Israel greenlights contentious West Bank settlement expansion

The Israeli government approved 22 new settlements in the West Bank, occupied by Israel since the 1960s. This includes both the legalisation of existing outposts and the construction of new ones.

Nearly three million Palestinians and over half a million Jewish settlers currently live in the West Bank.

The West Bank, known in Israel as Judea and Samaria, is an area of intense Jewish settlement, regarded by most countries as contrary to international law.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from the nationalist Religious Zionism party described this decision as "a big day for the settlement movement and an important day for the State of Israel."

Palestinians view the development of settlements as an obstacle to the creation of their own state. Israel has been accused for years of violating Palestinian rights, including forced relocations.

The increase in activity by Jewish extremists in these areas further exacerbates the situation. On Monday (26th May), during Israel's celebration of the 58th anniversary of the annexation of East Jerusalem, demonstrators shouted "death to Arabs" in neighbourhoods inhabited by Palestinians, as reported by sources including France 24.

Meanwhile, Israel is conducting a new ground offensive in the Gaza Strip. The current instalment of the long-standing war between Tel Aviv and Hamas has been ongoing since 7th October 2023, when the Palestinian organisation invaded the southern region of the country, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.

According to the Israeli army, 23 hostages remain captive and the bodies of 35 are being held. The Hamas-controlled Palestinian authorities reported that the number of Palestinians killed since the start of the war has exceeded 53,900.