Hamas: Legalizing 19 new settlements is dangerous escalation to swallow in West Bank

In a press statement, Hamas said this announcement reveals the true nature of the Zionist regime’s government, which treats Palestinian land as colonial spoils and rushes to impose settlement facts to pave the way for full control over the West Bank.

Hamas added that this new decision is part of a long series of steps to steal Palestinian land and forcibly impose realities, including building new settlements and expanding existing outposts, in direct violation of international law and UN Security Council resolutions that prohibit settlement activity.

The Movement emphasized that the ongoing settlement expansion aims to redraw Palestinian geography, isolate towns and villages, and create an environment that leads to the silent displacement of Palestinians. Hamas affirmed that these schemes will not succeed in breaking the steadfastness of the Palestinian people or uprooting their attachment to their land and rights.

In this context, Hamas called on the international community, the United Nations, and human rights organizations to assume their responsibilities regarding this “rampant colonial behavior” and take effective measures to stop the settlement expansion and hold Israeli leaders accountable for their policies toward Palestinian land and holy sites.

The statement followed the official approval by the Israeli Security Cabinet (“the Cabinet”) of the establishment and legalization of 19 settlements in the occupied West Bank.

According to Zionist regime’s Channel 14, Smotrich presented his plan to Cabinet members on Thursday evening, which includes both entirely new settlements and existing outposts being legalized, including the Ganim and Kadim settlements, which were evacuated in 2005 during the dismantling of Gaza settlements.