An Israeli regulatory body has approved plans for building 5,295 new settler homes throughout the occupied West Bank. An Israel-based settlement watchdog Peace Now, has stated in a press release that the Higher Planning Council of the Civil Administration approved the new construction during a two-day discussion on Wednesday and Thursday.

As part of their legalisation, the three outposts, namely Mahane Gadi, Givat Hanan, and Kedem Arava, were declared neighbourhoods of existing settlements.

The approval of the new settler housing units came a day after Israeli authorities approved the appropriation of 12.7 square km of land in the West Bank, marking the largest single appropriation in about three decades.