Ramallah: The Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission announced on Saturday that Israeli authorities have taken control of more than 52,000 dunams (12,800 acres) of Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank since October 7, 2023. This land seizure marks a significant escalation in the region's ongoing tensions.

According to Anadolu Agency, the commission's statement, released in conjunction with the anniversary of Land Day, detailed the actions taken by Israel since the onset of the war in Gaza. Israel has issued 13 military orders aimed at establishing buffer zones around illegal settlements, resulting in the creation of 60 new illegal settler outposts across the West Bank. Specifically, of the 52,000 dunams confiscated, 46,000 dunams (11,400 acres) were seized in the year 2024 alone. The pretexts for these seizures include the designation of land as nature reserves, state land, and military zones.

Land Day, which is observed annually on March 30, commemorates the events of 1976, when Israel seized significant amounts of land from Palestinian citizens, leading to widespread protests and resulting casualties. The commission emphasized that over 24,000 dunams (5,900 acres) have been claimed under the classification of 'state land,' marking the largest land confiscation in over thirty years.

The statement further underscored the ongoing demolition campaign by Israeli authorities targeting Palestinian buildings. In 2023 alone, 939 demolition orders were issued, with a concentration of 60% in Hebron, Bethlehem, Ramallah, and Jerusalem. Additionally, there were 684 demolitions, primarily occurring in Area C, which includes Jerusalem, Hebron, Nablus, and Jericho.

The Palestinian Commission reported that approximately 770,000 illegal Israeli settlers now inhabit 180 illegal settlements and 256 outposts throughout the occupied West Bank. The region remains tense, with at least 939 Palestinians killed and nearly 7,000 injured in attacks by the Israeli army and illegal settlers since the conflict in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, as reported by the Palestinian Health Ministry.

In July, the International Court of Justice declared Israel's prolonged occupation of Palestinian territories illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.