayor of Hebron, has stated that new legislation announced by Israeli cabinet ministers will effectively exclude Palestinian authorities from decision-making processes related to urban planning and development, even in areas currently under Palestinian control.

Hebron, a city in the West Bank, is a frequent site of tensions, with Israeli soldiers stationed to protect hundreds of Israeli settlers living among Palestinians in a heavily militarized area.

On Sunday, the Israeli security cabinet approved significant changes to the division of powers in the West Bank, which was established over three decades ago under the US-backed Oslo Accords, signed by both Israeli and Palestinian leaders in 1993.

The changes include the expansion of Israeli control over municipal services in Palestinian-run areas, as well as the transfer of authority to manage so-called "heritage sites" across the West Bank, citing the need to protect water, environmental, and archaeological resources.

Israel has also announced plans to assume control over the planning authority at the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron, a site of great significance in Judaism, located within the Ibrahimi Mosque.

According to al-Sharabati, the new measures will enable Israel to unilaterally declare any building or site as "ancient" and take control of it, effectively bypassing Palestinian authorities in urban planning and development decisions.

Al-Sharabati stated that she had not received formal notification of Israel's plans and was instead gathering information from Israeli news sources.

A short distance from Hebron's bustling market, a heavily fortified Israeli checkpoint marks the boundary between the city and a nearby area, where Palestinian shops are closed, and streets are restricted to protect Israeli settlers.

Palestinian activist Issa Amro resides in this volatile area, known as H2, which is characterized by a complex and winding route through Palestinian homes and stony pathways.

During a visit to Amro's home, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish couple was seen picnicking under the trees outside, while a local settler emerged from a nearby house and followed the group for a short distance.

Inside Amro's house, a plaque reading "Free Palestine" is displayed, while a large Israeli flag can be seen flying over the streets below.

Amro pointed out nearby Palestinian buildings that have been evacuated due to years of tension and expanding Israeli control.

However, Amro believes that the latest changes represent a significant shift, stating that Israel is now formalizing its control through legal means.

"Previously, they were expanding without a legal basis," Amro said. "Now, they will be the law. They are changing the status from Occupied Territories to a legal dispute, effectively annexing the land without granting me, as a Palestinian, any rights."

Israel plans to begin providing municipal services to Jewish settlers in Hebron and allow private Israeli citizens to purchase land across the West Bank, a move that is prohibited under both Jordanian and Palestinian law.

Palestinians who have sold property to Israelis in the past may face risks due to Israel's planned publication of classified land registry information.

The social stigma associated with selling property to Israelis is deeply ingrained, reflecting the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Jibril Moragh, a resident of Hebron, recounted an incident 18 years ago when he refused an offer from a group of Israelis to purchase his house near the Ibrahimi Mosque.

"One of them offered me 25 million shekels, but I refused," Moragh said. "The man was willing to pay any price, and even allowed me to continue living in the house, but I would not sell to the occupation."

Over 700,000 Israeli settlers reside in the occupied West Bank and annexed East Jerusalem, territories captured by Israel from Jordan in the 1967 Middle East War, which Palestinians claim as part of their future independent state, along with the Gaza Strip.

The construction of Israeli settlements in these areas is considered illegal under international law.

The recent expansion of Israeli control over the West Bank, particularly in the aftermath of the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza, marks a significant shift in Israel's policies towards the region.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who oversees settlement policies, stated that the new measures aim to "deepen our roots in all parts of the land of Israel" and effectively rule out the possibility of a Palestinian state.

Zvi Sukkot, a lawmaker in Smotrich's far-right Religious Zionism party, expressed his expectation of full Israeli sovereignty over the region, emphasizing the need to protect Israel's heritage and environmental resources, even in Palestinian-run areas.

The latest changes not only undermine the agreements signed by Israel decades ago but also erode the remaining powers of the Palestinian Authority, which was slated to take over power from Hamas under Donald Trump's peace plan.

Hebron's mayor, al-Sharabati, expressed her concerns, stating that Palestinians are not protected and that institutions are failing to safeguard their rights, while the international community focuses on the Gaza Strip and its associated humanitarian crises.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has called for a firm response from the US government, arguing that Israel's decision disrupts Trump's efforts in the region and violates international law.

To date, President Trump has only reiterated his opposition to Israel's formal annexation of the West Bank, without providing further comment on the recent developments.

Several countries, including the UK, have recognized a Palestinian state, and in response to Israel's assumption of civilian powers in Palestinian-controlled territory, the UK government has been asked to clarify its stance.

Under-Secretary of State for the Middle East Hamish Falconer stated that the UK government would provide further comment in the coming days, emphasizing that the decision is widely regarded as a significant mistake.

"We strongly condemn the decision and expect to see it reversed," Falconer said, echoing the sentiments of many of Israel's allies.

The expansion of Israeli control in the West Bank has continued, even as international attention remains focused on the Gaza Strip.

However, Trump's plan for Gaza relies on the support of Arab countries, many of which are demanding progress towards a Palestinian state, highlighting the interconnectedness of the region's conflicts.

Developments in Hebron and the West Bank may still have a significant impact on Trump's vision for Gaza and the broader Middle East peace process.

Additional reporting was provided by Yousef Shomali and Rebecca Hartmann.

The 2026 Super League season got off to a strong start for Leigh Leopards, with Edwin Ipape playing a key role in their dominant performance.

The scoring breakdown consisted of tries from Senior, Ipape, Hughes, Davis, and Lam, with Cook successfully converting three goals.

On the other side, Jenkins and Croft scored tries for their team, while Hankinson made three successful conversions.

Leigh Leopards began their Super League campaign with a resounding win, securing a five-try victory over Leeds Rhinos.

By halftime, Adrian Lam's team had established a significant lead, with tries from Innes Senior and Edwin Ipape giving them a 10-2 advantage over their opponents, who had finished third and fourth in the previous season.

As tensions rose, with Leeds' Harry Newman alleging an eye gouge incident, the Rhinos attempted to mount a comeback, with prop Cooper Jenkins scoring a try in response to efforts from Jack Hughes and Matt Davis early in the second half.

Lachlan Lam ultimately sealed the win for Leigh, ending a four-game losing streak against Leeds, while Brodie Croft added a late try for the Rhinos, narrowing the margin of defeat.

The Leigh lineup consisted of Hodgson, Senior, Niu, Brand, Charnley, Cook, Lam, Trout, Ipape, Mulhern, Ha;ton, Alick-Wienke, and Ofahengaue.

The team's interchanges included Hughes, Davis, Badrock, Horne, and O'Brien, who contributed to the team's overall performance.

The Leeds team featured Miller, Lumb, Newman, Hankinson, Hall, Croft, Brown, Jenkins, O'Connor, Holroyd, McDonnell, O'Neill, and Watkins.

Leeds' interchanges included Nicholson-Watton, Levi, Cassell, and Littlewood, who played a part in the game.