The United Nations has raised concerns over Israel's escalating actions aimed at bolstering its authority over the West Bank, labeling this trend as a 'gradual de facto annexation' during a recent Security Council meeting. Rosemary DiCarlo, the UN Under-Secretary-General, emphasized the dangers of Israel's expanding governance in the occupied territories, warning that it poses a serious risk to the peace process and the prospect of a Palestinian state.

The Security Council convenes amid the context of heightened tensions as it prepares for the first meeting of a peace council led by US President Donald Trump. Yvette Cooper, the British Foreign Secretary and chair of the meeting, remarked on the imperative to prevent the destabilization of the West Bank and to preserve opportunities for a future Palestinian state, highlighting the international community's commitment to finding a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.

In response to the UN's criticisms, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar defended his country's actions by asserting the historical and documented legitimacy of their claim to the land, arguing that no other nation has a stronger justification for its existence in that region. This defensive stance illustrates the complicated dynamics at play in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where historical, political, and security narratives intersect, making resolution efforts increasingly challenging.