London: Jordan's King Abdullah II has issued a warning that Israeli actions in the occupied West Bank are jeopardizing efforts to de-escalate tensions and could lead to an escalation of conflict in the region. The warning came during the monarch's official visit to London, where he met with British officials and members of the British parliament to discuss regional developments, particularly those related to the West Bank.

According to Anadolu Agency, the royal court released a statement highlighting the king's concerns about "illegal" Israeli measures aimed at entrenching settlements and imposing sovereignty over the land. These actions, he stated, undermine efforts to reduce tensions and risk exacerbating the conflict. The discussions also covered British efforts to restore stability in the region, with a focus on developments in Gaza, Syria, and Iran.

The statement follows Sunday's move by the Israeli government to approve a proposal to register Palestinian land in the West Bank as 'state property' for the first time since Israel occupied the territory in 1967. Israeli Channel 7 reported that the measure involves reopening previously frozen land registration procedures, canceling outdated Jordanian legislation, and revealing land records that had been kept confidential for decades.

The Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom noted that the goal of this measure is the 'gradual settlement of 15% of Area C by 2030.' The 1995 Oslo II Accord had divided the West Bank into three administrative areas: Area A under full Palestinian control, Area B under Palestinian civil administration with Israeli security oversight, and Area C under full Israeli civil and security control, covering about 61 percent of the West Bank.

Palestinians argue that Israel rarely grants building permits in Area C, which effectively prevents construction or land development. They view these measures as steps towards the formal annexation of the West Bank and a de facto annexation of large parts of the territory, actions they believe would undermine the two-state solution framework supported by the UN.

In a significant ruling in July 2024, the International Court of Justice declared Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.