Israel’s new defense minister has announced that Jewish settlers in the West Bank will no longer be subjected to administrative detention, a policy that allows suspects to be held indefinitely without trial, meaning only Palestinian suspects can be detained without trial moving forward. This controversial policy change reflects the influence of the far-right in Israel, with the wars in Gaza and Lebanon and the election of President-elect Donald Trump providing additional context.
The number of Palestinians held in administrative detention has doubled since a Hamas terrorist attack in October 7 2023, with over 11,800 Palestinians arrested since the current conflict began. Israeli citizens and foreign nationals are also being held, but it is unclear if any Israelis have been released due to the policy change. While some opposition figures criticized the decision to cancel administrative orders for Israelis, others, like Israel’s ultranationalist National Security Minister, praised it as justice.
The West Bank is seen as illegally occupied by Israel by most governments, and discussions of annexation have been rekindled, with Israeli ministers calling for the area to be annexed. This rhetoric coincides with settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank, with a sharp rise in violence observed. The U.N. noted a significant increase in Palestinian child casualties in the West Bank, while over 44,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed by Israeli forces since October 7.
In the midst of these developments, the U.S. has maintained its commitment to Israel’s security, urging Israel to address humanitarian conditions in Gaza and secure the release of all hostages, including U.S. citizens. The far-right settlers in Israel see the current climate as an opportunity to advance their agenda, with some even discussing further settlement expansions in Gaza and South Lebanon.
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