Two prominent Israeli non-governmental organizations have documented a significant acceleration in the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, warning that the pace of land acquisition amounts to a de facto annexation.
According to a joint report by Peace Now and Kerem Navot, Israel now controls 18% of the occupied territories, a substantial increase from the 7% recorded before the outbreak of the war in Gaza.
The organizations highlight that this expansion is occurring at an unprecedented rate, driven by both state-backed initiatives and settler violence.
The report underscores a deepening crisis in the region, with the NGOs noting that the current trajectory threatens to render a two-state solution increasingly unviable.
The acceleration in land grabs has been accompanied by a surge in settler attacks and military raids, creating a volatile environment for Palestinian communities.
This development adds to the growing list of challenges facing international diplomats seeking to stabilize the region and restart peace negotiations.