Outcry as Israel Claims West Bank Land

The Israeli government has formally approved a new legal framework to register land in the West Bank as “state property,” a move that has prompted immediate international outrage.

The measure, passed late Sunday, focuses specifically on Area C, a region that comprises roughly 60% of the West Bank and is currently under Israeli administrative and security control.

While the Israeli Foreign Ministry defends the move as a necessary step to resolve legal disputes and clarify ownership rights, critics and Arab nations view it as a significant step toward the de facto annexation of Palestinian territory.

International reaction has been swift and severe.

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, and Jordan issued statements condemning the move as a violation of international law that creates a new administrative reality on the ground.

The European Union has also called on Israel to reverse the decision, describing it as a “new escalation” that undermines the foundations of a future two-state solution.

The Palestinian Authority has gone further, calling for urgent international intervention to stop what they describe as the systematic stripping of Palestinian land rights.

On the ground, the Israeli anti-settlement watchdog Peace Now has labelled the policy a “mega land grab.”

The organisation warns that the registration process will likely be used to dispossess Palestinians of land they have traditionally farmed or inhabited, as many lack the formal documentation required by the new Israeli system.

This policy follows a series of other recent measures, including allowing Israeli citizens to purchase land directly in areas previously administered by the Palestinian Authority and expanding Israeli control over various religious sites.

The demographic landscape of the region continues to shift as tensions rise.

Rights groups have reported an increase in settler attacks against Palestinians, while UN officials warn of rapid steps to permanently change the territory’s makeup.

While U.S. President Donald Trump has previously stated that he opposes full annexation for the sake of regional stability, his administration has notably refrained from directly criticising these specific new administrative measures.

Currently, over 500,000 Israelis live in settlements in the West Bank, alongside roughly three million Palestinians.