Israel tightens grip on occupied West Bank with governance changes

In February 2026, Israel implemented governance changes in the occupied West Bank. These changes, according to Palestinians and their supporters, effectively legalize Israeli settlements. The location of these changes is the occupied West Bank. Critics argue that the new rules violate the Oslo Accords and strip Palestinians of their rights. Al Jazeera reports that these changes represent a tightening of Israel's control over the West Bank. The motivation behind the changes, according to critics, is to further entrench Israeli settlements in the region.