Israel seizes 70,000 square meters of West Bank land for settlement

Israeli forces have seized more than 70,000 square meters of land in the occupied West Bank's northern Nablus governorate, according to a recent report from the Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission. The land confiscation was executed through a military order targeting several villages in the area and is reportedly for establishing a security buffer around the nearby Eli settlement.

A Pattern of Accelerated Land Confiscation

The commission stated that this action is part of a broader pattern, noting that Israeli authorities have issued 53 military seizure orders since the beginning of 2025 to expand control in the West Bank. The order for the Nablus land was published only after a brief, one-week objection period had already expired, effectively preventing any legal challenge from Palestinian landowners.

International Law and the Settlement Enterprise

The expansion of settlements is considered illegal under international law by most of the global community, including the United Nations. Last July, the International Court of Justice reinforced this stance, issuing an advisory opinion that declared Israel's occupation illegal and called for the evacuation of all West Bank settlements. Since 1967, Israel has constructed at least 710 settlements and military outposts across the occupied territory.

Ongoing Violence and Casualties

The land seizure coincides with continued Israeli military operations across the West Bank. Over the weekend, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported transporting a 37-year-old man who was shot in the thigh with live ammunition during a raid in Ramallah. Since the war in Gaza began two years ago, local authorities report over 1,051 Palestinians have been killed and approximately 10,300 wounded in the West Bank, with more than 20,000 arrests, including 1,600 children.