The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s incursion into the West Bank and his participation in a settlement event “constitutes a reinforcement of the annexation policy and encourages settlers to continue attacks against Palestinians.”
اضافة اعلان
In a statement reported by Anadolu Agency, the Ministry added that Netanyahu and several of his ministers’ participation in the celebration of the Binyamin settlement—marking approval for the construction of 17 new settlements—is “condemnable and part of attempts to change the existing reality and consolidate crimes of genocide, displacement, starvation, and annexation.”
During the ceremony, Netanyahu said: “We will build and retain parts of our land and homeland, and we are doing so,” hinting that his government is “closer than ever to applying sovereignty over the West Bank,” according to Israel’s Channel 7.
He added: “The people of Israel trust in the heroism of its sons. From Judea and Samaria (the biblical term for the West Bank) and throughout the Land of Israel, we protect this land.”
The Palestinian Ministry considered these actions “direct encouragement for the Israeli army and settlers to continue violations against Palestinian citizens, their land, and property,” describing them as part of “ongoing crimes of genocide, displacement, starvation, and annexation.”
It called on the international community to “take the necessary measures and sanctions to stop the occupation’s aggression against our people and act decisively to protect the Palestinian people and achieve a two-state solution.”
Alongside the ongoing genocide in Gaza, Israeli forces and settlers have escalated attacks in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, killing at least 1,016 Palestinians, injuring about 7,000, and arresting over 18,500, according to Palestinian sources.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel, with U.S. support, has carried out genocide in Gaza, resulting in 62,819 Palestinians killed, 158,629 wounded—mostly women and children—over 9,000 missing, hundreds of thousands displaced, and a famine that has killed 303 Palestinians, including 117 children.
(Anadolu)
