Zionism

Arab states condemn Israeli bills for West Bank annexation as ‘flagrant violation of international law’

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The Kneset building is seen in Jerusalem, Israel on 19 March, 2025. [Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images]

Arab countries decried the Israeli Knesset’s preliminary passage of two bills on Wednesday to annex the occupied West Bank and the Ma’ale Adumim settlement bloc in East Jerusalem as a “flagrant violation of international law,” Anadolu reports.

The Knesset approved the two bills in a preliminary reading on Wednesday. Both drafts still must pass three additional readings to become law.

In a statement, Jordanian Foreign Ministry spokesman Fouad al-Majali called the move “a flagrant violation of international law and a blow to the two-state solution, as well as to the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination and to establish their independent, sovereign state on the June 4, 1967 lines, with occupied Jerusalem as its capital.”

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry denounced the Israeli bills as “a blatant assault on the historical rights of the Palestinian people and a clear violation of international law and UN resolutions.”

The Saudi Foreign Ministry expressed the kingdom’s “complete rejection of all settlement and expansionist violations carried out by the Israeli occupation authorities.” It reiterated support for the Palestinian people’s “inalienable and historical right to establish an independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital in accordance with relevant international legitimacy resolutions.”

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry likewise strongly rejected the Israeli bills, emphasizing that the occupied territories in Gaza and the West Bank, including Jerusalem, “form a single geographic unit, over which Israel has no sovereignty.”

READ: Israeli Knesset passes preliminary reading of bill to annex occupied West Bank

“Sovereignty belongs exclusively to the Palestinian people and their leadership, represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization, based on the natural, historical, and legal rights of the Palestinian people in their homeland, Palestine, and its close connection to international law, human rights, and United Nations resolutions,” it said in a statement.

The Palestinian group Hamas also rejected the Israeli bills, calling Israel’s efforts to annex the occupied West Bank “null and void.”

“The occupation’s frantic attempts to annex the West Bank are illegal and invalid. They do not change the fact that the West Bank is Palestinian land under history, international law, and the 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice,” it said in a statement.

The Knesset vote came despite opposition from US President Donald Trump, who said last month that he would not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. It also came as US Vice President JD Vance is currently visiting Israel.

Annexing the West Bank would effectively end the possibility of implementing a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as outlined in UN resolutions.

Israeli attacks have escalated across the West Bank since October 2023, killing more than 1,056 Palestinians, injuring 10,300, and detaining over 20,000 others, according to Palestinian figures.

In a landmark opinion last July, the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza's hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Experiencing issues with this image not appearing. I suspect because it's so critical of Zionist Keir Starmer's support of and complicity in Israel's genocides.
Genocide denier and Current UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is quoted that he supports Zionism without qualification. He also confirms that UK air force support has been essential in Israel’s mass-murdering genocide. Includes URLs https://www.declassifieduk.org/keir-starmers-100-spy-flights-over-gaza-in-support-of-israel/ and https://youtu.be/O74hZCKKdpA
Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.
Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.

Continue ReadingArab states condemn Israeli bills for West Bank annexation as ‘flagrant violation of international law’

Jewish figures urge UN, world leaders to sanction Israel for Gaza actions

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Members of the Jewish community attend a rally in Victoria Embankment Gardens organised by Na’amod UK to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, for Israeli and Palestinian ‘hostages’ to be exchanged and for an end to the siege of Gaza on 19th November 2023 in London, United Kingdom. [Mark Kerrison/In Pictures via Getty Images]

Hundreds of Jewish public figures worldwide have appealed to the UN and global leaders to impose sanctions on Israel for “unconscionable” acts in the Gaza Strip that amount to genocide, The Guardian reported Wednesday, Anadolu reports.

An open letter signed by more than 450 individuals, including former Israeli officials, writers and award-winning artists, demands accountability for Israel’s actions in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

“We have not forgotten that so many of the laws, charters, and conventions established to safeguard and protect all human life were created in response to the Holocaust,” it said. “Those safeguards have been relentlessly violated by Israel.”

Among the signatories are former Israeli Knesset speaker Avraham Burg, peace negotiator Daniel Levy, authors Michael Rosen and Naomi Klein, filmmaker Jonathan Glazer and actors Wallace Shawn and Ilana Glazer.

Israel transfers 30 more Palestinian bodies to Gaza, some showing signs of abuse: Health Ministry

The appeal urged governments to respect rulings of international courts, stop the transfer of arms, enforce targeted sanctions and ensure humanitarian access to Gaza. It denounces “false claims of antisemitism against those advocating for peace and justice.”

