Israel’s cabinet has approved a plan to register large swathes of land in the West Bank, a move criticised by Palestinian authorities as a blatant attempt to legalise the ongoing annexation and expansion of settlements. Officials warned that the decision not only undermines the foundations of Palestinian self-determination but also challenges international law and longstanding UN resolutions.

Palestinian foreign affairs officials described the registration scheme as a mechanism to legitimise land appropriation and the entrenchment of illegal settlements. They emphasised that such actions constitute a concrete step in a broader programme of annexation, exacerbating the historic patterns of oppression, displacement, and systematic marginalisation of Palestinians across the occupied territories.

The authorities urged the international community to respond firmly, calling on the UN Security Council and global legal bodies to oppose what they termed “unilateral and illegal measures.” Palestinian leaders highlighted that these policies further erode the possibility of a negotiated settlement and threaten regional security and stability. The foreign minister also stressed that any durable ceasefire or peace initiative depends on the full respect of Palestinian rights and the immediate cessation of unilateral annexation and settlement expansion.