TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified on Tuesday that discussions over a potential donation to a medical facility in the Israeli-occupied West Bank are ongoing.

The clarification came after the South China Morning Post reported Sunday that Taiwan Representative to Israel Lee Ya-ping (李亞萍) pledged to support the Nanasi Medical Center in Sha’ar Binyamin, a settlement in the West Bank, per Storm Media. The pledge was allegedly made during a visit to the Binyamin Regional Council, an Israeli administrative body that oversees settlements in the occupied West Bank.

The International Court of Justice ruled in 2024 that Israel's occupation of the West Bank, including its settlements, is illegal under international law.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Hsiao Kuang-wei (蕭光偉) emphasized that no formal promise has been made, and the proposed donation remains under internal review. Hsiao noted that Lee’s visit followed Israeli Knesset member Ohad Tal’s trip to Taiwan, after which Tal reportedly arranged for Lee to visit the settlement. He added that Tal appreciated Taiwan’s commitment to global medical outreach.

Tal’s party, the far-right Religious Zionist Party, openly supports the expansion of Israeli settlements and the annexation of the West Bank. The party’s leader, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, has also called for concentrating Gaza’s population into a corridor while depopulating other areas.

According to the Jewish News Syndicate, if finalized, Taiwan’s donation would mark the first time a foreign nation has provided direct financial support to West Bank settlements. The report claims Lee signaled Taiwan was prepared to make a significant contribution to the Nanasi Medical Center during her visit.

Gedaliah Afterman, head of the Asia policy program at Reichman University’s Abba Eban Institute, suggested the move may reflect Taiwan’s attempt to build stronger ties with pro-Israel factions among the US leadership, per UP Media. Tuvia Gering of the Atlantic Council called the reported donation "unprecedented" and said it could raise Taiwan’s profile with Israel’s right-wing government.

Professor Fan Hongda (范鴻達) of Shanghai International Studies University warned the donation could be seen as a political signal reflecting Israel’s dissatisfaction with China’s stance on Israel. He said Israel would not give up its relationship with China in favor of Taiwan and noted that the donation could draw unwanted attention to the issue of Israeli settlements.

Others have voiced concern. Osaka Jogakuin University Professor Saul J. Takahashi noted that no one, aside from the US and Israeli governments, would dispute the illegality of the West Bank settlements. Gleider Hernandez, a professor of international law at KU Leuven, cited the ICJ’s ruling and warned that any donation to settlements could be interpreted as support for Israel’s illegal occupation, potentially putting Taiwan in violation of international law, per CNA.

Domestically, Ma Ying-jeou Foundation Director Hsiao Hsu-tsen (蕭旭岑) condemned the potential donation as a tacit endorsement of illegal settlements, calling it out of step with the global consensus, per Tai Sounds. He also questioned the logic of providing aid to Israel, noting its GDP per capita surpasses Taiwan’s by NT$589,560 (US$20,000).

Former legislator Lin Yu-fang (林郁方) questioned whether Lee was acting independently or with the backing of the central government, per Mirror Media. Lin warned that involvement in West Bank settlements, considered illegal by most of the international community, could seriously damage Taiwan’s global reputation.

DPP Legislator Chung Chia-pin (鍾佳濱), who chairs the Taiwan-Israel Congressional Association, said cross-border humanitarian collaboration should be encouraged. However, he declined to comment on the donation itself, saying he trusted the government’s judgment in diplomatic affairs.

The ICJ advisory opinion, delivered in 2024, concluded that Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza breaks international law. It called on Israel to end the occupation, dismantle settlements, allow displaced Palestinians to return, and provide reparations for victims. The ruling also found that Israel’s policies constituted racial segregation and apartheid.

Before the ruling, major human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and B’Tselem, had already characterized Israel’s control over Palestinian territories as apartheid. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have also reported growing settler violence against Palestinians, often with state backing.