Israel announces plan to establish 22 new settlements in occupied West Bank

Expansion of settlements sparks international concern

Israel announced on Thursday the approval of 22 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move that includes the retroactive legalization of unauthorized outposts. At the same time, Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip killed at least 13 Palestinians overnight, according to local health officials.

The West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem were all captured by Israel during the 1967 Mideast War. Palestinians claim these territories for a future independent state. Most of the international community regards Israeli settlements in the West Bank as illegal under international law and a major impediment to peace efforts.

Government justifies settlement expansion

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the decision as a strategic measure.

“This strengthens our hold on Judea and Samaria, anchors our historical right in the Land of Israel, and constitutes a crushing response to Palestinian terrorism,” Katz stated.

He added that the move also serves as a deterrent to the creation of a Palestinian state, which he claimed could threaten Israel’s security.

Israel has established more than 100 settlements in the West Bank, housing over 500,000 Israelis. These range from small outposts to fully developed urban-style communities. Settlement expansion has accelerated in recent years, increasingly limiting Palestinian territorial access and diminishing prospects for a viable Palestinian state.

Historical and political context

The Trump administration significantly altered US policy by recognizing Israel’s claims to disputed territories and supporting settlement legitimacy. While former President Joe Biden officially opposes settlement expansion, critics argue that his administration has not taken strong action to curb it.

The United Nations’ top court issued a non-binding opinion in 2023 declaring Israel’s presence in the occupied territories illegal and calling for an immediate halt to all settlement activity. Israel rejected the ruling, maintaining that the territories are part of its historic homeland.

Debate over Gaza settlements resurfaces

Although Israel dismantled its settlements in Gaza in 2005, some Israeli officials have recently called for re-establishing them and promoting what they describe as “voluntary emigration” of Gaza’s Palestinian residents. Palestinians and legal experts view these proposals as potential violations of international law and a form of forced displacement.

Israel currently controls over 70% of the Gaza Strip, including border buffer zones and evacuated areas like Rafah. These areas remain largely uninhabited due to Israeli evacuation orders and ongoing military operations.

Ongoing violence in Gaza

The conflict began with Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths—mostly civilians—and the abduction of 251 individuals. Hamas continues to hold 58 hostages, with around a third reportedly still alive.

In response, Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza that has, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, resulted in the deaths of over 54,000 Palestinians. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its reporting.

In the latest airstrikes, 13 Palestinians were killed overnight. Four died in a vehicle strike in Gaza City, while eight—two women and three children among them—were killed in a home in Jabaliya. Another strike on a refugee camp in central Gaza left one dead and 18 injured.

The Israeli military did not immediately comment but maintains that it targets only militants. It has repeatedly blamed Hamas for civilian casualties, citing the group’s operations within densely populated areas.

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