The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) condemned the decision of the Israeli Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, to confiscate 24,000 dunums of West Bank land and annex it as “state land” to expand settlements, considering that this step is part of a government plan aimed at controlling the entire West Bank and preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state. .
The movement confirmed in a statement that these escalating settlement decisions, which are accompanied by settler attacks, will be met with escalation of resistance and steadfastness until liberation is achieved, calling for the continuation of the struggle against the occupation’s plans.
Hamas said, “The steadfastness of our Palestinian people will fail the Israeli annexation and displacement plan, no matter the sacrifices it costs.” She also indicated that these plans will not change the facts of history, as the West Bank is purely Palestinian land and an essential part of the Palestinian state, stressing that it will remain a hotbed of revolution and anger until liberation is achieved.
Smotrich described the decision as a “historic achievement” that enhances settlement and expands the land allocated for infrastructure. This expansion includes settlements such as Ma’ale Adumim (which will expand south to connect with the Kedar settlement), Migdal Oz and Susiya, in addition to the Yefet settlement in the Jordan Valley.
Yesterday, Thursday, Hebrew Channel 14 reported that Smotrich announced the decision to confiscate 24 thousand dunums of West Bank land and annex it as state land. The channel indicated that this decision is one of the largest Israeli decisions since the Oslo Accords in 1993, when it was announced that 24 thousand dunams were annexed, which is equivalent to half the area of land that was declared state land since those agreements.
Among the affected areas, the Maale Adumim settlement, east of Jerusalem, will be expanded by about 2,600 dunams towards the south to connect it to the Kedar settlement, in addition to the expansion of the settlements of Migdal Oz and Susiya in the south, and Yefet in the Jordan Valley.
The Israeli government or Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has not issued any official statement about this decision yet.
Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are considered illegal according to international law. The International Court of Justice previously confirmed last July that the Palestinians have the right to self-determination, and that Israeli policies and practices exceed borders to the level of annexing large parts of the occupied Palestinian territories.