US President Donald Trump opposes Israel’s annexation of the occupied West Bank, a White House official said on Monday. The official told Reuters, "A stable West Bank keeps Israel secure, and is in line with this administration’s goal to achieve peace in the region." This statement comes after Israel’s far-right finance and defence ministers announced new measures to take greater control over Palestinian lands. These moves make it easier for Israelis to gain land for new settlements, which are illegal under international law. Eight Muslim-majority countries, including Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, condemned the Israeli actions as "illegal Israeli decisions and measures" aimed at imposing sovereignty over Palestinian territory. They said these steps try to "entrench settlement activity" and force a new reality in the West Bank, accelerating illegal annexation and displacing Palestinians. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and countries like the UK and Spain also condemned Israel’s measures. Guterres’ spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the moves are "destabilising" and hurt the chance of a two-state solution. When asked if this is "de facto annexation," Dujarric answered that the decisions push people further from peace and Palestinian control. Dujarric added, "The secretary-general will continue to advocate for the respect of international law. He’ll continue to push for a two-state solution. But he can’t do it alone. We want others to do so as well." The UK government called Israel to reverse its decision, calling any attempt to alter Palestine’s geography or demographics "wholly unacceptable" and against international law. The Israeli steps include shifting building permit authority for Hebron from the Palestinian Authority to Israel and increasing Israeli control over important religious sites like Rachel’s Tomb and the Cave of the Patriarchs. Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich said these actions aim at "deepening our roots in all regions of the Land of Israel and burying the idea of a Palestinian state." Spain’s Foreign Ministry said Israel’s decision is "contrary to international law" and risks sparking more violence in Gaza. It urged Israel to follow its responsibilities under the Fourth Geneva Convention and stop expansionist moves and settler impunity.