Far-right Israeli security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is seen near the illegal Maale Adumim settlement, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. (Photo by Reuters)

Far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has authorized personal firearm permits for residents of 18 more illegal West Bank settlements amid growing settler violence aimed at displacing Palestinians.

According to a statement released on Wednesday from his office, the decision applies to settlements in the occupied West Bank and is part of an expansion of Ben-Gvir`s so-called firearms reform policy.

Under the new decision, those living in the recently integrated settlements can now apply for personal gun licenses. The minister`s office has purportedly characterized this initiative as a step towards enhancing self-defense, improving personal security, and strengthening the emergency response capabilities of settlement teams.

Ben-Gvir noted that over 240,000 settlers have obtained gun permits following the recent policy expansion - a significant increase compared to the approximately 8,000 permits issued each year in the past, which he described as an unprecedented figure.

He alleged that numerous armed settlers had thwarted Palestinian reprisal operations prior to the arrival of Israeli forces, claiming that "weapons save lives."

The newly approved list includes settlements across the northern, central and southern West Bank as well as the settlement of Goder in the Jordan Valley.

"I am pleased today to approve the addition of 18 more settlements in Judea and Samaria to the list of communities eligible for personal firearms," Ben-Gvir said. "They deserve the basic and moral right to protect themselves and their families."

Ben-Gvir initiated a policy to broaden civilian access to firearms, including among unauthorized settlers in the West Bank, in late 2023, coinciding with the onset of Israel`s genocidal campaign in Gaza. This decision has generated significant debate within the Israeli-occupied territories, especially in light of a number of accidental shootings that led to Israeli casualties.

Meanwhile, illegal Israeli settlers regularly launch armed assaults on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, aiming to forcibly displace communities and confiscate land, with violence escalating significantly since October 2023.

Palestinian authorities report that the recent escalation has resulted in over 1,100 fatalities among Palestinians, with approximately 11,000 individuals injured and over 21,000 abductions made throughout the West Bank.

The development came on the same day that Israeli settlers set up a new outpost in Khan al-Ahmar, located to the east of occupied al-Quds, and erected tents on Palestinian land situated south of Nablus.

Hani Odeh, the leader of Qusra`s municipal council, reported that settlers began bulldozing village lands early Wednesday morning and set up tents in the area referred to as Ras Ain Ainyah.

He expressed concern that the villages, particularly Qusra, are now encircled by settlements on the north, east, and south sides. If the western side is also taken over by settlers, it would result in the village being completely surrounded.

Later that evening, a large group of settlers, supported by Israeli forces, launched an assault on the residents of Qusra. Eyewitness accounts described intense gunfire and fierce confrontations. In response, local Palestinians stood their ground to protect their village, resulting in clashes.

More than 700,000 Israelis live in over 230 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East al-Quds.

The international community views the settlements as illegal under international law and the Geneva Conventions due to their construction on occupied territories. The UN Security Council has condemned Israel`s settlement activities in several resolutions.

In July 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) declared Israel`s decades-long occupation of historical Palestine illegal. The ICJ demanded the evacuation of all existing settlements in the West Bank and East al-Quds. It was mere words.