Former Palestinian Prime Minister, Mohammad Shtayyeh, has claimed that the ongoing situation in the West Bank equates to a 'silent, gradual annexation' by Israel amidst international opposition, despite the region being under official military rule since 1967.
Speaking to 'Sputnik Radio' in an interview broadcasted today, Saturday, Shtayyeh stated: 'There are more than 881,000 settlers in the West Bank, accounting for 26 percent of its total population, and they control over seventy percent of its land.'
He asserted that Israel's plan to relocate Palestinians was ready for execution in November 2023, but both Egypt and Jordan rejected these plans to move Palestinians to Sinai and Jordan. He noted that demographically, Palestinians previously held a majority over Israelis before the events of October, suggesting that the relocation issue also has security and economic dimensions and is part of the demographic balance to complete the Judaization of Palestine.
Shtayyeh remarked: 'Nothing remains of the Oslo Accords, and Israel has completely derailed the political process with the Palestinian leadership, making the relationship one between an occupier and an occupying state.' He emphasized that 'Israel does not honor any agreement provisions with the Palestinians, particularly in security, financial, economic, and geographical terms.'
Shtayyeh disclosed that since October 7, 2023, Israel's borders have expanded by more than 541 square kilometers, encompassing areas from southern Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza.