International outcry as Israel expands control over West Bank

2026-02-24 - 16:47

Cairo, Egypt – Nineteen Arab, Islamic and European countries have strongly condemned Israel’s recent decisions to expand what they described as its illegal control over the West Bank, warning that the measures constitute a grave breach of international law and a direct threat to regional peace efforts, including the Gaza peace plan. In a joint statement issued on Monday, the states said the latest steps – ranging from the reclassification of Palestinian land as so-called Israeli ‘state land’ to the acceleration of settlement activity and the further entrenchment of Israeli administrative control – represent a dangerous escalation on the ground. The signatories stressed that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory are illegal under international law and that decisions aimed at consolidating or expanding these amount to a flagrant violation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice. They said the measures form part of a clear strategy to alter facts on the ground and move towards what they termed an unacceptable de facto annexation of the West Bank. Such actions, they added, undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts to secure peace and stability, including the 20-point Gaza plan, and erode prospects for meaningful regional integration. The countries called on Israel to immediately rescind the decisions, fulfil its obligations under international law and refrain from any steps that would permanently change the legal and administrative status of the occupied Palestinian territory. Reaffirming their rejection of any measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character or legal status of Palestinian territory occupied since 1967 – including East Jerusalem – the states said they firmly oppose all forms of annexation.