Israel has approved 34 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, sparking concerns among Palestinians that their land could soon be confiscated.
The decision, made by the security cabinet on April 1, brings the total number of settlements in the region to 102, with 10 of the new settlements already existing outposts that will be retroactively legalized.
The remaining 24 settlements are yet to be built, and all are considered illegal under international law.
Residents of the Palestinian village of Deir Ammar are worried that a settler outpost established near their area will be one of the legalized settlements, fearing that it will lead to more land grabs.
Palestinian farmers Nael Mussa and Ismail Awdeh expressed their concerns, saying that if the area becomes a settlement, they will have no land left.
The decision has been met with criticism from rights groups, who say that approvals of new settlements, land seizures, and settler violence have increased since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023.
