Global Outcry as Israeli Knesset Approves West Bank Annexation Plan – UN, Arab States Condemn Move as Illegal 🇵🇸⚖️

In a contentious 25-24 vote, Israel’s parliament approved preliminary legislation to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, including the Ma’ale Adumim settlement near East Jerusalem. The bills must pass three more readings to become law, but the move has already drawn fierce backlash from the UN, Palestinian authorities, and Arab nations.:

1️⃣ International Court of Justice (ICJ):

• Presiding Judge Yuji Iwasawa (Japan) condemned Israel’s actions, stating it has no legal sovereignty over occupied Palestinian territories.
• Criticized Israel’s suspension of cooperation with UNRWA, demanding humanitarian access for Palestinians.

2️⃣ Palestinian Authority:

• Called the move an “aggressive violation” of Palestinian sovereignty.
• Urged global powers to halt Israel’s settlement expansions through legal and diplomatic measures.

3️⃣ Hamas:

• Warned that annexation exposes Israel’s “colonial agenda” and violates international law.
• Stressed that the West Bank remains “an inseparable part of Palestine.”

4️⃣ Qatar & Jordan:

• Qatar’s Foreign Ministry demanded UN Security Council intervention to stop Israel’s “expansionist policies.”
• Jordan called the move a “grave breach of international law” that undermines the two-state solution.

5️⃣ Kuwait:

• Condemned the Knesset vote as a direct violation of UNSC Resolution 2334, urging global pressure on Israel.
• The West Bank, occupied since 1967, was divided into Areas A, B, and C under the Oslo Accords (1993).
• Area C (60% of the West Bank) remains under full Israeli control, where illegal settlements continue expanding.

The vote signals Israel’s accelerated annexation agenda, threatening to erase Palestinian statehood prospects. Without strong international resistance, this could plunge the region into deeper conflict.