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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the evacuation of several West Bank outposts considered illegal under Israeli law, according to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
Israeli news outlets reported that Netanyahu issued the mandate following pressure from the United States government.
Smotrich, a far-right leader who opposes the decision, confirmed that the directive targets unauthorised outposts built within areas administered by the Palestinian Authority.
The evacuation order follows a period of rapid settlement growth under Netanyahu’s administration, despite widespread international criticism.
While international law considers all Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal, Israeli domestic law distinguishes between government-authorised settlements and unauthorised outposts.
Smotrich defended his own record on Sunday, highlighting his efforts to expand and legalise thousands of homes, roads, and villages across the occupied territory.
Tensions across the West Bank have escalated significantly since October 2023, with over 500,000 Israeli settlers living alongside roughly three million Palestinians.
Netanyahu’s decision coincides with a visit by US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, who met with American-Palestinian citizens affected by settler violence and called for strict legal consequences for perpetrators.
Netanyahu’s office has not officially commented on the evacuation reports.
