In a major diplomatic statement, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that Israel’s latest move toward annexing the occupied West Bank could seriously threaten Washington’s ongoing efforts to bring peace to Gaza. Speaking before his departure for Israel, Rubio emphasized that “this is not something we can be supportive of right now,” underscoring the U.S. administration’s commitment to preserving the fragile ceasefire.
The warning comes after far-right members of the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) pushed a preliminary bill aimed at extending Israeli sovereignty over parts of the occupied West Bank — a move that has drawn sharp criticism from Palestinian authorities and the international community.
The Palestinians claim the West Bank, which has been occupied by Israel since 1967, as part of their envisioned independent state. Last year, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel’s occupation is illegal, urging the immediate withdrawal of Israeli settlements.
Despite the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s previous statements supporting annexation, he has refrained from advancing the move due to fears of alienating the U.S. — Israel’s strongest ally — as well as Arab nations that have recently normalized ties with Tel Aviv.
The preliminary bill passed narrowly by 25 votes to 24 in the 120-seat parliament, but experts say its future remains uncertain. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned the decision, asserting that Israel “has no sovereignty over Palestinian land.”
According to reports, Israel has constructed more than 160 illegal settlements, housing over 700,000 Israeli citizens in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, areas that are home to about 3.3 million Palestinians.
As the Trump administration works to push forward its 20-point Gaza Peace Plan, Rubio’s visit to Israel follows trips by U.S. Vice President JD Vance and other American envoys. The plan’s first phase — a ceasefire and humanitarian aid corridor — is already in effect, despite both sides accusing each other of violating its terms.
Rubio reiterated optimism about maintaining the ceasefire:
“Every day there’ll be threats to it, but we’re ahead of schedule in bringing it together,” he said, noting that recent progress signals hope for the next phase — which includes Gaza’s stabilization, Israeli troop withdrawal, and Hamas disarmament.
The Gaza war, which began with the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has resulted in the deaths of more than 68,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry figures cited by the United Nations.
The international community continues to urge restraint from both sides, with the U.S., U.N., and EU calling for renewed diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation.
