Israel seizes Palestinian land in Hebron to build Jewish-only settlement

By Awad Rajoub

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) – Israeli authorities have seized 64 dunums (6.4 hectares) of Palestinian land in the West Bank city of Hebron to establish a new settlement, Palestinian authorities said on Tuesday.

The Hebron Municipality said Israel issued a military decision to confiscate 64 dunams of land in Al-Bweireh area in northern Hebron to build a Jewish-only settlement.

This step is a "prelude to the displacement of 8,000 residents from the area and the seizure of approximately 800 dunams (80 hectares),” it added in a statement.

There was no comment from Israeli authorities on the report.

Estimates indicate about 700,000 Israeli settlers live in roughly 300 illegal settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

All Jewish settlements in the occupied territories are considered illegal under international law.

Tensions have been high across the occupied West Bank amid ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, which left more than 33,800 people dead since a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023.

At least 468 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli army fire in the West Bank since then, according to the Health Ministry.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio in Istanbul