Hebron: Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has established a new police unit composed of illegal armed settlers, a move perceived as an effort to further Israel's de facto annexation of the occupied West Bank.
According to Anadolu Agency, the announcement was made during a ceremony at the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, located in the southern West Bank. The newly formed 'First Response Unit' will operate under the West Bank police division and consists of over 100 illegal settlers from Israeli settlements, as detailed in a police statement released on Thursday.
The statement outlined the unit's mission to provide 'rapid and effective emergency response,' enhance 'personal security,' and assist in combating crime in the area. Police officials claimed that the unit's creation was based on 'strategic thinking' and designed to offer a 'rapid, professional, and effective response to any incident.'
The Israel Police emphasized their commitment to strengthening the defense of the settlements, indicating the unit's role in this initiative. Ben-Gvir praised the settlers within the unit as an 'inseparable part of society,' highlighting their ability to deliver 'quick responses in the field.' He described the move as a manifestation of 'real sovereignty and practical Zionism,' suggesting it aligns with Israel's long-term goal of annexing the West Bank.
Members of the new unit have received combat training, special police powers, and advanced equipment. This development follows a recent call by 14 Israeli ministers and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to immediately annex the occupied West Bank.
The United Nations considers Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories illegal under international law and has consistently warned that settlement expansion jeopardizes the prospects for a two-state solution.
Deputy Police Commissioner Avshalom Peled stated that the unit would serve as a volunteer force supporting official police operations, providing an 'additional layer' of security for illegal Israeli settlers in the West Bank. Ben-Gvir has a history of distributing firearms to illegal settlers, citing the need to protect their communities in the occupied territory.
Critics, including opposition figures, accuse the extremist minister of using his position to form militias under the pretense of a 'National Guard.' Since the beginning of Israel's conflict with Gaza, at least 994 Palestinians have been killed and over 7,000 injured in the West Bank by Israeli forces and illegal settlers, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
In a landmark opinion last July, the International Court of Justice declared Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory illegal and called for the removal of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.