The Palestinian Resistance Movement, Hamas, denounced on Friday an Israeli decision to annex 24 thousand dunams of land in the occupied West Bank, stressing that it reflects the Zionist insistence on totally controlling the West Bank and rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state.
In a statement, Hamas reiterated that the Zionist moves will be faced by a fierce resistance till the full liberation of the occupied territories and restoration of the Palestinian rights.
‘Israel’ announced Thursday the confiscation of 24,000 dunams (5,930 acres) of land in the occupied West Bank, declaring it “state land” with the aim of expanding several settlements in the area.
According to Israeli Channel 14, Israeli authorities led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced the move in what is described as one of the largest land appropriations in decades.
The Zionist broadcaster noted that the decision covers nearly half of the land declared as state land since the Oslo Accords in 1993.
The channel highlighted that the settlement of Ma’ale Adumim east of Al-Quds (Jerusalem) would be expanded by approximately 2,600 dunams (642 acres) to the south to create continuity with the settlement of Kedar.
Additionally, according to the channel, settlements such as Migdal Oz and Susya in the southern West Bank and Yafit in the Jordan Valley will also be expanded.
The channel quoted Smotrich, who claimed that the decision was a “historic achievement that contributes to strengthening settlement activity and expanding land designated for infrastructure and settlement projects.”
On Nov. 11, the far-right minister said that next year will see the application of “Israeli sovereignty” over the occupied West Bank.
Source: Al-Manar English Website
