Israeli authorities have approved the largest single land seizure in the occupied West Bank in over three decades, appropriating 12.7 square kilometers in the Jordan Valley in 2024.

This move, influenced by the settler community in the government, aims to establish a buffer zone and prevent the creation of a Palestinian state.

The land seizure is the largest since the 1993 Oslo accords, undermining the prospect of a contiguous Palestinian state.

Aggressive expansion in the West Bank has exacerbated tensions amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, leading to increased violence in the region.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has overseen a surge in land seizures and settlement expansions, advancing a plan to annex the West Bank without formal accusations of annexation.

The international community condemns the expansion as illegal, while Palestinians see it as a major barrier to peace and statehood.

The conflict with Hamas has caused massive devastation and displacement in Gaza, adding further complexity to the situation.