The Israeli government has approved a very controversial plan that would see large parts of the occupied West Bank declared “state property” if Palestinians are unable to prove ownership. The plan was tabled by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, and Defence Minister Israel Katz, all of whom belong to the far-right party, according to the Israeli news channel Kan.
Smotrich described the move as part of what he called a “settlement revolution” aimed at asserting control over all land, while Levin said it demonstrated the government’s commitment to strengthening its grip across the territory.
The move reopens the process of land title registration, which has been stalled since Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967. The new policy requires that anyone who lays claim to the land must have proof of ownership, which is particularly difficult for Palestinians who have been under occupation for so long. The policy has been criticized for potentially denying land rights to thousands of Palestinians.
Palestinian and Hamas Condemnation
The Palestinian presidency condemned this step as a “severe escalation and a blatant violation of international law, amounting to a form of de facto annexation.” It called on the international community, specifically the United States and the UN Security Council, to act immediately.
Hamas also rejected the plan, saying it was a move to seize and “Judaise” the land by declaring it state property. The Islamist movement said the decision was null and void since it was made by an “illegitimate” occupying power that violated international law and United Nations resolutions by forcibly expanding settlement lands.
Expanding Israeli Control Over the West Bank
The land registration policy is the latest move in Israel’s efforts to consolidate its control over the West Bank. In recent months, Israel has greatly increased the construction of settlements, legalized outposts, and implemented administrative measures aimed at consolidating Israeli control over the West Bank while reducing the power of the Palestinian Authority.
The law will affect Area C, which was defined in the Oslo Accords and is entirely under the control of the Israeli military. Over 300,000 Palestinians reside in Area C, in addition to many more who rely on the agricultural land and grazing areas in the region.
Much of the land in Area C has never been registered due to the complex and expensive process of registration, as well as the destruction of records that occurred as a result of war and occupation over the years.
Critics Warn of Massive Land Seizure
Israeli anti-settlement group Peace Now warned that the policy could result in a massive land grab. Settlement Watch director Hagit Ofran said that the policy could result in Israel gaining control of most of Area C.
She said that the Palestinians would have to prove ownership in circumstances that are almost impossible, and this could result in Israel taking control of up to 83 percent of Area C, which is about half of the West Bank. The registration process could begin as early as this year.
Experts Describe Policy as Bureaucratic Annexation
Legal and political analysts have indicated that the new policy puts Israel in direct contravention of international law, which states that occupying powers cannot confiscate or settle on occupied land.
Political analyst Xavier Abu Eid explained that the new policy is a form of annexation through bureaucracy, which eliminates any legal obstacles to the expansion of settlements. He indicated that Israel was effectively carrying out the annexation process through administrative reform.
Regional Condemnation and Diplomatic Fallout
Some regional authorities have criticized the Israeli government’s decision. The Foreign Ministry of Jordan said that the decision is a “blatant violation of international law,” while Qatar said that this is “part of Israel’s continued pursuit of stripping the Palestinians of their rights.”
The Foreign Ministry of Egypt stated that the decision is a “violation of international law and humanitarian law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention and UN Security Council Resolution 2334.”
The Turkish government has also criticized the Israeli government’s decision, saying that it is “null and void” since Israel does not have sovereignty over the occupied territory of Palestinians.
The United States had not issued an immediate response. Previous US administrations strongly criticised settlement expansion, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintains a close relationship with President Donald Trump. The two leaders met seven times over the past year in Washington.
While Trump has ruled out formal annexation of the West Bank, his administration has not acted to slow Israel’s accelerated settlement expansion.
International Legal Context and Ongoing Occupation
More than 700,000 Israelis currently live in illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.
In 2024, the International Court of Justice issued a non-binding advisory opinion stating that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and settlement activity in the West Bank are illegal and should be ended as soon as possible.