Türkiye Condemns Israel’s Move to Register West Bank Territories as ‘State Property,’ Declares Decision Null and Void
Türkiye has issued a stern condemnation regarding Israel’s recent decision to classify substantial tracts of land in the occupied West Bank as “state property.” In an official statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ankara, the Turkish government asserted that Israel holds no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories and categorically rejected the move as legally invalid.
The condemnation follows reports that Israeli authorities have designated approximately 800 hectares (1,976 acres) of land in the Jordan Valley as state land. Ankara described the action as a grave violation of international law and a unilateral step that further jeopardizes the prospects of a lasting peace in the region. Turkish officials labeled the decision “null and void,” emphasizing that such administrative maneuvers cannot alter the legal status of the territory under international norms.
From the Israeli perspective, the designation of “state land” is viewed as a legal administrative process rather than an arbitrary seizure. Israeli officials, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have argued that the move is necessary for the strategic development of Judea and Samaria—the biblical name Israel uses for the West Bank. Proponents of the policy argue that utilizing uncultivated land for settlement development is a sovereign right and essential for the security and natural growth of Israeli communities in the area. They contend that these designations are consistent with their interpretation of Ottoman-era land laws and subsequent military orders that allow the state to claim ownerless geography.
The West Bank, captured by Israel from Jordan during the 1967 Six-Day War, remains at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The international community, including the United Nations and the International Court of Justice, overwhelmingly considers the West Bank to be occupied territory and regards the construction of settlements there as a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention. While Israel disputes this interpretation, citing historical and religious ties to the land, the expansion of settlements remains one of the most contentious issues stalling the two-state solution.
This latest diplomatic friction exacerbates already heightened tensions between Tel Aviv and Ankara, which have deteriorated significantly amidst the ongoing war in Gaza. Türkiye has consistently positioned itself as a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause, advocating for an independent state based on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, and views the acceleration of land seizures as a deliberate effort to fragment Palestinian territory irreparably.
