Bezalel Smotrich Announces 2,162 New Jewish Homes in Occupied West Bank

Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced a plan for 2,162 new Jewish homes in the occupied West Bank, with 1,006 units in a new illegal settlement near Jerusalem, 922 near the city of Nablus, and 234 near Hebron.

“Note: Given Eid al-Adha approaching, the next humanitarian situation report for the Occupied Palestinian Territory is scheduled to be issued over the weekend of the first week of June 2026, and will cover two weeks within the period it encompasses”

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Smotrich said, “We are continuing to build the Land of Israel in practice,” and his statement framed the homes as a way to “establish clear facts on the ground that prevent the creation of an Arab terror state in the heart of the country”.

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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s office condemned the decision and warned that Israel’s “provocative” policies were pushing the region towards more violence, calling on the United States to stop the Israeli “madness”.

The New Nation said the expansion is illegal under international law and noted Smotrich has been sanctioned by the United Kingdom, France, and other states, which accuse him of inciting violence against Palestinians.

The New Nation also reported that Israeli forces delivered demolition notices to shops at the intersection of the town of Bazariya, northwest of Nablus, to make way for a colonial road, and that some settlers stormed the village of Deir Sudan, northwest of Ramallah, accompanied by bulldozers to seize it.

WAFA reported that Israeli occupation authorities delivered demolition notices on Thursday to several commercial shops at the junction of the town of Bazariya, northwest of Nablus, after Israeli troops raided the area and distributed notices to demolish several shops.

WAFA said the shops were targeted in order to construct a colonial road between the settlements of Homesh and Sanur, expected to pass through the lands of Burqa, Sebastia, Jaba', and Fandaqumiya.

Oz Arab Media

The Saba report said Israeli enemy forces closed the northern entrance of Salfit city with an iron gate since the early hours of Thursday morning, preventing vehicles from passing through and causing a traffic jam.

Saba also reported that in Nablus, Israeli enemy authorities delivered demolition notices on Thursday for a number of shops at the intersection of the town of Bizzariya, northwest of Nablus, to pave a settlement road between the “Homesh” and “Sanur” settlements.

In the same Saba account, local sources told Wafa that the military measures at Salfit’s northern entrance were tightened, hindering citizens from reaching their destinations.

An OCHA humanitarian situation report said the Occupied Palestinian Territory continues to suffer from severe fragmentation because people are not allowed to travel between Gaza and the West Bank, and further movement restrictions are imposed within each area due to military divisions, physical barriers, and closed zones.

“Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has announced a major expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, as he pushes to annex more of the Palestinian territory”

The New Nation

OCHA said attacks and threats forced people to leave their homes or shelter sites, and it added that humanitarian partner organizations face extreme difficulties delivering staff and vital supplies to areas where they are most needed.

The report warned that the intensification of settler violence and operations by Israeli forces, including demolitions, expulsions, and movement restrictions across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are increasing protection risks and disrupting Palestinians’ access to essential services.

OCHA documented that between May 12 and 18, Israeli forces and Israeli settlers killed five Palestinians, one of them a child, and injured about 60 Palestinians, including six children, across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

It also stated that since the start of 2026 the number of documented attacks by Israeli settlers affecting more than 220 settlements rose to more than 870 attacks, an average of six attacks per day.