Israel Approves 19 West Bank Settlements and Reinstates 2005 Outposts — Palestinian Leaders Call It an Annexation Push

Israel's security cabinet has approved a plan to formalise 19 settlements in the occupied West Bank and to reinstate two northern outposts that were dismantled during the 2005 disengagement, a decision Palestinian officials say deepens a decades‑long campaign of land appropriation and demographic change.

What Was Approved

The cabinet decision formalises 19 settlement locations across the West Bank and revives two outposts in the north that were removed in 2005. Israeli media reported the move on Friday; the plan was reported by Ynet to have been "coordinated with the US in advance," while Channel 14 attributed the initiative to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a prominent far‑right figure and a settler.

Political Context

Settlement expansion in the West Bank is widely regarded as illegal under international law, but it receives political support across much of Israel's political spectrum. Israeli political debate continues to feature strong differences over expansion, recognition and long‑term strategy for the occupied territories.

Palestinian Reactions

Palestinian officials strongly condemned the approval. Mu'ayyad Sha'ban of the Palestinian Authority's Colonisation and Wall Resistance Commission described the move as "another step towards erasing Palestinian geography" and said it underscored growing fears over the future of the territory.

Hamas called the decision a "dramatic escalation," saying it "constitutes a dangerous escalation in the annexation and Judaisation project" and urged the UN and human rights organisations to confront what it described as "unchecked colonial behaviour."

Rouhi Fattouh, head of the Palestinian National Council, said the decision "constitutes a double violation of international law and a blatant breach of international legitimacy," calling it part of a systematic expansion of a colonial structure.

Violence and Humanitarian Impact

The approval comes amid an escalation of violence by Israeli forces and settlers across the West Bank and against the wider backdrop of Israel's military campaign in Gaza. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), at least 232 Palestinians — including 52 children — have been killed by Israeli troops and settlers since the start of the year. OCHA has also recorded more than 1,700 settler attacks that caused casualties or property damage, an average of roughly five assaults per day across more than 270 communities.

Most of these attacks have been concentrated around Ramallah, Nablus and Hebron, areas long targeted by settlement expansion. Separately, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been forcibly displaced this year in Area C — which comprises about 60% of the West Bank and remains under full Israeli military control. Homes have been demolished, seized or sealed, leaving entire communities without shelter.

International Response And Outlook

International reaction has been mixed and largely focused on calls for restraint and respect for international law. Reports that the plan was coordinated with the United States — if confirmed — could raise diplomatic tensions. Palestinian leaders and rights groups say the move further entrenches a system that they argue amounts to discriminatory rule over the occupied territory.

What Comes Next: The formalisation process may include legal and administrative steps within Israeli authorities; the decision is likely to trigger further diplomatic criticism, legal challenges, and heightened tensions on the ground.