The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) has exposed Israel’s approval of more than 80 illegal settlement plans in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem since late 2022. These plans include tens of thousands of settlement units, showcasing a rapid expansion of Israeli settlements on Palestinian land. The Israeli army’s creation of “buffer zones” around these settlements encroaches on neighboring Palestinian villages under the guise of security for settlers.
With over 720,000 Israelis currently residing in illegal settlements in the occupied territories, settlement construction has escalated under the right-wing government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The international community, including the UN, deems these settlements illegal under international law, warning that their expansion jeopardizes a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In a landmark ruling, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories illegal in July, calling for the immediate evacuation of existing settlements. Despite global outcry, Israel persists in its expansion efforts, heightening tensions in the region.