Israel advances plans to tighten control over West Bank amid rising tensions

WEB DESK: The Israeli government has approved a series of measures aimed at strengthening its administrative and security grip over the occupied West Bank, including the expansion of settlements and increased military presence in key areas.

According to AFP, Israel’s cabinet on Sunday approved a plan to establish new administrative bodies that would grant the Israeli military greater authority over Palestinian communities in the West Bank, particularly in Area C, which is under full Israel’s control as per the Oslo Accords.

The moves come amid a surge in settler violence and ongoing clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant described the initiatives as necessary to “secure the safety of Israeli citizens” and counter what he called “terrorist threats” in the region.

The plan includes accelerating the construction of new settlement outposts, expanding existing settlements with thousands of additional housing units, and tightening restrictions on Palestinian movement through increased checkpoints and roadblocks.

Palestinian officials and international observers have condemned the measures as a violation of international law and an attempt to annex parts of the West Bank de facto. The Palestinian Authority said the steps undermine any prospects for a two-state solution and further entrench occupation.

The United Nations and several European countries have urged Israel to halt settlement expansion, warning that such actions complicate peace efforts and exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in the occupied territories.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government faces domestic pressure from far-right partners to advance annexation policies. Critics argue the latest measures are part of a broader strategy to make a Palestinian state unviable.

The West Bank has seen heightened violence in recent months, with hundreds of Palestinians killed in Israeli military operations and settler attacks. The situation remains volatile as the region grapples with the fallout from the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.