The Israeli government has forcibly taken large swathes of Palestinian land in the northwest of the occupied West Bank to pave the way for the establishment of a settlement, Israeli media reported on Sunday.
According to reports, the government seized around 700 dunams of land. Hebrew-language paper Yedioth Aharonoth confirmed the land grab, stating: "A few days ago, 695 dunams were taken to establish a new neighbourhood near the settlement of Karnei Shomron".
The report says that the area is located "in a highly strategic location and cuts off the geographical connection between the Palestinian town of Salfit and the city of Qalqilya".
"The main objective of this move, from the government’s point of view, is to cut off communication between Palestinian towns, turning them into isolated enclaves, and significantly undermining the chances of establishing a Palestinian state," the report continues.
The outlet further added that in 2019, ministers of the far-right Israeli government tried to push for a settlement in the area, but the necessary approvals were delayed due to Palestinians living in the area.
Extremist Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich reaffirmed the increased land grabs on 21 December, stating that the government had legalised 69 settlement outposts in the West Bank over the course of three years.
"The people of Israel are returning to their land, building it up and strengthening their control over it," he said.
Since the start of its war on Gaza in October 2023, Israel has advanced its annexation of the West Bank, as well as home demolitions.
Official Palestinian reports this month said the number of settlers in the West Bank at the end of 2024 reached around 770,000, distributed across more than 180 settlements, and 256 settlement outposts.
The land confiscation comes as eight Palestinians were detained by Israeli troops in Bethlehem on Sunday.
Sources told the Wafa news agency that those detained included Walid Abu Kamel, 55; Abd Abu Kamel, 50; Ahmad Harbi Abu Kamel, 18; Qusay Abu Kamel, 20; brothers Anan Abu Kamel, 35, and Aws Ahmad Abu Kamel, 22; and Ziad Salahat, 33.
Israeli forces also launched a military offensive since Saturday afternoon on the village of al-Mughayyir, located northeast of Ramallah.
Sunday saw Israeli forces detain a journalist from the town of Deir Abu Da’if, located east of Jenin.
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society in Jenin confirmed that Israeli forces detained a 44-year-old named Farouq Omar Qassem Elayat after raiding and searching his home.
This comes as Israeli forces intensified their restrictions on Palestinians in the area west of Salfit on Sunday.
Locals told the Wafa news agency that a military checkpoint was established at the entrance to Deir Ballut town, and another at Qarawat Bani Hassan, causing severe delays and restricting the movement of civilians.
Also in the West Bank, Israeli authorities forced a Palestinian family to demolish their home in the village of al-Ban’na in the Galilee region on Saturday, or they would be faced with a fine of around $159,000.
The family, Amer Titi, told reporters that they had built the home 15 years ago, and multiple generations lived there.