Israel Seizes West Bank Land to Expand Settlements

The Israeli military signed at least 15 land confiscation orders in July 2026, seizing approximately 20 hectares of land in the Jenin governorate of the occupied West Bank. These seizures target Areas A and C, primarily affecting privately owned land in villages such as Qabatiya and Al-Yamoun. The land is intended to connect the planned Noa and Emek Dotan settlements.

On July 29, 2026, the Supreme Planning Council of the Civil Administration approved the expansion of Road 60 to further facilitate settlement movement. These actions follow a broader trend established earlier this year when the Cabinet of Israel approved the establishment of 34 new settlements.

Amnesty International and the Jenin governor's office warned that these measures will fragment Palestinian communities and cause severe economic hardship for families losing agricultural lands and olive groves. Amnesty International specifically highlighted the seizure of land in Area A—territory under Palestinian authority since the Oslo Accords—as a significant escalation in Israel's annexation agenda.