Israeli authorities have issued 49 military orders since January targeting 2,093 dunams, or about 517 acres, of privately owned Palestinian land across the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Colonisation and Wall Resistance Commission. Although the orders do not officially transfer ownership or confiscate the land, they impose strict limits on how property owners can access, use and cultivate their land, increasing pressure on affected communities.
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Moreover, the commission said the military orders permit actions such as removing or trimming trees, restricting entry to agricultural areas and preventing farming activities. Most of the affected land lies near Israeli settlements, settlement roads, the separation barrier and military installations, where the restrictions are expected to strengthen Israeli control without introducing formal ownership changes.
Meanwhile, official figures indicate a noticeable rise in the use of these military measures during 2026 compared with the previous year. The commission reported that Israel issued 47 similar orders covering 1,613 dunams throughout 2025, while the first half of 2026 alone has already seen 49 orders affecting 2,093 dunams, reflecting a significant increase in the scale of restrictions.
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Furthermore, the commission’s latest semiannual report stated that 3,488 incidents were recorded across the occupied West Bank during the first six months of 2026. These included attacks on Palestinian communities, shootings, arson incidents, land seizures and the establishment of new settlement outposts, contributing to growing tensions and concerns over conditions in the territory.
Peace Now, an Israeli anti-settlement organisation, estimates that around 500,000 Israeli settlers currently live in the occupied West Bank, while another 250,000 reside in occupied East Jerusalem. Palestinian officials also reported that since the Gaza conflict began in October 2023, military operations and settler violence in the West Bank have resulted in at least 1,175 Palestinians killed, 12,919 injured, 33,000 displaced and nearly 24,000 arrests, highlighting the continuing humanitarian and security challenges across the occupied territory.