Palestine condemns Israeli West Bank land registration as 'null and void'

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry issued a forceful condemnation Sunday of Israel's decision to register vast swaths of occupied West Bank land as "state property," characterizing the measure as legally null and a practical commencement of annexation. In a strongly worded statement, the ministry rejected any attempt to transform Palestinian territories under occupation into state property, warning such actions seek to "legitimize the crime of settlement and annexation" and facilitate continued land seizure.

Legal Framework and International Consensus Violated

The ministry emphasized that the Israeli measure directly contradicts UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which affirms the illegality of settlements across occupied Palestinian territory including East Jerusalem. It also cited the International Court of Justice's July 2024 advisory opinion declaring Israel's occupation unlawful and calling for evacuation of all settlements. The statement described the decision as a "flagrant violation of international peace and security principles" and a direct challenge to the international legal order.

Oslo Accords Undermined, Annexation Accelerated

Sunday's approval represents the first such land registration measure since Israel's 1967 occupation and follows last week's Security Cabinet decisions expanding settlement construction. The Oslo II Accord strictly limits Palestinian land registration to Areas A and B, with Area C—approximately 61% of the West Bank—remaining under full Israeli control. The new measures include repealing laws barring land sales to settlers, unsealing ownership records, and transferring building permit authority to Israeli administration. The ministry called on the Security Council and international bodies to take urgent action deterring these "unilateral illegal measures" that undermine regional stability and destroy prospects for a two-state solution.