The Israeli cabinet approved 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, including the re-establishment of Ganim and Kadim, which were dismantled in 2005. The move follows a series of approvals that have increased the total number of settlements to 210.
The approvals include retroactive legalization of previously established outposts and new construction on land previously evacuated by Palestinians. The expansion brings the total number of approved settlements over the past three years to 69.
Settlements in the West Bank are considered illegal under international law, and the latest move has drawn condemnation from the UK, Saudi Arabia, and the UN. The expansion coincides with a surge in violence and a U.S.-brokered ceasefire plan for Gaza.