Israel's cabinet approved the legalization of 19 settler outposts across the occupied West Bank, including two reoccupied after the 2005 disengagement, in a move condemned by Palestinian officials and rights groups as illegal and a step toward annexation. The decision follows earlier approvals of 22 planned settlements in May and nearly 800 housing units this week. Separately, Israel said an airstrike in Gaza killed a senior Hamas weapons commander, a strike whose compliance with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire was disputed. The developments raise fresh concerns about the prospects for a contiguous Palestinian state and increased regional tensions.
Israel Legalizes 19 West Bank Outposts, Sparking International Condemnation
People look on towards Israeli settler outposts near the occupied West Bank village of Turmos Ayya on October 19, 2025. - Hazem Bader/AFP/Getty Images/File
Israel's cabinet on Thursday approved the legalization and formal establishment of 19 settler outposts across the occupied West Bank, including two sites reoccupied after the 2005 disengagement, an Israeli official familiar with the decision said.
What Was Approved
The package authorizes 19 outposts—some of which have existed for more than 20 years and house dozens of families—and covers locations deep inside the West Bank that settlers and officials say are strategically important for future expansion. Two of the approved outposts were previously evacuated under Israel's 2005 disengagement plan.
Legal Status And Reactions
Outposts are widely regarded as illegal under international law and are also unauthorized under Israeli law. Critics say many are established initially without permits in hopes of later receiving official authorization.
"All Israeli settlement activity is illegal and constitutes a violation of international law and international legitimacy resolutions,"Palestinian presidential spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh said, according to the Palestinian official news agency WAFA.
Moayyad Shaaban, head of the Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, called the decision a "dangerous escalation" that, in his view, reflects an intent to entrench annexation, apartheid, and the "full Judaization" of Palestinian land. Palestinian National Council Speaker Rouhi Fattouh described the move as a "double violation of international law," citing UN resolutions and an International Court of Justice advisory opinion.
Supporters And Political Context
Israeli right-wing ministers, including far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have championed settlement expansion. The far-right Nahala movement celebrated the approvals as an "impressive achievement," with some leaders suggesting such moves could extend to other territories.
Palestinians inspect the remains of a destroyed vehicle targeted by the Israeli military in Gaza City, Palestine, on December 13, 2025. Gaza's civil defense agency says four people are killed in an Israeli airstrike on the Palestinian territory on December 13. - Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto/Getty Images
The decision follows other recent moves: in May, Israel announced plans to establish 22 new settlements—deemed by the watchdog Peace Now as the largest expansion in more than 30 years—and earlier this week nearly 800 housing units were approved in three West Bank settlements. Peace Now warned that incremental approvals are part of a pattern intended to normalize settlement planning and reduce international scrutiny.
Gaza Airstrike And Ceasefire Tensions
Separately, Israel said on Saturday it carried out an airstrike in Gaza that killed Raad Saad, whom the military identified as a senior Hamas weapons commander and "one of the architects" of the October 7 attacks. Gaza's Al-Shifa Hospital director reported at least four killed and 29 injured in the strikes.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said the strike responded to a prior explosive device that wounded Israeli forces. An Israeli military official argued the operation did not violate a U.S.-brokered ceasefire because Israel is permitted to strike targets "actively engaged in terrorism," though it was unclear whether the U.S. had been notified or had approved the action.
Hamas denied confirming the death and accused Israel of attempting to derail the ceasefire, calling the strike on what it described as a civilian area a "criminal violation" of the agreement.
Why This Matters
The cabinet approval is likely to intensify international criticism and complicate diplomatic efforts aimed at renewing a two-state framework, as settlement expansion is widely seen as a major obstacle to a contiguous and sovereign Palestinian state. The approvals also highlight deep divisions within Israeli politics and raise tensions across the region.
Reporting contributed by CNN correspondents Tal Shalev in Tel Aviv and Oren Liebermann in Jerusalem.
