Israel’s security cabinet has formally approved plans to legalize 19 settlements across the occupied West Bank, a move Palestinian officials warn accelerates a decades-long campaign of land appropriation and demographic engineering. The decision also includes the revival of two northern West Bank outposts that were dismantled during Israel’s 2005 “disengagement” plan.

The announcement, reported by Israeli media on Friday, reflects the influence of far-right political figures, particularly Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a settler and one of the most hardline members of Israel’s governing coalition. Ynet reported that the plan was coordinated with the United States in advance, highlighting the geopolitical dimensions of the expansion effort.

Palestinian and International Reactions

Palestinian leaders condemned the decision, describing it as an escalation of Israel’s annexation drive and a direct threat to Palestinian territorial integrity. Mu’ayyad Sha’ban, head of the Palestinian Authority’s Colonisation and Wall Resistance Commission, called the move “another step toward erasing Palestinian geography” and a reflection of growing concerns over the future of the territory.

Hamas similarly denounced the settlements as a “dangerous escalation” in Israel’s ongoing annexation and Judaisation project. In a statement, the group accused the Israeli government of treating Palestinian land as “colonial spoils” and attempting to cement a permanent settlement reality to assert total control over the West Bank. Hamas called on the UN and human rights organizations to confront Israel’s “unchecked colonial behavior.”

The Palestinian National Council also criticized the decision, with speaker Rouhi Fattouh calling the approval “a double violation of international law and a blatant breach of international legitimacy.” He described the policy as “a systematic expansion of a colonial structure—a de facto colonial authority outlawed under global legal frameworks.”

Escalating Violence and Humanitarian Impact

The settlement expansion comes amid a surge of violence across the West Bank. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), at least 232 Palestinians—including 52 children—have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers since the start of 2025. OCHA also documented over 1,700 settler attacks causing injuries or property damage, averaging nearly five assaults per day across more than 270 communities.

Areas around Ramallah, Nablus, and Hebron have been particularly affected, where settler activity often coincides with ongoing settlement construction. More than 1,000 Palestinians have been forcibly displaced this year in Area C, which comprises roughly 60 percent of the West Bank and remains under full Israeli military control. Homes have been demolished, seized, or sealed, leaving many families without shelter and exacerbating tensions between communities.

Human rights advocates warn that the approval of these settlements entrenches an apartheid-like system in the occupied West Bank, systematically undermining Palestinian rights and access to land. Critics say the policy represents a continuation of Israel’s decades-long campaign to assert territorial control while limiting Palestinian sovereignty.

Legal and Political Context

Settlement expansion in the West Bank is widely regarded as illegal under international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits an occupying power from transferring its civilian population into occupied territory. Despite this, settlement activity enjoys broad political support within Israel, reflecting deep divisions between domestic political priorities and international legal standards.

The recent approval of 19 settlements underscores the growing challenge of achieving a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Analysts suggest that without international intervention or accountability measures, settlement expansion is likely to continue, further complicating prospects for peace and increasing humanitarian suffering in the occupied territories.