The far-right Israeli government is intensifying its efforts to annex the occupied West Bank, coinciding with its ongoing war in Gaza, now in its 430th day. The move represents the largest land grab since the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993, further undermining Palestinian sovereignty.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich recently announced plans to confiscate 24,000,000 square metres of Palestinian land to expand illegal settlements. He described the plan as a “historic achievement,” aimed at bolstering settlement infrastructure and reinforcing Israeli control over the territory. The decision includes strategic allocations such as 2,640,000 square metres to the Ma’ale Adumim settlement east of Jerusalem, connecting it to nearby settlements and cutting off Palestinian territorial continuity. Migdal Oz near Bethlehem will double in size with an additional 281,000 square metres, while Susya in southern Hebron will expand by 109,000 square metres. Most significantly, the Yafit settlement in the Jordan Valley will gain 20,460,000 square metres, making it the largest single expansion.

These confiscations are being justified under the pretext of “state land,” a designation Israel has employed since the Oslo Accords to claim nearly half of the 50,000,000 square metres seized since 1993. According to Hassan Breijieh, head of the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission in Bethlehem, this strategy prevents Palestinians from using the land while allowing the establishment of new settlement outposts. Breijieh further highlighted that Israel is taking advantage of the ongoing Gaza war and unwavering U.S. support to accelerate these land seizures. These actions pose significant threats to Palestinian lives, livelihoods, and the future viability of a sovereign Palestinian state.

Palestinians face escalating violence from settlers, who continue to attack homes and properties to forcibly displace residents. “The expansion knows no boundaries,” Breijieh said, warning of the relentless pace at which Palestinian land is being swallowed up. Settlement expert Khaled Maali emphasised the strategic significance of the four settlements targeted for expansion. These moves, he explained, aim to fragment Palestinian territory, increase settler numbers, and create irreversible realities on the ground, all of which serve to undermine any hope for a two-state solution.

Maali further linked these actions to broader political goals, noting that Smotrich has advocated for abolishing the Civil Administration, a step towards consolidating full Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank. He warned that Israel is racing to solidify these changes before a potential return of Donald Trump to the White House. During Trump’s presidency, settlement expansion received unprecedented support, and a second term could embolden even more aggressive policies.

Since the start of 2024, the Israeli government has seized 40,000 dunams of West Bank land under various pretexts, legalised 11 settlement outposts, and approved the construction of five new settlements. These activities have continued unabated amid growing international silence on both the Gaza war and the annexation of West Bank land.

Amid these challenges, Breijieh and Maali have called for urgent Palestinian unity and a comprehensive strategy to confront the far-reaching consequences of these policies. With unwavering U.S. backing and the absence of meaningful international intervention, they stressed that Palestinians must take decisive action to safeguard their land and future.