Israeli settlers accused of using cover of war to build more settlements

In Beita village, West Bank, Palestinians regularly protest against Israeli settlements and have experienced heightened military crackdowns since October 7th. Demonstrations, often responded to with tear gas and live ammunition, highlight rising tensions due to the ongoing expansion of Israeli settlements, despite international demands for their removal. The new settlement of Eviatar, supported by ultra-hardline settlers and government backing, complicates the prospects for a two-state solution. Rising violence and Israeli military actions have boosted support for Hamas in the West Bank, which Israelis view as a security threat. Meanwhile, radical settlers, driven by far-right ideologies, see the conflict as a chance to reclaim Gaza, despite international opposition. This situation shows an increasing divide and a lack of diplomatic solutions, as settlers seek expansion and see Palestinians as ideological foes instead of an ethnic group.