Amnesty: Israel Seizes West Bank Land to Link Settlements

Amnesty International stated on Thursday that recent Israeli decisions to seize Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank are accelerating annexation. The organization warned that these actions expand illegal settlements and further undermine the rights of Palestinians living under occupation.

In July, the Israeli military signed at least fifteen land confiscation orders covering approximately two hundred dunams in the Jenin governorate. These seizures occurred in Areas A and C, with Amnesty describing the takeover of land in Area A as particularly alarming due to its status under Palestinian Authority control since the Oslo Accords.

The confiscated land appears intended to connect two planned Israeli settlements known as Emek Dotan and Noa. These projects are among thirty-four new settlements approved by the Israeli government earlier this year. Most of the seized territory is privately owned by Palestinians from villages including Qabatiya, Arraba, Mirka, Misilya, Jirba, and Al-Yamoun.

Heba Morayef, Amnesty’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, said the measures show Israel is brazenly expanding its annexation agenda. She warned that building roads to link settlements carves up the Jenin governorate into isolated cantons, severing it from Tulkarem, Tubas, and Nablus while restricting freedom of movement.

Amnesty urged states with close ties to Israel to pressure authorities to rescind the orders and suspend cooperation contributing to violations. The organization called on private companies to disengage from entities supporting unlawful presence in occupied territory. It reiterated demands for Israel to end its system of apartheid and remove all settlements immediately.