Israel Seizes 30 Hectares of Palestinian Land Near Bethlehem

The Recent Land Expropriation Order

Israeli authorities have issued a military order to seize 30 hectares of Palestinian land near Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. The order was issued under the pretext of expropriation for public purposes, specifically to facilitate the development of what Israel describes as an archaeological site in the Jabal Al-Fureidis area.

Announcement by Palestinian Official

Moayad Shaaban, head of the Palestinian Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, announced the order on Tuesday through Anadolu Agency. Shaaban stated that this measure represents the third expropriation order issued by Israeli authorities since the beginning of 2026.

Broader Context of Land Seizures in the West Bank

Shaaban noted that Israeli authorities had already declared 17.1 hectares of land surrounding the site as state land in 2024. The announcement comes amid increased Israeli measures involving archaeological sites in the West Bank, which Palestinian officials say are being used to expand control over land and strengthen settlement activity in Area C.

Under the 1995 Oslo II Accord, Area C comprises about 61 percent of the occupied West Bank and remains under full Israeli control. In February the Israeli government approved a measure allowing authorities to register large areas of West Bank land as state property for the first time since 1967.

Palestinian Displacement Figures

Israeli violence has surged across the occupied West Bank since October 2023. Palestinian officials report 1,168 deaths, 12,666 injuries, nearly 23,000 arrests, and the displacement of around 33,000 people as of May 26.

Implications for International Law and the Oslo Accords

Shaaban described the policy as one of the most dangerous tools used to impose de facto annexation of Palestinian territory through unilateral measures that violate international law. He warned that the decision forms part of a broader policy aimed at imposing legal and administrative control over Palestinian land and redirecting it to serve housing projects for occupiers. Targeting Palestinian archaeological and heritage sites goes beyond land control and forms part of efforts to reshape the historical and cultural landscape in support of the settlement enterprise.