Israel advances plan for 650 housing units in occupied West Bank

The Israeli regime's District Planning and Building Committee has deposited a plan for a new settlement named "Nofei Rachel" in the occupied West Bank, according to a statement by the governorate. The proposed settlement would cover about 27 dunams (6.7 acres) adjacent to Palestinian homes. The governorate warned that the project's impact would extend beyond the planned housing units, as its location would directly affect the daily lives of Palestinians in the area.

The statement said the plan is part of the Israeli regime's settlement policy aimed at restricting Palestinian presence and urban expansion while expanding illegal settlements and creating new facts on the ground. This move is seen as a continuation of efforts to consolidate Israeli control over occupied territories.

Separately, the Israeli rights group Ir Amim reported on Monday that the Zionist regime had advanced three major settlement projects in East Al-Quds (Jerusalem) in recent weeks, totaling more than 3,400 housing units. These projects are part of a broader pattern of settlement expansion in occupied Palestinian territory.

The United Nations and most countries consider Israeli settlements built on occupied Palestinian land illegal under international law. They argue that such settlements undermine the prospects for a two-state solution, which would see an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. The international community has repeatedly called on Israel to halt settlement activities.

According to Mehr News Agency, the governorate's statement highlighted the negative implications of the plan for Palestinian residents, emphasizing that the settlement would encroach on land that is vital for Palestinian communities. The report by Mehr News Agency added that the advancement of these projects reflects a continued disregard for international law and UN resolutions.