Israeli leadership is reportedly preparing for the formal annexation of the West Bank in the coming weeks, a move expected to eliminate the possibility of a two-state solution and reshape the political landscape of the region, a report by US journalist Seymour M. Hersh showed on Wednesday. Hersh said that “a well-informed Washington official” revealed to him this week that the annexation could happen within two weeks, a step that is expected to intensify tensions between Israel and the Arab world, while potentially reshaping the future of Gaza’s rebuilding efforts. The news comes as Israel continues to escalate military actions in Gaza, including forced evacuations of northern residents and further displacements to the south, amid harsh conditions such as food and water shortages. “[The annexation would happen] in the hope that the decisive step will end, once and for all, any talk of a two-state solution and will convince some in the skeptical Arab world to reconsider financing the planned reconstruction of Gaza,” the journalist said.