The Palestinian Presidency has sharply criticized Israel's decision to reopen land registration in the West Bank, calling it a violation of international law and a threat to regional stability. In a statement issued on February 15, 2026, Palestinian authorities accused Israel of pursuing de facto annexation through settlement expansion, citing UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which deems all settlements in occupied territories illegal.
Hamas echoed the condemnation, labeling the move an attempt to impose a 'Judaizing settlement reality by force' and urging international actors to protect Palestinian land rights. The decision, approved by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet on Sunday, marks the first systematic land registration effort in the West Bank since 1967. Israeli ministers claim the process will clarify property rights using historical Ottoman, British Mandate, and Jordanian records.
Palestinian officials warn that formalizing Israeli state claims over Area C—a zone under full Israeli administrative control—could irreversibly damage prospects for a two-state solution. Over 60% of the West Bank falls under Area C, where Israel has authorized settlement construction despite broad international opposition.
The dispute underscores deepening tensions as Netanyahu's government advances policies to expand settlements, which most UN member states consider illegal under international law. The West Bank remains central to Palestinian aspirations for statehood, with East Jerusalem envisioned as a future capital.
