Bangladesh condemns Israeli move to impose West Bank sovereignty

The interim government has condemned Israel's plan to impose its laws on the occupied West Bank, calling the move "a violation of international law and a threat to regional peace."

In a statement on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticised the Israeli Knesset's preliminary approval of draft legislation to assert so-called Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank, bdnews24 reports.

The bill passed its first vote in the 120-member parliament on Wednesday by 25-24 and must clear three more votes to become law. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could still delay or block the measure.

Palestinians regard the West Bank, occupied by Israel since 1967, as part of their future independent state. Last year, the International Court of Justice ruled the occupation unlawful.

Netanyahu had previously supported annexation but postponed the plan to avoid straining relations with the United States and Arab states.

Hardline members of his coalition have repeatedly called for annexation, though the current bill was introduced by MPs outside the government.

Following preliminary approval, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the measure, saying Israel has no sovereignty over Palestinian land.

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

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the West Bank annexation could backfire and threaten the peace process.

The foreign ministry in Dhaka reiterated that Israel continues its "unlawful occupation" through the expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank, in violation of international law, the UN Charter, and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolution 2334.

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

It also welcomed the ICJ's Advisory Opinion issued on Oct 22, 2025, which underscores Israel's obligations under international humanitarian law, including the prohibition on using starvation of civilians as a weapon of warfare.

Reaffirming its long-standing position, the ministry said Bangladesh remains committed to supporting the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.