Bangladesh Condemns Israel’s Move to Annex West Bank

Bangladesh Condemns Israel’s Move to Annex West Bank

Bangladesh has strongly condemned Israel’s plan to impose its domestic laws on the occupied West Bank, describing it as a clear violation of international law and a threat to regional peace and stability.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticised the Israeli Knesset for giving preliminary approval to draft legislation seeking to extend so-called Israeli sovereignty over the occupied territory.

The bill, narrowly passed by 25–24 votes in the 120-member parliament, requires three more readings to become law. Although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could still delay or block it, hardline members of his coalition have long pushed for annexation of the West Bank.

Palestinians view the West Bank—occupied by Israel since 1967—as part of their future independent state. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled last year that the occupation is unlawful under international law.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry also denounced the Israeli move, declaring that Israel holds no sovereignty over Palestinian land.

Israel has so far built around 160 settlements and 700,000 housing units in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, where about 3.3 million Palestinians live. These settlements are considered illegal under international law.

Bangladesh’s foreign ministry reaffirmed that Israel’s occupation and settlement expansion violate international law, the UN Charter, and multiple UN Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2334.

“Bangladesh reaffirms that Israel has no sovereignty over any part of the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem,” the statement said.

It also welcomed the ICJ’s Advisory Opinion of 22 October 2025, which reaffirmed Israel’s obligations under international humanitarian law, including the prohibition of using starvation of civilians as a weapon of war.

Reiterating its principled stance, Bangladesh expressed unwavering support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent, sovereign State of Palestine based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.