On May 28, 2025, Israel announced 22 new illegal West Bank settlements, its largest land annexation in over a decade according to Israeli NGO Peace Now.
The Israeli Minister of Defense, Israel Katz, celebrated the decision, saying it will prevent the creation of a Palestinian state. For Palestinians, this is a serious escalation and a step further towards the defacto annexation of the West Bank by Israel.
The 22 settlements will confiscate lands across various regions of the West Bank.
The Israeli government’s decision drew condemnation from the UK, EU ,including Germany as a violation of international law. The international community, including the UN, considers the Israeli settlements illegal under international law. The UN has repeatedly warned that continued settlement expansion threatens the viability of a two-state solution, a framework seen as key to resolving the Israeli occupation of West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem.
On July 19, 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an advisory opinion that Israel’s occupation and settlement policies violate international law, amounting to de facto annexation. The court mandates that Israel end its unlawful presence, halt new settlements, evacuate settlers, and provide reparations for the harm caused by 57 years of systematic discrimination.
#Endoccupation #Internationallaw #Settlements #Palestine #Israel #EndTheOccupation #InternationalLaw #HumanRights
Sources:
-https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1j5954edlno
– https://peacenow.org.il/en
– https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/29/israel-announces-major-expansion-of-illegal-west-bank-settlements
– https://mondoweiss.net/2025/06/israel-just-took-another-huge-step-towards-west-bank-annexation-explained/ 
