Hamas condemns Israeli settlement expansion as 'existential threat'

2026-02-08 - 21:25

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem stated that the moves "confirm its colonial program aimed at swallowing all Palestinian land and displacing its original inhabitants." He described the actions as a "real existential threat" requiring a unified Palestinian national response. The decisions follow a reported increase in home demolitions across the West Bank last year. Details of the new Israeli measures The approved measures, reported by Israeli media, enact significant changes to the administration of the West Bank. Key elements include repealing a longstanding law that barred the sale of Palestinian land to Israeli citizens and transferring planning authority in sensitive areas like Hebron's Ibrahimi Mosque complex from Palestinian to Israeli control. These steps mark a departure from previous agreements like the 1997 Hebron Protocol. Expanded enforcement and rising demolitions A particularly consequential aspect is the expansion of Israeli enforcement powers into areas classified as "Area A" and "Area B," which are under full or partial Palestinian civil control per the Oslo Accords. This shift would allow Israeli authorities to carry out demolitions and seizures of Palestinian property more broadly. This comes amid data from a Palestinian commission showing over 500 demolitions in 2025, a significant rise affecting approximately 1,400 structures. International law and regional implications These developments are seen as a major consolidation of Israeli control over the occupied territory. The United Nations and much of the international community consider all Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, asserting they undermine the prospects for a two-state solution. The policy shift is likely to heighten regional tensions and poses a significant challenge to diplomatic efforts, a concern for nations like Türkiye that advocate for a just and lasting peace based on Palestinian rights.