The Israeli occupation’s cabinet has quietly approved the establishment of 34 new settlements across the occupied West Bank, the largest single expansion in the colonial zionist regime’s history. The decision, taken on 1 April, but kept confidential until the 9th, was revealed by Peace Now, an Israeli organisation monitoring settlement expansion.
10 outposts and 24 new settlements have just been approved by the occupation’s Cabinet
The expansion undermines any remaining prospects of a two state solution, while also being in direct violation of international law. 10 are outposts that would be legalised, and 24 are new settlements.
All are inArea C, which makes up more than 60 percent of the occupied West Bank, and is under full “Israeli” military and civil control. Palestinians living in Area C, experience severe violence from Jewish settlers living in the settlements, which are nearly all located in Area C. They also experience severe restrictions from the occupation, especially when it comes to building, and access to their natural resources.
These new settlements are planned for areas near Nablus, Jenin, Hebron, Bethlehem, the Jordan Valley, and Ramallah, regions already under intense pressure from existing illegal settlement activity. This expansion will not only fragment the West Bank and cement the Israeli occupation’s control over land that Palestinians see as the heart of their future state. Through settler violence andterrorism, which the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) support and encourage, it will also strip families of their legally owned land, water access, and livelihoods, and will eventually forcibly displace them, so the criminal state of “Israel” can steal yet more land from Palestinians.
Almost 3,800 attacks on Palestinians in January and February 2026 alone
According to the Colonisation and Wall Resistance Committee (CWRC) in the first two months of 2026, almost 3,800 attacks by the IOF and settlers on Palestinians were recorded.
This expansion comes at a time when settler violence against Palestinians is surging throughout the West Bank. Many Palestinians risk their lives every day, just to stay on their land, and make a livelihood. It is them who will suffer from this new announcement. Settler violence is only set to increase, as the forced displacement and ethnic cleansing of the West Bank and East Jerusalem continue.
Since 2022, the coalition of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity — has approved 102 settlements. This is an increase of 80 percent, and is accelerating de facto annexation.
International law is clear. Settlements in occupied territory are illegal. The United Nations has repeatedly condemned such actions, and in July 2024 the International Court of Justice (ICJ) — the UN’s top court, ruled the zionist regime’s presence in occupied Palestine was illegal under international law. It stated that all new settlement activities must immediately cease. The ICJ also said all settlers from the West Bank and East Jerusalem must be evacuated, and reparations must be made for damages. But, the Israeli occupation plans to permanently control the West Bank, through domination and oppression, and believes it is exempt frominternational law. Combined with the inaction of Western governments, this has meant “Israel” can continue with all its grave violations of international law, including settlement construction, unabated.
West Bank — ‘Attempt to push through major colonial schemes away from oversight and accountability’
Minister Mua’yyad Sha’ban, head of CWRC has described the decision as “a crude attempt to impose irreversible facts on the occupied Palestinian territory”. He said:
the escalation comes in the context of clear exploitation of the regional situation and international preoccupation, in an attempt to push through major colonial schemes away from oversight and accountability.
According to CWRC, more than 780,000 illegal Israeli settlers live in more than 540 settlements and outposts across the West Bank. In 2025, more than 23,800 attacks were carried out against Palestinians by Israeli occupation authorities and settlers. Around one in four of these involved the killing of civilians, burning of homes, facilities and vehicles, and / or property theft.
The Oslo Accords stated that Area C, along with Area B, were to be gradually transferred from Israeli occupation to Palestinian control. But since 1999, none of this land has been transferred to the Palestinian Authority. About 40 percent of Area C is privately owned Palestinian land on which illegal Jewish colonial settlements have been built.
In July 2024 the International Court of Justice (ICJ) — the UN’s top court, ruled that the zionist regime’s presence in occupied Palestine was illegal under international law, so all new settlement activities must immediately cease. The ICJ also said all settlers from the West Bank and East Jerusalem must be evacuated, and reparations must be made for damages.
Featured image via OHCHR
By Charlie Jaay
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