Israeli Settlers Accelerate West Bank Land Seizures Amid Gaza War
Violence surges in the West Bank as ultra-nationalist Israeli settlers, backed by hardline ministers, intensify land grabs and pressure Palestinians amid the Gaza conflict.
Under a fig tree by a spring south of Hebron, settler leader Meir Simcha says radical settlers have seized hills and valleys, expanding from a makeshift caravan outpost to a community of about 200. He asserts Palestinians "have no future here" as the Gaza war shifts the balance on the ground.
Escalating Violence and Land Dispossession
Since October 2023, violence in the West Bank has surged. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports an average of four daily settler attacks. UN experts warn of widespread intimidation, land dispossession and forced displacement that undermine Palestinian food security and livelihoods.
Government Support and Outpost Legalization
Hardline ministers such as Bezalel Smotrich and Orit Strock have retroactively legalised settlement outposts and directed state funds toward expansion. At a recent ceremony, Smotrich praised settlers for "grabbing massive territories" and donated all-terrain vehicles to their forces.
Militarization of Settlers
Human rights advocates note an increasing overlap between settlers and the Israel Defense Forces. Yehuda Shaul, founder of Breaking the Silence, warns that settlers are now integral to regional defence units, wielding power to evict Palestinians with military backing.
Implications for the Two-State Solution
As settlers extend their presence, Palestinians face restricted access to farmland and rising violence. The prospect of a negotiated two-state solution dims, leaving Israel to choose between ensuring equal rights for both peoples or risking de facto annexation and mass displacement.
Settler expansion in the West Bank, bolstered by government backing, is accelerating land dispossession and violence, threatening the prospect of a two-state solution.
This topic was reported by BBC News.
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