“We bow our heads in immeasurable sorrow as the evidence accumulates that Israel’s actions will be judged to have met the legal definition of genocide,” said the letter.

The Guardian noted that recent polls show growing concern among US Jews, with 61% saying Israel has committed war crimes and 39% believing it is committing genocide.

“Our solidarity with Palestinians is not a betrayal of Judaism, then, but a fulfillment of it,” the letter added.

Since October 2023, the Israeli war in Gaza has killed more than 68,200 people and injured over 170,300, according to the Palestine Health Ministry.​​​​​​​

Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza's hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Experiencing issues with this image not appearing. I suspect because it's so critical of Zionist Keir Starmer's support of and complicity in Israel's genocides.
Genocide denier and Current UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is quoted that he supports Zionism without qualification. He also confirms that UK air force support has been essential in Israel’s mass-murdering genocide. Includes URLs https://www.declassifieduk.org/keir-starmers-100-spy-flights-over-gaza-in-support-of-israel/ and https://youtu.be/O74hZCKKdpA
Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.
Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.

Continue ReadingJewish figures urge UN, world leaders to sanction Israel for Gaza actions

Israeli Knesset passes preliminary reading of bill to annex occupied West Bank

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This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich displays a map of an area near the settlement of Maale Adumim, a land corridor known as E1, outside Jerusalem in the occupied West Bank, on August 14, 2025. [Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images]

The Israeli Knesset (parliament) passed a bill in its preliminary reading on Wednesday to annex the occupied West Bank, Anadolu reports.

A Knesset statement said the bill was approved in a preliminary reading “to apply the sovereignty of the State of Israel to the territories of Judea and Samaria (West Bank).”

The statement said 25 lawmakers supported the bill, introduced by Avi Maoz, leader of the far-right Noam Party, while 24 opposed it. The Knesset has 120 members in total.

The bill still must pass three additional readings to become law. It will now go to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee for further deliberations.

READ: Israel shuts down orphan care association in West Bank, seizes equipment

The daily Yedioth Ahronoth also reported that another bill to annex the Ma’ale Adumim settlement bloc in the occupied West Bank also passed its preliminary reading in the Knesset’s plenary session with 32 votes in favor and nine against. The bill was introduced by Avigdor Lieberman, head of the Yisrael Beiteinu Party.

The vote came despite opposition from US President Donald Trump, who said last month that he would not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. It also came as US Vice President JD Vance is currently visiting Israel.

Annexing the West Bank would effectively end the possibility of implementing a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as outlined in UN resolutions.

Israeli attacks have escalated across the occupied West Bank since October 2023, killing more than 1,056 Palestinians, injuring 10,300, and detaining over 20,000 others, according to Palestinian figures.

In a landmark opinion last July, the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

READ: US vice president meets with Israeli premier to discuss Gaza ceasefire

Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza's hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Experiencing issues with this image not appearing. I suspect because it's so critical of Zionist Keir Starmer's support of and complicity in Israel's genocides.
Genocide denier and Current UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is quoted that he supports Zionism without qualification. He also confirms that UK air force support has been essential in Israel’s mass-murdering genocide. Includes URLs https://www.declassifieduk.org/keir-starmers-100-spy-flights-over-gaza-in-support-of-israel/ and https://youtu.be/O74hZCKKdpA
Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.
Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.

Continue ReadingIsraeli Knesset passes preliminary reading of bill to annex occupied West Bank

World court rules Israel must allow, facilitate impartial human rights groups like Red Cross, 3rd-state relief efforts in Gaza

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ICJ hearing held on 16 May 2024 [Selman Aksünger/Anadolu Agency]

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on Wednesday that Israel is obliged under the Geneva Convention to agree to and facilitate relief schemes provided by third states and impartial humanitarian groups, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), to ensure that sufficient aid reaches the Gaza Strip, Anadolu reports.

In its detailed opinion, the world court underscored that Israel, as the occupying power, carries an unconditional duty to ensure the local population’s basic needs are met.

It found that the population of Gaza has been “inadequately” supplied within the meaning of Article 59 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and that Israel must therefore permit and assist humanitarian relief operations.

The court said that following the events of Oct. 7, 2023, Israel severely restricted the entry of aid and even blocked the delivery of humanitarian and medical supplies starting this March 2, allowing only limited amounts to resume as of May 19.

