Israel advances settlement expansion and media control ahead of October election
With parliament dissolved and an October 27 general election set, Israel’s outgoing coalition has accelerated settlement construction, passed controversial legislation on media and conscription, and intensified military operations in Gaza, drawing UN warnings of potential war crimes.
In the week leading up to Israel’s October 27 general election, Israeli forces conducted daily strikes in Gaza, killing dozens of Palestinians, including children and displaced families, while the UN warned of potential war crimes. Simultaneously, the Israeli security cabinet approved over $778 million for new settlements and infrastructure in the occupied West Bank, accompanied by widespread demolitions, land seizures, and settler violence. In Gaza, Defence Minister Israel Katz expressed satisfaction with destruction and proposed new military-style outposts, while humanitarian conditions deteriorated severely. On the political front, Hamas elected Khalil al-Hayya as head of its political bureau, and Israel's outgoing coalition passed legislation on media control and ultra-Orthodox conscription exemptions.
The Israeli security cabinet approved over $778 million for new settlements and road infrastructure in the occupied West Bank. This funding framework facilitated a wave of demolitions and land seizures, with the Civil Administration issuing orders to clear land for proliferating settlement infrastructure. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich endorsed the expansion, with Smotrich describing the move as a "settlement and security revolution" aimed at establishing more than 100 settlements and 160 outposts.
Israeli forces conducted daily strikes in Gaza, killing dozens of Palestinians, including children and displaced families. The UN human rights office warned that the pattern of attacks raises concerns of continuing violations of international humanitarian law, war crimes, and other possible atrocity crimes. Defence Minister Israel Katz, touring northern Gaza, stated he felt satisfaction from the scenes of destruction, which he attributed to deliberate policy, and proposed the establishment of military-style settlement outposts in the region.
Widespread demolitions, land seizures, and settler violence occurred in the West Bank. Israeli forces sealed off towns with earth mounds and barbed-wire fences, while settlers attacked Palestinians with near-total impunity. Livestock theft under military escort became a recurring issue, and entire communities faced restricted movement due to new iron gates and checkpoint closures. The humanitarian situation in Gaza also worsened, with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reporting that 63 percent of households access less than six litres of drinking water a day.
Hamas elected Khalil al-Hayya as head of its political bureau, ending a period of collective leadership following the death of Yahya Sinwar. Meanwhile, Israel’s outgoing coalition passed legislation concerning media control and ultra-Orthodox conscription exemptions before parliament dissolved. The Communications Law hands the government control over broadcast media, while new protections shield ultra-Orthodox men from military service, marking significant policy shifts ahead of the upcoming vote.
