SAFA- Hamas on Monday condemned Israel's decision to grant city status to the settlement of Givat Ze'ev, built on Palestinian land northwest of occupied Jerusalem, describing the move as a new escalation in settlement expansion aimed at entrenching annexation and undermining the prospects for a Palestinian state.

In a statement, Hamas said the decision forms part of the Israeli government's broader policy of expanding settlements and accelerating what it described as the Judaization of Palestinian land and the forced displacement of Palestinians. It stressed that all Israeli settlement-related measures and legislation are illegal under international law and U.N. resolutions and do not confer any legal claim over occupied Palestinian territory.

The movement said the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and their commitment to their land remain the primary obstacle to Israeli efforts to impose new realities on the ground and undermine Palestinian national rights.

Hamas warned that expanding settlements, upgrading them to cities, and linking them together would further fragment the occupied West Bank, isolate occupied Jerusalem, and weaken the viability of an independent Palestinian state.

It called on Palestinians to strengthen their presence in areas targeted by settlement expansion and intensify efforts to confront Israeli settlement policies.

The movement also urged the international community and the United Nations to move beyond statements of condemnation and take concrete measures to halt settlement expansion and hold the Israeli government accountable for its continued violations of international law.

The statement came after Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, head of the Israeli Central Command, signed a decision on Sunday granting Givat Ze'ev city status, replacing its previous designation as a local council. The change gives the settlement broader administrative powers and additional government funding to accelerate construction, expand its boundaries, and attract more Israeli settlers.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the decision is part of efforts to strengthen the settlement enterprise, describing it as a "protective wall" against the establishment of a Palestinian state. Givat Ze'ev Mayor Yossi Asraf welcomed the decision as a "historic moment," saying it would expand municipal services and support the growth of the settlement, which is home to more than 35,000 Israeli settlers.