MOFA Condemns Escalating Israeli Aggression on Occupied West Bank

June 19, 2023

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Gaza follows with great concern the escalating aggression by the “Israeli occupation” against our defenseless people in the occupied West Bank. The “Israeli” government led by the terrorist “Netanyahu” issued a decision to facilitate and accelerate the approval procedures for building settlements. According to the decision, the extremist terrorist minister of the “Religious Zionist Party”, Bezalel Smotrich, will have the final word on the matter. The decision comes amidst “Israeli” plans to approve more than 4,000 new settlement units in the occupied West Bank.

This dangerous decision comes in conjunction with escalating and recurring invasions of cities, towns, and refugee camps, the latest of which occurred on Monday morning, June 19^th,2023, and led to the death of 4 people, including a child, and the injury of more than 30 citizens, until the writing this statement. This invasion took place amidst increasing “Israeli” threats to launch a wide-scale invasion of the West Bank, similar to the massacres committed by the “Israeli occupation” in 2002.

This decision is considered an announcement to annex the West Bank to “Israel” slowly and gradually in a way that doesn’t stir international condemnations or media sensation. It is also an embodiment of the “Israeli” apartheid regime and a flagrant violation of all international rules and covenants that criminalize settlement activities and call for putting an end to them.

We call on the international community to take immediate steps to control the occupation and put limits to its settlement policies that dangerously undermine the safety and stability of the region. The ministry also warns of a potential “Israeli” invasion of refugee camps in the West Bank. We also call the supporters of Palestine all over the world to continue their efforts to expose the occupation and promote BDS until the Palestinian people have their legal rights, most importantly the rights to self-determination and establishing an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as capital.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

                                                                    Gaza – Palestine