Israel Has Secretly Approved A Record 34 New Illegal Israeli Settlements In The Occupied West Bank
All settlements and outposts in the West Bank are considered illegal and in breach of international law under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
While it pounds Lebanon with bombs, Israel has also secretly approved 34 new illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
The West Bank is home to roughly three million Palestinians, who live under Israel’s occupation, and hundreds of thousands of illegal Israeli settlers.
All settlements and outposts in the West Bank are considered illegal and in breach of international law under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
This is because settlements and outposts often seize Palestinians’ lands that were previously used for agriculture or grazing, with Israelis restricting Palestinians’ movement by controlling key roads and checkpoints and increasing settler violence against Palestinians.
There have been record levels of settler-linked violence in recent years, including attacks on Palestinian farmers and property.
Israel’s cabinet reportedly made the decision on April 1 and kept it a secret for more than a week to avoid international backlash, according to Israeli outlet i24 News.
It was only published after Israel's military censor cleared it.
Ten of the 34 are existing outposts that will now be retroactively legalized.
The other 24 are new settlements yet to be built.
Several are planned in the far north of the West Bank, in areas that, according to i24, Israel's own army "rarely reaches."
Reuters reported that since Oct. 7, 2023, Israeli settlers have deliberately targeted areas under the control of the Palestinian Authority.
The UN says settler attacks have forced at least 700 Palestinians from their homes between the start of 2025 and February 2026.
The Palestinian Presidency condemned Israel’s plan as a "flagrant violation of international law."
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the EU, Sweden and Turkey also condemned it.
Israel has not officially confirmed the decision.
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