Secretary of State Marco Rubio made clear Friday that Israel annexing the West Bank would “threaten” peace in the Gaza Strip — after ruling out the US working with the United Nations’ Palestinian refugee agency to rebuild the shattered coastal enclave.

Following the Gaza ceasefire, Israel has turned its military and political focus toward the occupied West Bank, escalating actions that analysts say amount to ethnic cleansing of Palestinians and the dismantling of future Palestinian statehood.

The U.N.'s Palestinian refugees agency (UNRWA) reported Wednesday ongoing Israeli destruction and forced displacement in the occupied West Bank,