GAZA, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), The Hamas Movement has condemned a decision by the US state of Arizona to adopt the term “Judea and Samaria” instead of “the West Bank,” describing it as a clear alignment with the Israeli narrative and what it called a “false historical framing.”
In a statement, Hamas said the move supports settlement expansion and reinforces occupation policies, while attempting to reshape public perception through ideologically driven terminology that obscures Palestinian national identity.
It argued that the decision contradicts international law and UN resolutions.
The Movement stressed that changing names “does not alter the reality of the land or the rightful ownership of its people,” reaffirming that the West Bank remains Palestinian territory.
Hamas called on the international community to reject what it described as an “illegitimate” step, urging political, legal, and media efforts to counter such policies and strengthen the Palestinian narrative.
The decision follows a recent vote by the Arizona State Senate approving a non-binding resolution encouraging state institutions to use “Judea and Samaria” in official documents.
The measure had previously passed the state’s House of Representatives with broad support in both chambers.
According to Israeli media reports, the initiative was driven by lobbying efforts led by the Israeli settlement activist Yossi Dagan, in coordination with the council’s foreign relations unit.
During discussions in Arizona, State Senator Anthony Kern Livingston cited what he described as “historical and ideological motivations,” referencing a visit to the region and asserting that it was “clearly Israel.”
While the resolution carries symbolic weight at the state level, US foreign policy remains determined in Washington, where the area continues to be officially referred to as the West Bank by the federal government and much of the international community.
