Israel has employed two distinct strategies to dispossess Palestinians in the occupied territories. In Gaza, the world has witnessed devastating military violence that critics describe as genocidal, with fears that the ultimate objective is the forced displacement of the Strip’s native population. In the West Bank, meanwhile, the Israeli government has moved to consolidate long-term control through what many observers call the “legalisation” of land seizures.
The latest development came with the Israeli cabinet’s approval of a plan to designate large swathes of the West Bank as “state land,” a move that could pave the way for annexation in contravention of international law. Israel’s far-right finance minister, who has previously claimed that Palestinians are a “fictitious” people, hailed the decision as a “settlement revolution.” In response, the Palestinian presidency termed the step a “serious escalation,” while Hamas described it as an effort to “steal and Judaise” Palestinian land.
Rights groups, including Israeli organisations, have warned that proceeding with the plan would all but extinguish prospects for a two-state solution. As state-backed settlement expansion accelerates, Palestinians face onerous legal requirements to prove land ownership — often needing documentation dating back a century. For many families displaced repeatedly over decades, producing such records is nearly impossible.
Israel’s territorial ambitions are not limited to Palestinian lands. It has occupied Syria’s Golan Heights since 1967 and, following recent instability in Syria, has reportedly expanded its footprint there. Israel also continues to maintain positions in parts of southern Lebanon. Critics argue that these actions reflect a broader ideological vision among hardline factions seeking to expand Israel’s borders beyond internationally recognised limits.
Against this backdrop, US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace — initially formed to address the crisis in Gaza — is scheduled to meet on Thursday. The gathering may serve as a test of its commitment to de-escalation. Since the October ceasefire, more than 600 Palestinians have reportedly been killed in Gaza. Observers say the board must press for an end to hostilities and call for a halt to settlement expansion in the West Bank. Israel’s foreign minister is expected to attend the meeting, placing the onus on Washington to translate its stated commitment to peace into concrete diplomatic pressure.
Pakistan has condemned the latest Israeli move, and other Muslim-majority states participating in the forum are expected to raise the issue. Diplomats and rights advocates alike argue that a coordinated international response is essential to stop the violence in Gaza and prevent further annexation of Palestinian land in the West Bank.