the Palestinian presidency expressed its categorical rejection of the Israeli calls, considering them "part of a comprehensive war against the Palestinian people" and "an attempt to liquidate the Palestinian cause," stressing that these steps "will keep the region on the brink of a volcano."
This came in a statement by Palestinian presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh, published by the official Palestinian news agency, WAFA, following Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin's call to "impose sovereignty" over the West Bank.
The Palestinian presidency condemned "the dangerous Israeli calls for the so-called imposition of Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank, as stated by an Israeli minister."
It affirmed its "complete rejection" of these calls, which it said "contradict international legitimacy resolutions and international law, all of which affirm the necessity of ending the occupation from all Palestinian territories occupied in 1967, including the West Bank and East Jerusalem."
For its part, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the annexation calls "in the strongest terms" and affirmed its rejection of these statements, which "violate international law." It considered them aimed at "entrenching the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories and undermining the right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state on the June 4, 1967, borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital."
The Jordanian Foreign Ministry also strongly condemned the statements, describing them as a "flagrant violation of international law and Israel's obligations as the occupying power," stressing that "Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories," and that these calls reflect "extremist policies that do not serve peace."
Jordanian Foreign Ministry spokesman Sufian Qudah stressed that Israel's practices in the West Bank—including incursions, settlement construction, and displacement—constitute a violation of international law, most notably UN Security Council Resolution 2334 and the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice in July 2024, which affirmed the illegality of the continued occupation and settlement activity.
For its part, Saudi Arabia expressed its condemnation and denunciation of the Israeli official's statements, considering them a "clear violation of international legitimacy resolutions." It affirmed its rejection of any attempts to expand settlements on Palestinian lands, emphasizing the need to "obligate the Israeli authorities to abide by international resolutions."
For its part, Qatar condemned the Israeli statements, considering them "an extension of the occupation's settlement, colonial, and racist policies, and a flagrant violation of international law and UN Security Council Resolution 2334."
Doha stressed "the urgent need for international community solidarity to confront the occupation's dangerous escalation policies that threaten regional security, including its ongoing crimes in the West Bank, its violations of religious sanctities, and its plans to Judaize Jerusalem."
Kuwait also expressed its strong condemnation and denunciation of "the statements made by a number of representatives of the Israeli occupation authorities, calling for expanding the scope of the occupation to include lands located in the West Bank of the State of Palestine."
During his meeting with Yossi Dagan, head of the Northern West Bank Settlements Council, Israeli Justice Minister Gantz said that "the time has come to impose sovereignty" over the West Bank. These remarks were welcomed by the Likud party and its 14 ministers, as well as Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, who called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to make an official decision to annex the West Bank.
Calls are escalating within Israel, the occupying power, to annex the West Bank, as Tel Aviv, with US support, has been waging a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023.
The genocide left more than 191,000 Palestinians dead and wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 11,000 missing. Hundreds of thousands were displaced, and famine claimed the lives of many, including dozens of children.
In parallel with the annihilation of Gaza, the Israeli occupation army and settlers escalated their attacks in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, resulting in the deaths of at least 988 Palestinians and the injury of approximately 7,000 others, according to Palestinian data.
The United Nations affirms that settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories are "illegal" and undermine the prospects for a two-state solution, while calling on the Palestinian Authority and the international community to compel Israel to abide by international law and halt its aggressive policies against the Palestinian people.
