Hamas urged the international community to impose sanctions on Israel after new measures described by nearly 20 countries as steps toward de facto annexation of the occupied West Bank. The focus keyword Hamas sanctions Israel appears within the initial context of the developments.
The call came as states across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America jointly condemned Israel’s recent decisions that expand its control over West Bank land and accelerate settlement activity.
International condemnation of Israeli measures
Israel recently approved initiatives supported by far-right ministers that include registering additional West Bank land as state property and allowing Israeli citizens to purchase land directly.
In a joint statement released late Monday, 18 countries including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, France, Spain, Turkey, Indonesia and Brazil said the steps were designed to alter the reality on the ground and advance unacceptable de facto annexation.
The countries warned that such actions directly undermine the viability of a future Palestinian state and threaten any progress toward a negotiated two state solution.
Arab and Islamic organizations join the warning
The League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation endorsed the statement. The Palestinian Authority also signed on, underscoring broad political concern over Israel’s accelerated settlement policies.
The Israeli government approved a record number of settlements in 2025 with monitoring groups reporting 52 to 54 new approvals depending on methodology.
Hamas response and call for sanctions
Hamas welcomed the statement describing it as a positive step against what it called Israel’s expansionist plans and violations of international law and UN resolutions.
The movement urged the signatory countries to implement deterrent sanctions and apply political pressure on the Israeli government to end policies that reinforce annexation settlement expansion and forced displacement across the West Bank.
Hamas said the Israeli measures form part of ongoing aggression affecting Palestinians in both the West Bank and Gaza.
Context of settlement expansion
More than three million Palestinians live in the West Bank alongside over 500 thousand Israeli settlers in settlements and outposts viewed as illegal under international law.
The territory occupied by Israel since 1967 remains central to any future Palestinian state while segments of Israel’s religious right consider it part of what they describe as the historic homeland.
Conclusion:
The widening international response adds pressure on Israel as regional and global actors express concern over policies viewed as undermining prospects for a negotiated political solution.
