The head of the Commission for Resistance to the Wall and Settlements, Muayyad Shaaban, pointed out in a report that about 4,600 hectares were stolen in the West Bank last year alone.

The theft is committed under various allegations, including the declaration of nature reserves, state land or for military use, the Commission stressed.

Shaaban denounced that the total area confiscated amounts to 2,382 square kilometers, equivalent to 42 percent of the West Bank territory.

Since October 7, 2023, Israeli authorities have executed 268 settlement plans in the territory, including East Jerusalem, he said.

“This portends a premeditated intention to carry out the largest settlement expansion in history,” he warned.

The official pointed out that more than 770,000 Jewish settlers currently live in the colonies located in the territory, despite the fact that the international community rejects this expansionist policy and claims these lands as part of the future Palestinian state.

Last week several Palestinian experts condemned the Israeli colonization strategy.

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