Israeli authorities seized nearly 500 dunams (123 acres) of Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank as settlers established eight illegal outposts in the territory since Friday, according to Palestinian officials and Israeli media.
The Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission said on Monday that Israeli authorities confiscated 498 dunams of land in Tubas province and the village of Tayasir to build a military road.
"The seizure orders remain in effect until the end of 2028 and aim to establish a security and military road about 10 kilometres long to serve the Israeli army and settlers," the commission said in a statement.
It said the military orders impose a broad security zone over the area and threaten to deny Palestinians access to their land.
Eight new outposts established
The land seizure comes as Israeli settlers established eight illegal settlement outposts in the northern city of Nablus following Friday's attack on the town of Tell, according to Israel's Army Radio.
"Over the past 24 hours, two additional settlement outposts were established in Nablus near the site of Friday's attack in Tell," the broadcaster reported.
On Friday, Israeli settlers, backed by the army, attacked the Palestinian town of Tell near Nablus, killing four Palestinians. Two Israelis were also killed in a shooting during the confrontation, according to Palestinian and Israeli sources.
Army Radio said one of the two new outposts was established in Area B between the Palestinian village of Deir Istiya and the illegal Emmanuel settlement, while the other was set up in Area C west of Deir Ballut.
Under the 1995 Oslo II Accord, Area B is under Palestinian civil administration and Israeli security control, while Area C remains under full Israeli civil and military control.
Settlement outposts typically begin as mobile homes placed on Palestinian land before being expanded into permanent settlements, often with government support.
UN says settlements violate international law
The United Nations considers the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, to be occupied Palestinian territory and says Israeli settlements there are illegal under international law.
"The decision to evacuate the outposts will be made according to the assessment of the situation and the directives of the political leadership," Army Radio quoted the military as saying.
Since October 2023, Israeli forces and settlers have killed at least 1,182 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, wounded thousands more and detained around 24,000 people, according to Palestinian authorities.
