Israel Plans Largest West Bank Land Seizure in Historic Sebastia Archaeological Zone
Massive seizure announced as settlers expand illegally.
Israel’s Civil Administration has formally declared its intention to expropriate approximately 1,800 dunams (450 acres) of the historic Sebastia archaeological zone in the occupied West Bank, marking the largest seizure of culturally significant land in decades and directly threatening a site revered by Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike as the ancient capital of Samaria and the burial place of John the Baptist.
The expropriation order, dated November 12 and obtained by international media, targets vast olive groves and ruins surrounding the Palestinian village of Sebastia, despite the area having been designated for tourism development with over 30 million shekels already allocated. Peace Now described the move as unprecedented in scale, dwarfing previous grabs such as the 286-dunam seizure at Susya, and warned that it effectively transforms a shared heritage site into exclusive Israeli control.
Simultaneously, Israeli settlers inaugurated a new unauthorized outpost near Bethlehem on land once used as a military base, celebrating what they called a “return to the city of our matriarch Rachel and King David.” The timing appears linked to a deadly stabbing attack days earlier at a nearby junction, with settler leaders demanding stronger government backing and framing Palestinian violence as justification for accelerated settlement expansion.
Also Read: Israeli Forces Uncovers Largest Hamas Tunnel Network in Gaza After Years of Secret Operations
In a separate development, prominent Palestinian activist Ayman Ghrayeb Odeh, known for documenting settler attacks in the Jordan Valley, was detained by Israeli forces and subsequently hospitalized under unclear circumstances. His lawyer stated authorities have refused to disclose his location or medical condition, while Israel’s Shin Bet confirmed an arrest on incitement charges that could lead to indefinite administrative detention without trial.
Human Rights Watch released a damning report accusing top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Israel Katz, of potential war crimes for orchestrating the forced displacement of 32,000 Palestinians from three northern West Bank refugee camps this year—the largest forced transfer since 1967—through systematic destruction of over 850 homes and denial of return or humanitarian assistance.
Also Read: Israel Airstrikes Kill 5 More Palestinians in Southern Gaza; Death Toll Rises to 28
