Hamas issues statement on Smotrich urging West Bank annexation

Hamas official Abdel Hakim Hanini today, Wednesday, condemned what he called the "aggressive statements" by ‘Israeli’ Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich regarding applying ‘Israeli’ sovereignty over the West Bank.

The Hamas official said the remarks are evidence of a "fascist, colonial approach" by a government that is committing what he called genocide in Gaza and seeking to impose annexation and displacement in the West Bank.

A Warning of More Confrontation

Hanini warned that ‘Israel's’ plans and settlement projects will not achieve its "alleged security" but will instead lead to more defiance and confrontation.

He asserted that "there is no future for a usurping occupier on the land of Palestine, no matter how much its tyranny and aggression escalate."

Smotrich’s statements

Smotrich called on Wednesday for the annexation of the occupied West Bank, in response to moves by several countries to recognise a Palestinian state.

"The time has come to apply Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria," Smotrich said at a press conference in Jerusalem, using the ‘Israeli’ term for the West Bank.

"The map of sovereignty must ensure that an Arab terrorist state does not arise along our side. It must prevent the establishment of the Palestinian state. And therefore no settlements, no area C, no partial sovereignty,” Smotrich said.

“Keep this firmly in mind — the slogan is : maximum land with minimum population. This is also the way to preserve a clear Jewish majority in the State of Israel, both Jewish and democratic."

Smotrich also threatened to “destroy the Palestinian Authority if it opposed such a move.

"If the Palestinian Authority dares to raise its head and try to harm us, we will destroy them just as we are doing to Hamas. We will not allow a security threat near us."