Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, expressed grave concern on February 18, 2026, regarding Israel's recent actions in the West Bank, describing them as a "de facto progressive annexation." These unilateral measures, implemented since the beginning of February, aim to increase Israeli control over areas administered by the Palestinian Authority, potentially extending Israeli civil authority into sensitive zones like Hebron. DiCarlo fears this will lead to an expansion of settlements by removing bureaucratic hurdles, facilitating land purchases, and expediting building permits, a trend that has intensified under the current Israeli government, particularly since the October 7, 2023, Gaza conflict.