Israeli Authorities Seize 55 Dunums of Land Northwest of Jerusalem

JERUSALEM: Israeli authorities have seized 55 dunums of Palestinian land in the towns of Qatanna and Biddu, northwest of Jerusalem. The seizure is intended to facilitate the expansion of the Israeli settlement Har Adar, which is constructed on Palestinian territory. According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the PLO's Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission reported that the land was confiscated under the pretext of being categorized as "state land." The confiscated area is situated behind the Israeli segregation wall, which has been a barrier to Palestinian access for over two decades. This recent land seizure is part of a broader strategy by Israeli authorities to appropriate Palestinian land for settlement growth. The Commission highlighted that 2024 has been marked as the most challenging and perilous year for Palestinian geography. The year has seen an intensification of land confiscations and military orders, along with an unprecedented surge in settlement expansion activities by Isr aeli forces. The Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission has condemned these actions, stating that they contravene international laws and conventions that prohibit colonial settlement practices. The Commission, together with its legal partners, has pledged to persist in efforts to counteract Israel's plans for further land appropriations.