Israel’s defense and finance ministers announced plans on Saturday to establish three illegal outposts in Gaza and allocate more than 400 million dollars to expand settlement construction in the occupied West Bank. The highly controversial expansion comes as Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition rushes to cement territorial gains and drive out Palestinians ahead of the country’s upcoming national elections scheduled for October 27.
Under the new directives, Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed plans to set up three “Nahal” outposts in northern Gaza, a type of military community that historically serves as a precursor to permanent Israeli civilian settlements. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced 1.3 billion shekels in funding for dozens of new settlements across the West Bank. According to Israeli media, the cabinet quietly approved the substantial funding package last month but intentionally kept the decision secret to avoid immediate diplomatic blowback from the United States.
The political maneuvering coincides with an escalation of local tensions, highlighted by remarks from Major General Avi Bluth, the Israeli military commander for the region. Bluth publicly stated during a meeting with settler representatives that he considers extremist outposts to be partners in security and openly appreciated their work. The announcement drew swift international condemnation, with the United Nations human rights office for Palestine issuing a report declaring that settler violence amounts to state violence. Furthermore, domestic pushback has intensified as the activist group Peace Now reports that construction bulldozers are already working on at least seven separate settlement sites to populate them before voters head to the polls.
