Israeli settlers look to turn Jordan Valley 'nature reserve' into settlement, Palestinians warn

Israeli settlers are looking to take over an area that was once declared a "nature reserve" in the occupied Jordan Valley, in a bid to turn it into a new illegal settlement, local Palestinians have warned.

Settlers started to build tents and animal sheds on Wednesday in the Bayyoud area, east of Ein Al-Hilweh community in the north of the occupied Jordan Valley, adding that the move was in preparation of building a new illegal settlement on occupied Palestinian land, Mutaz Bisharat, from the Tubas governorate, told Palestinian news agency Wafa.

Israeli authorities declared the land as a "nature reserve", in a bid to stop Palestinians from developing it, Bisharat added.

Palestinians in the Jordan Valley often suffer environmental effects of Israel's occupation, which include solar panels being confiscated and refusal of access to water, along with routine illegal settlement expansion and settler violence.

Israel has occupied the West Bank illegally since 1967, and commits various abuses against Palestinian residents, human rights groups say.

More than 700,000 Jewish Israelis live in settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, in constructions considered illegal under international law.

The Oslo agreement of 1995 divided the occupied West Bank into three zones: Area A, Area B, and Area C.

Area A is under the administrative and security control of the Palestinian Authority (PA). Area B's administration is controlled by the PA, with Israel controlling security. Area C is under full administrative and security control of Israel.

The Jordan Valley falls within the West Bank's "Area C", which is fully controlled by Israel's army.

Under Israeli military law, Palestinians cannot build structures in the area without permits, which are typically refused, and demolitions are common.