Rejecting Israel’s claims that UNRWA staff were affiliated with armed groups, the court stated that “Israel has not substantiated its allegations that a significant part of UNRWA employees are members of Hamas” or what it called “other terrorist organizations.”

READ: Israel transfers 30 more Palestinian bodies to Gaza, some showing signs of abuse: Health Ministry

It also found no evidence of discrimination in the UNRWA’s distribution of aid based on nationality, race, religion, or political opinion.

“The occupying power may never invoke reasons of security to justify the general suspension of all humanitarian activities in occupied territory,” the court said, reiterating that Israel’s obligation to facilitate aid is “unconditional.”

It reaffirmed that the law of occupation applies alongside international humanitarian law governing hostilities, and that Israel must comply with both sets of obligations.

While noting that its opinion focuses on identifying Israel’s legal obligations rather than determining the consequences of any violations, the court stressed that Israel remains bound under international law to respect, protect, and fulfill the human rights of Palestinians in the occupied territories.

“Israel, as an occupying power, is not entitled to sovereignty over or to exercise sovereignty powers in any part of the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem,” the court said.

It also reiterated Israel’s obligation not to use starvation of the civilian population as a method of warfare.

READ: UN calls for more shelter aid for Gaza before winter

Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza's hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Experiencing issues with this image not appearing. I suspect because it's so critical of Zionist Keir Starmer's support of and complicity in Israel's genocides.
Genocide denier and Current UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is quoted that he supports Zionism without qualification. He also confirms that UK air force support has been essential in Israel’s mass-murdering genocide. Includes URLs https://www.declassifieduk.org/keir-starmers-100-spy-flights-over-gaza-in-support-of-israel/ and https://youtu.be/O74hZCKKdpA
Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.
Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.

Continue ReadingWorld court rules Israel must allow, facilitate impartial human rights groups like Red Cross, 3rd-state relief efforts in Gaza

Funeral held in Gaza for 54 prisoners returned by Israel under ceasefire deal

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This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unidentified bodies of 54 Palestinians, handed over by Israel under the cease-fire and release all Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners agreement between Israel and Hamas, are seen during a funeral ceremony held in front of Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, Gaza, on October 22, 2025. [Abdallah F.s. Alattar – Anadolu Agency]

A funeral procession was held in central Gaza on Wednesday for 54 Palestinian prisoners returned by Israel under a ceasefire agreement, Anadolu reports.

Hundreds of Palestinians gathered in Deir al-Balah city to bid farewell to the deceased prisoners, who could not be identified as their features were blurred as a result of torture.

Ismail Al-Thawabta, director of the Gaza Government Media Office, told a press conference that signs of torture, including hanging marks, ropes around necks, and close-range gunshot wounds, were visible on the bodies.

Medical teams also documented hand- and foot-binding with plastic restraints, blindfolds, burns, fractures, and evidence of being run over by tank treads, he added.

“These acts constitute conclusive evidence of field executions,” Thawabteh said, calling on the international community and the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate and hold Israel and its supporters accountable.

Huda Hammad, a Palestinian woman searching for a relative, said she comes every day to identify her niece’s son.

READ: EU keeps sanctions on Israel ‘on the table’ despite Gaza ceasefire

“But we could not as there were no features left.”

She added that some bodies were mutilated or dismembered, stressing the necessity of DNA testing for the identification of the bodies.

Palestinian families attempt to identify bodies through remaining features or clothing, as most bodies have been received without names or documents. Gaza’s testing facilities remain limited due to a years-long Israeli blockade and the destruction of laboratories.

Since October 14, Gaza’s Health Ministry has received 165 bodies through the Red Cross under the ceasefire agreement that took effect on Oct. 10 between Hamas and Israel.

Phase one of the truce included the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The plan also envisages the rebuilding of Gaza and the establishment of a new governing mechanism without Hamas.

Since October 2023, the Israeli genocidal war has killed over 68,200 people and injured more than 170,300, according to the Health Ministry.

READ: UN calls for more shelter aid for Gaza before winter

Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza's hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Experiencing issues with this image not appearing. I suspect because it's so critical of Zionist Keir Starmer's support of and complicity in Israel's genocides.
Genocide denier and Current UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is quoted that he supports Zionism without qualification. He also confirms that UK air force support has been essential in Israel’s mass-murdering genocide. Includes URLs https://www.declassifieduk.org/keir-starmers-100-spy-flights-over-gaza-in-support-of-israel/ and https://youtu.be/O74hZCKKdpA
Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.
Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.

Continue ReadingFuneral held in Gaza for 54 prisoners returned by Israel under ceasefire deal