Eight Muslim-majority countries have sharply criticised Israel over what they describe as an attempt to impose “unlawful Israeli sovereignty” in the occupied West Bank, following the approval of new measures that expand Israeli authority and ease land purchases by settlers.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the Saudi Foreign Ministry, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates denounced the move “in the strongest terms”.
Security Cabinet Approval Raises Alarm
Israel’s new regulations were approved on Sunday by its security cabinet and are expected to significantly affect land ownership, administrative oversight and security procedures in the occupied Palestinian territory.
The The Times of Israel, citing a joint statement from far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defence Minister Israel Katz, reported that the measures would allow Jewish Israelis to purchase private property in the West Bank and grant public access to land registries that were previously confidential.
Israeli media also said the changes would permit Israeli authorities to manage certain religious sites and increase enforcement and supervision in areas currently administered by the Palestinian Authority.
Officials Signal Intent to Block Palestinian Statehood
Smotrich said the measures were designed to strengthen Israel’s presence across what he referred to as the “Land of Israel”, adding that the move aimed to undermine prospects for a future Palestinian state.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas described the decision as a de facto annexation of occupied territory and urged Donald Trump and the United Nations Security Council to intervene.
Palestinians Warn of Escalation
Reporting from the West Bank town of Birzeit, Al Jazeera correspondent Nida Ibrahim said Palestinians view the decision as the most serious annexation push since Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967.
She noted that the new framework could allow Israeli settlers to legally acquire land and move into Palestinian city centres without restrictions.
International Concern Grows
In their joint statement, the eight Muslim-majority nations warned that Israel is creating “a new legal and administrative reality” that accelerates what they described as illegal annexation and the forced displacement of Palestinians.
They reaffirmed Palestinians’ right to self-determination and statehood, calling on the international community to pressure Israel to halt what they described as a dangerous escalation.
The European Union also criticised the move, describing it as “another step in the wrong direction”.
West Bank Remains a Flashpoint
The West Bank is among the territories Palestinians seek for a future independent state, alongside the Gaza Strip and occupied East Jerusalem. While some areas are under limited Palestinian self-rule, much of the territory remains under Israeli military control.
More than 700,000 Israelis currently live in settlements and outposts in the West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law, while approximately 3.3 million Palestinians reside in the territory.
Israeli military raids, arrests and movement restrictions are frequent, and attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians have increased, often under the protection of Israeli forces.
According to the United Nations, at least 694 Palestinians were displaced from their homes in January alone due to settler violence and harassment — the highest monthly figure since the outbreak of Israel’s war on Gaza in October 2023.