Israel advances 1,024 new settlement units in West Bank

Israel is pushing forward with plans to construct 1,024 new housing units across the occupied West Bank, targeting more than 1,069 dunams of Palestinian land, according to the Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission. The announcement marks another expansion in what has become a year of accelerated settlement activity under the current Israeli government.

Nine Projects Since July Began

The commission said Israeli authorities have advanced nine settlement projects since the start of July through the Higher Planning Council, which operates under the Defense Ministry. Of the proposed units, 455 have already received final approval, while 569 have been deposited for additional planning procedures. The targeted land spans private and communal Palestinian territory, according to the commission.alquds+2

Anadolu Agency reported that the plans target more than 1,264 acres of occupied Palestinian land. The commission accused Israel of using settlement construction to reshape the geography of the occupied territories and consolidate what it described as de facto annexation.muslimnetwork+2

Part of a Broader Expansion Campaign

The latest plans come amid an unprecedented surge in Israeli settlement activity in 2026. Earlier this month, Israel signed a framework agreement worth $2.3 billion to expand settlements with 12,000 new housing units and infrastructure projects, in a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. In June, the Israeli cabinet approved funding for 61 new settlements at a cost of more than $350 million.jpost+2

Peace Now, an Israeli anti-settlement organization, reported that as of April, the Higher Planning Council had already advanced 3,215 housing units in 2026 alone. Including plans from 2025, the total reached nearly 28,000 units.peacenow

International Condemnation Mounts

The international community overwhelmingly considers Israeli settlements illegal under international law, a position reaffirmed by the International Court of Justice. Palestinian officials have repeatedly warned that the expansion is designed to fragment Palestinian territory and prevent the establishment of a contiguous Palestinian state.aljazeera+1

The Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission said in a separate report this month that Israeli authorities have issued 49 military orders for land seizure since the beginning of 2026, targeting 2,093 dunams — a 30 percent increase over the same period in 2025.english.wafa