Netanyahu has ordered evacuation of West Bank settler outposts, reports say

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the evacuation of unauthorized settler outposts in the West Bank, according to reports from AFP and Reuters. The order targets outposts established without official state authorization, which typically consist of small groups of settlers living in caravans. While the state has previously demolished some outposts, it has also recognized others and provided them with government funding.

The exact timing of the operation remains unclear. International law and most governments consider Israeli settlements in the West Bank to be illegal, deeming the territory to be occupied under military control. However, Israel maintains that the West Bank is disputed, not occupied. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee emphasized the need to "put the pressure" on the violent settlers, labeling them "terrorists" and urging "serious consequences."

Netanyahu, a far-right politician, has previously described these settlers as a "fringe minority" responsible for settler violence, a claim disputed by human rights groups. The Israeli government has approximately 340 outposts and 146 recognized settlements in the West Bank, with the territory inhabited by 500,000 Israelis and 3 million Palestinians, making up 85% of the area's population.