Israel moves to seize Sebastia as settlers expand footprint across occupied West Bank

Israel is preparing to expropriate large parts of Sebastia, a major historical and archaeological site in the occupied West Bank, according to an official government order, a move that has triggered fresh alarm as settlers continue establishing new outposts and carrying out attacks across Palestinian communities.

The plan, announced by Israel’s Civil Administration, would see extensive land in the Sebastia area seized for development, effectively placing the Roman-era site under tightened Israeli control. Peace Now, the anti-settlement watchdog, says the area in question spans approximately 1,800 dunams, making it the largest seizure of archaeologically significant land in the West Bank to date.

Haaretz reported that the lands targeted are privately owned and located in the northern part of the territory, with the purpose of converting the area into a state-managed tourist site. Palestinian residents have been given just 14 days to lodge objections.

Sebastia holds deep cultural and religious significance. It is believed to sit atop the capital of the ancient kingdom of Samaria and is regarded by Christians and Muslims as the burial site of John the Baptist. Since 2023, Israel has already launched excavation works and allocated more than 30 million shekels ($9.24m) towards developing the area, reinforcing concerns that the heritage framing masks a broader territorial grab.

Thursday’s development unfolded against a backdrop of mounting international pressure on Israel to address rampant settler violence in the West Bank. Yet the reality on the ground tells a different story. Settlers established a new illegal outpost near Bethlehem overnight, while attacks on Palestinian towns and farmland continued at pace.

In Huwara, south of Nablus, settlers stormed a vehicle scrapyard and set it ablaze, according to local sources cited by Wafa. Elsewhere, near Kafr Nima west of Ramallah, settlers accompanied by Israeli soldiers assaulted four Palestinians attempting to remove a soil barrier from their farmland. The men were later arrested by Israeli forces.

These incidents reflect a pattern: land confiscation moving in tandem with settler aggression, often unfolding under the watch or protection of the Israeli military. While Israeli authorities describe such actions as development or security measures, rights groups and Palestinian residents increasingly view them as part of a systematic effort to reshape the West Bank’s geography and ownership structure.