Israel has seized 27 thousand dunams of Palestinian land since October 7

Muayyad Shaaban, head of the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission affiliated with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), made a statement on the occasion of "March 30 Palestinian Land Day."

Stating that since October 7, 2023, when the attacks on Gaza began, 25 Bedouin communities consisting of 220 Palestinian families and a total of 1,277 people have been forced to migrate, Shaaban noted that Israel, hiding behind its attack on Gaza, has usurped 27 thousand dunams of Palestinian-owned land in the West Bank during this period.

Pointing out that Israel has de facto control over 2,380 square kilometers, which constitutes 69 percent of the areas classified as "Area C" in the West Bank and 42 percent of the entire West Bank territory, Shaaban stated that especially after October 7, Israeli institutions have been working on projects aimed at establishing colonial units on an area of 6,852 dunams.

Reminding that Jewish settlers continue to carry out various attacks against the original owners of the region, the Palestinians, in addition to occupying land in the West Bank, Shaaban shared that 1,156 separate attacks have been recorded in the region since the Gaza attacks, and that 12 Palestinian civilians have lost their lives in such attacks.

Underlining that as a result of the actions of the occupying forces and the attacks by Jewish settlers, 9,600 trees, mostly olive trees, have been damaged, Shaaban stated that with all these practices, Palestinian lands in the West Bank have been "fragmented" and that a total of 840 military barricades or checkpoints have been established on transit routes, 140 of which were set up after October 7.

Within the framework of the "Oslo II Accord" signed between the Palestinian and Israeli administrations in 1995, the occupied West Bank was divided into Areas A, B, and C.

While the administration and security of "Area A," which covers 18 percent of the West Bank, were transferred to Palestine, and the administrative management of "Area B," which covers 21 percent, was transferred to Palestine with security remaining under Israel, the administration and security of "Area C," which covers 61 percent, were left to Israel.

News Source: AA