Israeli occupiers have begun establishing a new outpost near Adh Dhahiriya, south of Hebron, in the occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian rights group the Al-Baidar Organization.
The group said on Saturday that the development was part of continuing illegal settlement expansion in the area and warned that it could threaten Palestinian-owned land while restricting residents’ movement and access to their property.
In a separate incident in Khallat al-Hummus in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, occupiers reportedly entered the area surrounding the home of Palestinian resident Khairi Mohammed Abu Tuhfa, frightening members of his family.
Al-Baidar also reported rapid development at another outpost near Umm Safa, northwest of Ramallah. Established around two months ago, the outpost has since developed into an inhabited site, with construction and other preparations continuing.
The organisation warned that further expansion could affect additional Palestinian land. It also accused occupiers based at the outpost of aggressive and extremist behaviour towards local Palestinians, saying the pace of construction was “creating new conditions on the ground and threatening residents’ land and property.”
In August, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee described Israelis responsible for violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank as “terrorists” and said such attacks were seriously damaging Israel’s international image.
According to Palestinian figures, approximately 750,000 Israeli occupiers live in 156 illegal settlements and 360 outposts across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The Palestinian government’s Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission recorded 628 occupier attacks in August alone.
Elsewhere in the West Bank, Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Israeli forces raided Yabrud, northeast of Ramallah, while occupiers entered a sheep farm in the village. Israeli forces also reportedly prevented several Palestinian vehicles from passing through the area.
In Jenin governorate, Israeli forces bulldozed land and uprooted dozens of olive trees near the village of Haddad, according to Wafa.
Violence involving Israeli forces and occupiers in the West Bank has intensified since the Gaza war began in October 2023. Palestinian official figures say at least 1,206 Palestinians, including 254 children, have been killed, around 13,350 wounded and more than 24,600 arrested during that period.
The United Nations has repeatedly stated that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories violate international law and has warned that continued settlement expansion undermines prospects for a two-state solution.