The Israeli army confiscated, Sunday, thousands of Dunams of Palestinian farmlands owned by the residents of Qarawat Bani Hassan and Deir Istiya, west of Salfit, in central West Bank.
The Town Councils in Deir Istiya and Qarawat Bani Hassan said Israel is planning to expand Yakir and Novim illegal colonies which were built on stolen Palestinian lands.
They added that the new plans aim at expanding the illegal colonies by annexing 8500 Dunams of privately-owned Palestinian lands.
The lands are in the areas of Nweitif, al-Majoor, Wadi Khalil, as-Safar, Bir Abu Ammar, Wadi al-Hamam, al-Marah, as-Sahlat, Khallet Abu Rabea’, al-Maslaba, Khallet Nasheet, Hareeqat Abu Zoheir, Khallet al-‘Am, Gharsat al-Ein, al-Batin, al-Hanayel, and Wadi Qana.
All of Israel’s colonies in the occupied West Bank, including those in and around occupied East Jerusalem, are illegal under International Law, the Fourth Geneva Convention in addition to various United Nations and Security Council resolutions. They also constitute war crimes under International Humanitarian Law.
