Concurrently with the continuation of its military operations in various areas, the Israeli occupation continues to implement its plans to seize Palestinian lands under the pretext that they are “state property” or “absentee property,” as a prelude to imposing what it calls its full sovereignty over the West Bank.
In the same context, the occupation issued a decision yesterday, Monday, to finalize the confiscation of sites in the town of Sebastia in the northern West Bank and convert them into what it refers to as “state property.”
The Israeli occupation government had approved a draft resolution allowing it to begin seizing vast areas of Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank by registering them as “state property,” for the first time since 1967.
The Israeli occupation will completely confiscate 14 archaeological sites in the town of Sebastia, impose Israeli sovereignty over them, and prevent Palestinians from accessing these areas.
The Israeli decision comes amid ongoing attacks by settlers and the occupation army on Palestinians at these archaeological sites, through assaults and incursions aimed at entrenching settlement and confiscating the Palestinian right to the land.
Dozens of buses arrive daily, carrying settlers and foreign visitors who tour the archaeological sites in the town of Sebastia.
On August 6, 2025, the residents of Sebastia were surprised by an Israeli decision to convert approximately 1,775 dunams—nearly one-third of the town—into what is called the “Samaria National Park,” based on biblical claims alleging that Sebastia was the capital of the “ancient Kingdom of Israel” and the home of its kings.
Arrests and Home Demolitions
In addition to seizing Palestinian lands, the Israeli occupation army carries out raids, arrests, and pursuits of Palestinians in various areas of the West Bank. During the night, it demolished Palestinian homes, and since the early morning hours, it has been doing the same, specifically in the city of Hebron.
The occupation army also carried out incursions in the far north and south of the West Bank and closed some entrances to Palestinian villages and towns south of the city of Nablus and the town of Aqraba, which reportedly suffers from settler attacks and army incursions that involve daily house raids, assaults on residents, and interrogations.
According to reports, the occupation army has arrested more than 9,000 Palestinians since the beginning of 2025 in West Bank areas, and more than 23,000 since October 7, 2023.
Through the policies it implements, the Israeli occupation seeks to terrorize and intimidate Palestinians in order to drive them away from their lands and impose what it calls Israeli sovereignty over them.
The decisions taken by the Israeli government regarding imposing its authority over lands in the West Bank have been described as illegal and in violation of international law.
