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B’Tselem Says Israel Dismantles Palestinian Life in West Bank

By Drooid · Sep 15, 2026, 2:02 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Israel Dismantles West Bank

Israel is executing a systematic campaign to dismantle Palestinian collective life in the occupied West Bank, B’Tselem says.
Israeli forces killed at least 1,107 Palestinians in the West Bank between October 2023 and September 2026.
Israel displaced at least 75 Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
Israel seized over 1,070,000 dunams, 18% of West Bank land.
Palestinian unemployment rose from 13.1 percent in 2022 to more than 31 percent in 2024.

Summary

Israel Expands Settlement

Israel declared 1,522 dunams of Abu Dis land state property to expand Mishmar Yehuda settlement.
The annexed area incorporates the illegal Keidar South outpost into the planned new city.
Mishmar Yehuda’s expansion aims to link Gush Etzion and Ma’ale Adumim, cutting West Bank continuity.
Phase II adds 2,000 dunams and 10,000 ultra-Orthodox housing units.
The announcement coincided with the UK’s settlement trade ban, prompting Israeli diplomatic retaliation.

History

Historical Context

After Israel seized the West Bank, Gaza, Sinai and the Golan Heights in the June 1967 Six-Day War, the Gush Emunim movement launched a settlement drive that expanded Israeli communities in the occupied territories. UN Resolution 242 (Nov 1967) demanded withdrawal, yet Israel kept settlements, later returning Sinai after the 1978 Camp David accords and evacuating Gaza in 2005, fueling ongoing disputes.

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Israel Dismantles West Bank

Israel is executing a systematic campaign to dismantle Palestinian collective life in the occupied West Bank, B’Tselem says.
Israeli forces killed at least 1,107 Palestinians in the West Bank between October 2023 and September 2026.
Israel displaced at least 75 Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
Israel seized over 1,070,000 dunams, 18% of West Bank land.
Palestinian unemployment rose from 13.1 percent in 2022 to more than 31 percent in 2024.

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