Palestine Slams Israeli “State Land” Move as Illegal Annexation Bid
_By Desire Tshuma_
Ramallah – The State of Palestine on Thursday issued a scathing condemnation of Israel’s latest decision to re‑classify large swathes of occupied West Bank territory as “state land,” describing the move as a deliberate step toward annexation and a flagrant violation of international law.
In a press release, Palestinian officials said the Israeli government’s action “aims at imposing illegitimate sovereignty, entrenching settlements, and establishing a new legal and administrative reality in the occupied West Bank.” The statement warned that such measures undermine the long‑standing two‑state solution and threaten regional peace.
Ambassador *Tamer Almassri*, Palestine’s permanent representative to the United Nations, was quoted saying, “These decisions constitute a blatant violation of international law, undermine the two‑state solution, and infringe upon the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent and sovereign state with occupied Jerusalem as its capital.” He added that “Israeli policies of land confiscation or the restriction of the Palestinian people’s freedom and movement will not establish any legitimacy nor strip the Palestinian people of their rights to their homeland.”
The Palestinian leadership called on the international community, the UN Security Council, and relevant legal bodies to “take a firm stand against these unlawful unilateral measures and adopt urgent steps to deter the occupying power.” They urged immediate action to halt ongoing annexation and settlement activities, warning that failure to do so would jeopardize regional stability and international consensus on the two‑state framework.
The condemnation comes amid escalating tensions across the West Bank, where settlement expansion and land seizures have intensified in recent months. Palestinian civil society groups have reported increased restrictions on movement, demolition of homes, and heightened military presence, all of which they say are part of a broader strategy to cement Israeli control over the territory.
International response has been mixed. Several European nations and human rights organizations have echoed Palestinian concerns, urging Israel to reverse the classification and comply with UN resolutions. However, no concrete measures have yet been announced by the UN Security Council.
As the diplomatic pressure mounts, Palestinian officials say they will continue to push for international intervention and legal accountability. “We will not remain silent while our land is taken and our people’s rights are trampled,” Ambassador Almassri concluded. “The world must act now to protect the future of Palestine and preserve the prospect of a just, lasting peace.”
