PNA Slams Israeli ‘State Land’ Decision as Defacto Annexation

CrossFireArabia
News
February 15, 2026

The Palestinian Presidency has warned of the serious consequences of the Israeli government’s decision allowing it to declare lands in the occupied West Bank as state property, describing the move as a grave escalation and a flagrant violation of international law.

In a statement issued Sunday, the Presidency said the decision to classify West Bank land as state land under Israeli authority constitutes a direct threat to security and stability. It stressed that the measure amounts to de facto annexation of occupied Palestinian territory and signals the beginning of the implementation of annexation plans aimed at entrenching the occupation through illegal settlement expansion.

The Presidency said the step effectively nullifies signed agreements and clearly contradicts resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, particularly Resolution 2334, which affirms that all Israeli settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, has no legal validity and constitutes a violation under international law.

According to the statement, these unilateral measures will not grant the Israeli occupation any legitimacy over the land of the State of Palestine and will not alter the legal and historical status that the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip are occupied Palestinian territories under international law.

The Presidency called on the international community — foremost the UN Security Council and the United States administration — to intervene immediately to halt the dangerous Israeli actions and to compel Israel to comply with international law and international legitimacy resolutions in order to de-escalate tensions and restore stability according to WAFA.

CrossFireArabia

Dr. Marwan Asmar holds a PhD from Leeds University and is a freelance writer specializing on the Middle East. He has worked as a journalist since the early 1990s in Jordan and the Gulf countries, and been widely published, including at Albawaba, Gulf News, Al Ghad, World Press Review and others.

News

Did Little Malak Deserve Death?

CrossFireArabia
June 9, 2026

Palestinian child Malak Qaddoum has succumbed to injuries she sustained in an Israeli strike west of Gaza two days ago.

She is the third member of her family to be murdered after her father and sister were also murdered.

News

Occupied Palestinian Territories in Crisis

CrossFireArabia
June 9, 2026

The Occupied Palestinian Territory is facing a severe humanitarian crisis, with both Gaza and the West Bank experiencing unprecedented levels of violence and deprivation.

In Gaza, following the collapse of a brief pause in hostilities in March 2025, Israeli forces resumed intensive bombardment while maintaining a complete blockade that has now entered its eighth week, preventing all humanitarian aid and commercial supplies from entering.

This has left Gaza’s 2.2 million residents facing starvation as food stocks deplete, bakeries cease operations due to lack of flour and fuel, and nearly 90% of the population remains displaced with critical infrastructure almost entirely destroyed.

A new U.S.-backed peace plan led to a pause in hostilities agreement coming into effect on 10 October 2025, raising cautious hopes for increased humanitarian access and a potential reduction in hostilities after months of relentless violence. However, despite the pause in hostilities, sporadic violations, limited aid entry, and continued displacement highlight the fragility of the pause in hostilities and the deep humanitarian strain that persists across Gaza.

Meanwhile, the West Bank has seen a dramatic escalation in military operations, particularly since the launch of “Operation Iron Wall” in January 2025, which has resulted in mass displacement of Palestinians and widespread destruction across refugee camps. Israeli forces have displaced approximately 40,000 people, with officials stating that residents will not be allowed to return for at least a year, while expanded checkpoints and military presence severely restrict movement between Palestinian cities.

International organisations and UN bodies have expressed increasing concern about systematic violations of international humanitarian law in the West Bank, including accelerating settlement expansion, land reclassification and forced displacement that multiple observers warn are driving de facto annexation dynamics.

These concerns have intensified following the International Court of Justice’s 2024 advisory opinion on the illegality of the prolonged occupation and the Israeli authorities’ security cabinet decisions of 8 February 2026 expanding civil and administrative control over West Bank land and governance.

Reliefweb