The green light for the latest development came from Israel’s security cabinet, a key component of the broader right-wing government currently in power. This decision has sparked considerable international attention and criticism.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has openly criticized what he sees as Israel’s persistent expansion of settlements within occupied territories. He has called these actions “relentless” and warned that they significantly undermine the prospects for peace in the region.

Guterres emphasized that these developments are exacerbating the unlawful nature of the Israeli occupation. He highlighted that such actions are in clear violation of international law and pose a direct threat to the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.

The impact of these policies was visible in Hebron on December 20, 2025, where Israeli soldiers were seen blocking roads and restricting Palestinian movement. This was in the midst of illegal Israeli settlers, who, under the protection of Israeli forces, carried out a raid in the Old City of Hebron, located in the southern West Bank. The scene was captured and reported by various sources, including Getty Images, with photographer Amer Shallodi documenting the tense atmosphere on the ground.

Israeli soldiers block roads and restrict Palestinian movement as illegal Israeli settlers, under the protection of Israeli forces, carry out a raid in the Old City of Hebron in the southern West Bank on 20 December 2025. Source: Getty / Amer Shallodi

Excluding east Jerusalem, which was occupied and annexed by Israel in 1967, more than 500,000 Israelis live in the West Bank, along with about three million Palestinian residents.

Five of the 19 settlements already existed but had not previously been granted legal status under Israeli law, the statement said.

“Israel would lose all of its support from the United States if that happened,” Trump said in a recent interview with Time magazine.