A Palestinian visitor takes a photo of Rome’s historical site in the West Bank town of Sabastia, Thursday, Nov 20, 2025.
Israel plans to seize large areas of a major archaeological site in the West Bank, even as settlers establish a new unauthorized outpost. The move intensifies tensions at a time when the country faces increasing pressure to curb settler violence and address human rights concerns.
Israel West Bank Seizure Targets Sebastia Heritage Site
A government document revealed that Israel intends to take control of extensive land around Sebastia, a significant historical site in the northern West Bank. According to Peace Now, the planned Israel West Bank seizure covers about 1,800 dunams (450 acres)—the largest takeover of historically valuable land in years.
Sebastia holds deep religious and cultural importance. It is widely believed to be the site of ancient Samaria, the capital of the Israelite kingdom. Many Christians and Muslims also consider the area the burial place of John the Baptist.
Israel began developing Sebastia as a tourist attraction in 2023 and allocated more than 30 million shekels ($9.24 million) for excavations and infrastructure. The new seizure order gives Palestinians 14 days to file objections.
Previously, the biggest historical land takeover reached only 286 dunams (70 acres) in Susya, highlighting the scale of this latest action.
New Settlement Outpost Rises Near Bethlehem
As the Israel West Bank seizure plan surfaced, settlers celebrated the creation of a new unauthorized outpost near Bethlehem. The head of the Etzion settler council, Yaron Rosenthal, praised the outpost and described it as a symbolic return to a historic area tied to biblical figures.
The outpost appeared just days after a Palestinian attack near a busy junction that left one Israeli dead and three injured. Rosenthal said the new settlement was a firm response to the violence and called for stronger support for the settler movement.
He argued that “terrorism is fueled by the hope of a state,” linking the attack to Palestinian Authority efforts to advance statehood initiatives.
According to Peace Now, the new outpost sits on land previously used as an Israeli military base. Photos online show temporary housing units and bulldozers already preparing the area for expansion.
Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem in the 1967 war. Since then, over 500,000 settlers have moved into the West Bank and more than 200,000 into East Jerusalem. Many communities are considered unauthorized under Israeli law but receive indirect support from far-right ministers who dominate the current government.
Palestinian Activist Detained Amid Rising Tensions
A prominent Palestinian activist, Ayman Ghrayeb Odeh, known for documenting settler violence, was detained and later hospitalized. His lawyer said authorities have refused to disclose his condition or the reasons for his hospitalization.
Israel’s Shin Bet confirmed that Odeh is being held on incitement charges. He may face administrative detention, a controversial system allowing imprisonment without trial based on secret evidence. His brother insisted Odeh was not inciting violence but only documenting events in the Jordan Valley.
Human Rights Watch Alleges War Crimes in the West Bank
Human Rights Watch released a report accusing Israel of war crimes, stating that military operations forcibly displaced 32,000 Palestinians from three refugee camps earlier this year. The group said the displacement marked the largest since Israel occupied the territory in 1967.
Satellite images verified the destruction or heavy damage of more than 850 buildings in Jenin, Tulkarem and Nur Shams camps. Israel argued the raids targeted militant infrastructure under Operation Iron Wall, conducted after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack.
The military claimed the raids reduced militant attacks in the West Bank by 70%, although it provided no evidence. HRW said Israel offered no justification for expelling entire populations or for preventing displaced families from returning.
Growing Scrutiny Over Israel's West Bank Seizure
As Israel prepares to seize Sebastia and settlers expand new outposts, international scrutiny is rising. Human Rights Watch urged global authorities to investigate senior Israeli officials for alleged crimes against humanity. With tensions escalating on the ground, the Israel-West Bank seizure debate is likely to intensify in the coming weeks.
