The Palestinian presidency warned on Monday that any 'Israeli' move to annex parts of the West Bank or impose sovereignty over it would be “illegal” and would completely undermine prospects for security and stability in the region and beyond.

 

Presidential spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh said such attempts, like settlement expansion, are “condemned, rejected, and constitute a blatant violation of international law and United Nations resolutions.”

 

Clear violation of international law

Abu Rudeineh stressed that annexation plans contradict the very foundations of international legitimacy, citing several binding UN Security Council resolutions, including 242 (1967), 338 (1973), and 2334 (2016), which explicitly deems settlements illegal.

 

He also referenced the International Court of Justice advisory opinion affirming the illegality of the occupation and settlement activities.

“These resolutions nullify any attempt to legitimize Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land,” he said.

 

Undermining two-state solution

According to the spokesperson, 'Israel’s' government is using annexation and escalation in the West Bank to derail international efforts aimed at halting the war in Gaza and the ongoing violence in the West Bank.

 

He said the ultimate goal is to eliminate any chance of achieving the internationally backed two-state solution, as world leaders prepare to gather for the upcoming peace conference in New York on September 22.

 

Multiple messages in critical timing

Analysts note that the timing of the presidency’s statement carries strategic significance:

 

Critical Timing: The warning comes days before the New York peace conference, setting out Palestinian “red lines” for the international community.

Direct Message to Washington: By urging the US administration “not to encourage the occupation,” the presidency implicitly accused Washington of providing Israel with political cover.

Call for International Action: The statement pushes the global community to move from verbal condemnations to tangible steps on the ground.

Clear Palestinian demands

Abu Rudeineh reaffirmed that “the occupation has no sovereignty over any part of Palestinian land,” urging the international community to fully recognize an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, and to enforce UN resolutions guaranteeing the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.