Ramallah: As Israel’s military campaign in Gaza continues, the pressure is increasing on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, where the Israeli government has just approved 22 new illegal settlements on Palestinian land. This move marks one of the most significant expansions of Israeli settlements in decades, compounding an already volatile situation in the territory.
According to reports, this wave of approvals coincides with an increase in Israeli military raids across the West Bank and growing restrictions on Palestinian movement and construction. The UN reports that over the past year, Israel has demolished more than 1,700 Palestinian structures and seized approximately 24 square kilometers (9 square miles) of land in the occupied territory.
The approval of new settlements further undermines Palestinian rights to land, housing, and self-determination. Under current military and civil regulations, Palestinians are required to obtain Israeli-issued permits to build in nearly 61 percent of the West Bank—a bureaucratic process in which approvals are rarely granted. As a result, many Palestinian homes and structures are either built without permits and subsequently demolished or left unbuilt due to fear of future demolition.
This latest settlement expansion has drawn international condemnation and reignited global concern about the future viability of a two-state solution. Rights groups and observers warn that Israel's actions are not only deepening the occupation but also displacing Palestinian communities at an accelerating pace, effectively reshaping the map of the West Bank in defiance of international law.
