Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Orders Evacuation of Unauthorized West Bank Outposts

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the evacuation of unauthorized outposts in the occupied West Bank, according to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaking to AFP on Sunday. Reuters also reported that Mr Netanyahu ordered the illegal settler outposts to be dismantled, affecting approximately 100 outposts established without official state authorization, as reported by Israeli media outlet Ynet.

It remains unclear when the operation will begin. The international community, including UN bodies and most governments, views all Israeli settlements as illegal under international law and classifies the West Bank as occupied territory under military control, while Israel maintains the territory is disputed rather than occupied.

During a conference in Jerusalem, Mr Smotrich stated that Mr Netanyahu issued instructions to evict locations built in Areas A and B, which are parts of the West Bank where the majority of Palestinians reside. According to data from the Israeli organization Peace Now, there are currently 340 outposts and 146 government-recognized settlements in the West Bank, home to over 500,000 Israelis and approximately three million Palestinians.

The announcement follows strong statements from US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who labeled violent settlers as "terrorists" and called for serious consequences following his meeting with Palestinian Americans in a West Bank town. While the Israeli government maintains that a fringe minority is responsible for settler violence, human rights groups dispute this assessment, and the Prime Minister's office and military have not yet responded to requests for comment.