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Ìýsettlers are looking to take overÌýan area that was once declared a "nature reserve" in the occupied , in a bid to turn itÌýinto a new , local Palestinians have warned.

SettlersÌýstarted to build tents and animal sheds on WednesdayÌýin the Bayyoud area, east of Ein Al-Hilweh community in the north of the occupied Jordan Valley, addingÌýthat the move wasÌýin preparation of building a new illegal settlement on occupied Palestinian land,ÌýMutaz Bisharat, from the Tubas governorate, told PalestinianÌýnews 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 and , 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.