The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has reiterated his commitment to continue the expansion of settlements in the West Bank, ignoring external pressures and reproaches, and has emphasized that these projects are driven by thinking of "a great migratory wave" towards the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
During a meeting with settlers held in Jerusalem, Netanyahu defended that the expansion of the settlements constitutes "an achievement of the Government" and highlighted that Israeli institutions have made "tremendous efforts to materialize the vision of previous generations," according to the transcript released by his office.
In his speech, the Israeli leader emphasized that "we cannot ignore the numbers: 104 established and formalized communities, along with 160 farms. There are more on the way," while praising the involvement of settlers in these projects to "materialize the vision of the Land of Israel."
Netanyahu stressed that "many of our brothers and sisters in the world understand today that this is our land, and that there is no other," and reiterated that settlers "lay the foundations for a great migratory wave that will come," without providing further details about that possible population movement.
He also stated that he feels proud to see on the maps the "points" that symbolize the settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. "When I see the map I see points, points, points, covering it all. I know that we not only guarantee our existence in the present but the existence of the people of Israel in the future," he argued.
Netanyahu also recalled that "part was done during the previous U.S. Administration --led by the Democrat Joe Biden-- and part during the current Administration in the United States. It is not easy. It is never easy." He then added that "the Land of Israel is acquired through suffering. Sometimes it is with smiles, other times with disputes, but it is acquired."
In the same vein, he proclaimed: "we do not give up. We have a mission. This is our land, and it will remain ours," referring to the settlement project promoted by his Executive, a coalition made up of far-right and ultra-Orthodox forces. Netanyahu aims to reaffirm his position in the legislative elections scheduled for October 27.
These statements occur in a context of growing international unrest over Israel's plans to extend settlements in the E1 block and the increase in attacks perpetrated by settlers against the Palestinian population in the West Bank.
According to International Law, all settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal. However, the Israeli Government distinguishes between authorized colonies and those established without official permission, considering only the latter as contrary to the law, despite repeated criticisms from the international community and resolutions from the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Hamas's condemnation of Israel's plans
In parallel, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) condemned on Wednesday the Israeli plans to continue expanding settlements in the West Bank and pointed out that this initiative "represents a new escalation in the fascist settlement policy, aimed at swallowing and stealing more Palestinian land and imposing a reality of annexation and forced displacement."
The Islamist group warned about "the increase in land confiscation operations, the daily depopulation of new areas in the West Bank, the deprivation of basic goods, the interruption of communications, and the transformation of these areas into isolated enclaves," according to the newspaper 'Filastin.'
Hamas emphasized that "all these settlement projects will not grant the occupation any rights or sovereignty over the land, nor will they provide security or stability," and asserted that Israel's plans "will be shattered by the perseverance and resilience of the Palestinian people."
The movement insisted that "our people, who have faced decades of occupation and aggression, will not renounce their land, and the crimes and brutality of the occupation will not succeed in uprooting them from it nor bending their will," while urging the international community to "assume its responsibilities" and "not be content with merely condemning this brutal expansion of settlements."
Finally, Hamas stressed that the international community "must work to hold the occupation accountable, stop its settlement projects, and comply with international laws and resolutions," and called on the Palestinians in the West Bank to "strengthen all forms of resistance and activate means of confrontation" to respond to Israel's actions on the ground.