US consular services in illegal Israeli settlement in West Bank condemned

In February 2026, the United States announced it would begin offering consular services, including passport services, at the Efrat settlement in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, starting Friday. Hamas and the Palestinian Authority (PA) condemned the move, stating it violates international law and legitimizes Israeli settlements. The PA's Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission emphasized that all Israeli settlements are illegal under the Fourth Geneva Convention, and providing consular services constitutes a breach of international law. The US embassy in Jerusalem stated that similar services are planned for other locations, including the Beitar Illit settlement and Ramallah. Hamas views the decision as reinforcing annexation and entrenching Israeli sovereignty over occupied land, despite US claims of opposing West Bank annexation.

The US Embassy in Jerusalem will offer passport services in the West Bank settlement of Efrat, marking the first time the US has provided on-site consular services in Israeli settlements. This initiative, part of a 250th-anniversary celebration, has drawn criticism from Palestinian officials who view it as a violation of international law and an endorsement of Israeli settlements. Similar services are planned for Beitar Illit, another settlement, as well as Ramallah and three cities within Israel. The Israeli foreign minister welcomed the move, while Palestinian groups like Hamas condemned it as legitimizing settlement activity. The US embassy stated that the services are intended to assist American citizens.

On February 27, 2026, the US Embassy in Jerusalem will begin providing in-person passport services in Efrat, an illegal Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank. This marks the first time the US has offered consular services within a West Bank settlement. The embassy plans to offer similar services in Ramallah, the illegal Israeli settlement of Beitar Illit, and cities within Israel, such as Haifa. Currently, passport and consular services are available at the US embassy in West Jerusalem and a Tel Aviv branch office. Israeli settlements in the West Bank are considered illegal under international law, where approximately 465,000 Israeli settlers reside.