Africa’s strongest military, Egypt, has joined forces with Türkiye to issue a stark warning against Israel's plans to implement a controversial settlement expansion in the West Bank.

• Egypt and Türkiye have jointly condemned Israel's planned E1 settlement expansion in the West Bank.
• The foreign ministers argue that the project physically divides the West Bank.
• Both countries have called for immediate international action against the project, emphasizing its violation of international law.
• Egypt and Türkiye also urge a ceasefire in Gaza and demand that Israel allow unrestricted humanitarian aid.

During a diplomatic call, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan strongly criticized the planned E1 settlement project.

The two regional powers made it clear that this project poses a serious threat to the unity of Palestinian territory.

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The core of the dispute involves Israel opening bidding tenders to construct more than 1,200 new homes in the E1 area, which sits directly east of Jerusalem.

According to the foreign ministers, this construction is highly damaging because it physically divides the occupied West Bank.

Egypt Today, reported that they warned that the project "separates East Jerusalem from its Palestinian surroundings" and breaks the connection between different parts of the territory.

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Critics argue that the move aligns with attempts to prevent a two-state solution and block the creation of a Palestinian state.

Egypt and Turkey warn E1 project ruins prospects for Palestinian statehood

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry released a formal statement condemning the expansion, calling it a "flagrant violation of international law".

As reported by Egypt Today both Egypt and Türkiye emphasized that the E1 project is designed to encircle East Jerusalem and isolate it from other Palestinian communities.

By breaking the geographical connection of these lands, the ministers warned that the project would "further undermine prospects for establishing an independent and viable Palestinian state".

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In response to these developments, Egypt has called on the international community to take immediate, serious action to stop the construction, while reaffirming its own dedication to a Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967 borders.

Egypt and Turkey build international pressure for a ceasefire

The concerns raised by Egypt and Türkiye reflect a wider wave of global disapproval.

Egypt Today also said that UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband also spoke out against the housing tenders, labeling the decision "an unacceptable and destructive act" and calling on Israeli leaders to immediately halt the plans.

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Beyond the West Bank dispute, the Egyptian and Turkish ministers used their discussion to emphasize the urgent need for a ceasefire and peace in Gaza.

They urged Israel to fulfill its obligations under the established peace roadmap, which requires withdrawing its forces from Gaza, allowing essential humanitarian aid to flow freely, and clearing the path for 600 aid trucks to enter the territory every single day.