JERICHO, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), Senior Hamas official Abdul Hakim Hanini warned on Thursday of the dangers posed by Israeli settlers taking control of several Palestinian homes in the al-Duyuk al-Tahta area, west of Jericho, under the pretext of purchasing them, as part of preparations to establish a new settlement outpost.
Hanini said the move was part of Israel’s broader settlement policy aimed at expanding settler presence into urban centers across the occupied West Bank.
In a statement, Hanini stressed that such plans would not succeed in displacing Palestinians or breaking their determination to remain on their land, defend their rights and resist displacement, regardless of the extent of Israeli violations and repressive measures.
He called on residents of Jericho and other areas of the West Bank, particularly communities targeted by settlement expansion plans, to strengthen their resilience and collective efforts to confront these measures.
Hanini urged Palestinians not to leave targeted areas vulnerable to settler takeover and called for mobilizing various forms of resistance to thwart Israeli settlement plans.
He added that the current period, marked by continuing Israeli military operations and intensified attempts at annexation and displacement across the West Bank, requires a unified national position and coordinated efforts to confront Israeli violations and settler attacks.
The Hamas official also called on the international community and United Nations institutions to fulfill their responsibilities, exert pressure on Israel and hold its leaders accountable for violations committed against Palestinian land, people and holy sites.
Meanwhile, the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that eight settler families had taken control of eight Palestinian homes in Jericho after purchasing them in a secret operation.
According to the newspaper, the operation was organized discreetly by the far-right settlement movement Nahala, with support from the Binyamin Regional Council.
Security teams reportedly participated in the operation while maintaining secrecy until the settlers had entered and taken possession of the properties.
The newspaper said some of the houses were located on the outskirts of Jericho, near ancient palaces.
It added that the properties were purchased in cash and that the transactions were documented through ownership contracts.
