Israeli settlers on Thursday fenced off approximately 202 hectares (500 acres) of Palestinian-owned agricultural land in the Khirbet Samra area of the occupied West Bank, according to reports from the Palestinian news agency Wafa. The move is seen as an initial step towards seizing the land, which has long been cultivated by Palestinian families.
The incident highlights the growing trend of settler-led land grabs, often carried out with little resistance from Israeli authorities.
Middle East Eye reported that the fencing operation is part of a wider expansion strategy, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government having already approved or constructed around 48,000 settlement housing units since taking office, a figure expected to rise to 50,000.
Local residents say the seizure of farmland threatens their livelihoods, particularly during the olive harvest season. Recent weeks have seen a surge in settler violence, with Palestinian farmers attacked and prevented from accessing their groves.
CNN reported that more than 200 settler attacks occurred within the past month, often coinciding with military restrictions on Palestinian movement.
Human rights organisations argue that such actions violate international law, which prohibits the transfer of civilian populations into occupied territory.
The United Nations has repeatedly condemned settlement expansion, warning that it undermines prospects for peace and entrenches the occupation.
The fencing of Khirbet Samra land comes amid broader displacement pressures in the West Bank. Communities in areas such as Masafer Yatta face demolition orders, while Bedouin families continue to resist eviction from ancestral lands.
Activists say the latest seizure reflects a systematic policy of dispossession aimed at consolidating Israeli control over strategic areas of the West Bank.
Palestinian officials have called on the international community to intervene, stressing that unchecked settlement growth risks further destabilising the region. “This is not just about land; it is about erasing Palestinian presence,” one official told reporters, urging global powers to hold Israel accountable.
As winter approaches, the loss of farmland and homes adds to the humanitarian strain already felt across Palestinian territories, where restrictions on aid and infrastructure have left communities vulnerable.
The fencing of over 200 hectares is being described by campaigners as a symbol of the accelerating pace of Israeli settlement expansion, with fears that more seizures will follow in the coming months.
Sources: Middle East Eye, Wafa, CNN, Truthout
