Israeli ministers announce plan for new illegal settlements in Gaza and West Bank

Israeli settlers building a new outpost near the Palestinian village of Azmut in the occupied West Bank on Friday. Photograph: Jaafar Ashtiyeh/AFP/Getty Images View image in fullscreen Israeli settlers building a new outpost near the Palestinian village of Azmut in the occupied West Bank on Friday. Photograph: Jaafar Ashtiyeh/AFP/Getty Images Israeli ministers announce plans for new illegal settlements in Gaza and West Bank Defence minister seeks three ‘Naha’ outposts in Gaza as top commander says Israel now controls 65% of the strip, violating Trump ceasefire deal Israel’s defence and finance ministers announced plans for three illegal settlements in Gaza and more than $400m (£300m) in funding to expand construction in the occupied West Bank , as Israel’s military commander for the region celebrated violent outposts as his “security partners”. Palestinians brace as Israeli settler figures in coalition seek to cement West Bank gains before election Read more With national elections scheduled for 27 October, Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition is racing to expand control of land in occupied Palestine and drive out Palestinians before its mandate expires. The defence minister, Israel Katz, said he intended to set up three “Nahal” outposts in northern Gaza, a type of military community that for decades has paved the way for Israeli civilian settlements. The finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, announced 1.3bn shekels (£318m) in funding for dozens of new Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The cabinet allocated the money last month but kept the decision secret because of expected US opposition, Israeli media reported . Maj Gen Avi Bluth, who commands Israeli forces in the West Bank, told residents of extremist outposts that he “appreciates their work” and considered them to be partners in security with the military. Bluth, who grew up in a West Bank settlement himself, spoke on Wednesday at a meeting of the euphemistically named Farms Association, which represents settlements that are illegal even under Israeli law. These play a key role in campaigns of terror that have driven Palestinians from their homes and lands across the occupied West Bank. Map of Palestinian communities and Israeli settlements in the West Bank Dozens from Israel’s political and military elite, including two former prime ministers and former heads of all its security services, have threatened legal action against their government over support for Jewish terrorism in the West Bank. “Settler violence is state violence,” the UN human rights office for Palestine said in a new report published this week that detailed how Israel used settlers to lead annexation efforts, while systematic impunity for perpetrators ensured violence could grow unchecked. Hagit Ofran, from the Israeli activist group Peace Now, said bulldozers were working on at least seven settlements that would be populated before polling day. “The government is on a reckless pre-election sprint to raid th