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Israel approves 104 new West Bank settlements amid surge in settler violence
The Israeli government announced the authorization of 104 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move described by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich as the fulfillment of electoral promises and called “historic.” The security cabinet also approved 1.3 billion shekels to establish 34 additional settlements. The United Nations has warned that settler‑linked attacks have reached an all‑time high, reporting 18 Palestinians killed in 2026 so far, surpassing the 17 deaths recorded for the entire previous year. Recent incidents include the killing of four Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers near the village of Tal, southwest of Nablus, after armed settlers entered the area. UN officials, including spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani and Secretary‑General António Guterres, condemned the expansion as a violation of international law and called for urgent action. The UN human‑rights office also noted more than 120 arrests by Israeli forces in the West Bank over the past two days, underscoring a broader pattern of collective punishment and repression.
Entities
Antonio Guterres · Benjamin Netanyahu · Bezalel Smotrich · Israeli government · Israeli settlers · Palestinian Authority · Ravina Shamdasani · Stephen Doughty · Tal · Tal village · Tal village (West Bank) · United Nations
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Israel’s security cabinet approved funding of 1.3 billion shekels to establish 34 new settlements in the West Bank. bbc.bm · primanews.org · econotimes.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] UN predicts that the number of settler attacks may surpass 2,000 by the end of 2026. primanews.org · www.nouvelles-du-monde.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called the new settlement approvals 'historic'. bbc.bm · primanews.org · econotimes.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Four Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers were killed near the village of Tal, southwest of Nablus. bbc.bm · econotimes.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] At least 20 Palestinians have been killed by settlers since the start of the year. bbc.bm · contralinea.com.mx · econotimes.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] 18 Palestinians have been killed in settler‑linked attacks in the West Bank in 2026. bbc.bm · primanews.org · econotimes.com · www.nouvelles-du-monde.com · thefinancialanalyst.net
- [● 3 SOURCES] Ravina Shamdasani said settlers and Israeli security forces, often acting together, have attacked local communities. bbc.bm · primanews.org · econotimes.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Israeli settlers returned to the village of Tell near Nablus, injuring 11 Palestinians. www.bigodino.it
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Ambulance driver Yousef Diriya was delayed for four hours at Awarta checkpoint while transporting dialysis patients on 27 July 2026. www.notizie.it
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A six‑month‑pregnant woman and her unborn child died after an ambulance was stopped at Awarta checkpoint. www.notizie.it
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Over 70 Palestinians were arrested after the Tell incident, including more than 40 in Tell. infoaut.org
- [○ 1 SOURCE] More than 120 arrests have been made by Israeli forces in the West Bank in the past two days. ilfarosulmondo.it