ALWAGHT- Hamas and the PIJ describe the move as a breach of international law and an endorsement of “annexation.”
Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) strongly condemned the US decision to offer consular services in the Efrat settlement in the West Bank, calling it a violation of international law and a de facto recognition of Israeli settlements. Hamas described the move as a dangerous precedent that aligns the US with Israel’s settlement expansion and “Judaization” plans, undermining Palestinian national rights.
Hamas criticized the apparent contradiction in US policy, noting that while Washington claims to oppose West Bank annexation, its actions reinforce Israeli sovereignty over occupied Palestinian lands. The movement warned that providing official US services inside settlements represents an attempt to impose new political realities, erasing Palestinian rights and requiring international pressure to halt the move.
The PIJ echoed the condemnation, saying the step disregards international norms and signals US support for Israel’s annexation policies. It emphasized that providing services in settlements is not merely administrative but a political and legal endorsement, consolidating Israeli control over the West Bank and facilitating displacement of Palestinians.
The backlash follows the US embassy’s announcement that consular officers will offer passport services in Efrat, with similar services planned in Beitar Illit, framing the effort as part of outreach to all Americans. Palestinians view this as tacit support for settlement expansion and normalization, contradicting US claims of opposing annexation.
