Occupation confirms confiscation of 14 archaeological sites in Sebastia and continues demolition operations in the West Bank

The Israeli occupation authorities issued an official decision to confirm the confiscation of 14 archaeological sites in the town of Sebastia, located north of the occupied West Bank. This measure aims to transform these historical lands into what is called 'state land,' in preparation for extending full Israeli sovereignty over them and permanently preventing Palestinian citizens from accessing them.

This step comes within the framework of a broader plan by the occupation government aimed at seizing vast areas of West Bank land under flimsy legal and historical pretexts. This policy, which relies on registering lands as 'state land,' represents a strategic shift in dealing with Palestinian archaeological areas since the 1967 occupation.

Field sources reported that the town of Sebastia is subjected to a fierce settlement attack, with dozens of buses carrying settlers and foreign visitors flowing daily to the archaeological sites under the protection of the occupation army. These systematic incursions aim to entrench the settlement presence and confiscate the historical rights of Palestinians to their land and cultural landmarks.

Residents of the town were shocked in August of last year by a decision to convert about 1775 dunams, which is equivalent to one-third of the town's area, into a 'national park.' The occupation authorities base these confiscations on biblical claims that the area was the capital of an ancient kingdom, in an attempt to legitimize control over Palestinian cultural heritage.

In parallel with the confiscation decisions, the occupation army escalated its military operations in various governorates of the West Bank, where bulldozers carried out demolition operations of citizens' homes in the city of Hebron. Demolition operations began in the early morning hours, displacing Palestinian families amid the continuation of the policy of collective punishment and the destruction of infrastructure.

In the northern West Bank, occupation forces imposed a tight siege on a number of villages and towns located south of Nablus city, including the town of Aqraba, which suffers from repeated attacks. These areas are subjected to continuous night raids and home invasions, interspersed with physical assaults and field interrogations with local residents with the aim of intimidating them.

Regarding arrests, the Palestinian Prisoners' Club revealed shocking figures reflecting the scale of Israeli escalation, with over 9,000 Palestinians documented as arrested since the beginning of 2025. The total number of detainees since October 7, 2023, has risen to over 23,000 arrests, including all segments of Palestinian society.

For his part, the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric, criticized the recent Israeli moves aimed at imposing sovereignty over West Bank lands. He affirmed in press statements that these decisions lack any legal legitimacy and constitute a blatant violation of international law and relevant UN resolutions concerning Palestinian rights.

Observers believe that these accelerating policies of land confiscation and home demolitions aim to create a new geographical and demographic reality that prevents the establishment of a contiguous Palestinian state. Through these repressive measures, the occupation seeks to empty areas classified as 'archaeological' or 'vital' of their original inhabitants and replace them with settlers permanently.

The decisions taken by the Israeli government regarding imposing its authority over lands in the West Bank are illegal and contrary to international law.