Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been rushed off stage during a rocket siren, hours after announcing plans to annex some settlements in the West Bank if he wins re-election.

The prime minister was on stage at an event for Likud party supporters in Israel's southern city of Ashdodwhen the siren blared.

He was escorted off stage by his security team to an air-raid shelter, while urging his supporters to remain calm.

Mr Netanyahu returned minutes later to continue his speech, which comes ahead of next week's election, Israel's second this year.

Israel's military confirmed it had intercepted two rockets launched from the Gaza Strip aimed at Ashdod, and no injuries were reported. No group has claimed responsibility for the rocket launches.


Earlier, Mr Netanyahu announced plans to annex some Jewish settlements on the West Bank if he is re-elected as prime minister.

"Today, I announce my intention, after the establishment of a new government, to apply Israeli sovereignty to the Jordan Valley and the northern Dead Sea," he said, calling the region "Israel's eastern border".

Netanyahu vows to annex part of West Bank

Benajmain Netanyahu telling the crowd to evacuate before being taken to a nearby bomb shelter after a number of rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip towards Ashdod#Israel #Gaza pic.twitter.com/G4K5S5Fm7j — CNW (@ConflictsW) September 10, 2019

Mr Netanyahu reaffirmed his pledge to eventually annex i all Jewish settlements in the West Bank but he added that such a move would not be made without consulting US President Donald Trump.

"Out of respect for President Trump and great faith in our friendship, I will await applying sovereignty until release of the president's political plan," he said, referring to long-awaited proposals from Washington for Middle East peace.

A representative from Washington said that US policy regarding Israel and Palestine remained unchanged.

"We will release our Vision for Peace after the Israeli election and work to determine the best path forward to bring long sought security, opportunity and stability to the region," they said.

Palestinian prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh condemned Mr Netanyahu's plans, calling him a "prime destroyer of the peace process".

The head of the Palestinian mission to the UK, Husam Zomlot, wrote on Twitter: "Netanyahu is sounding the death knell for the two state solution and the rules-based international order. All to be reelected.

"Palestinians will resist apartheid and stand steadfast, on our land, for our land," he added. "It is up to the world to defend its rules and reject chaos."

Jordan's foreign minister also condemned Mr Netanyahu's plans, saying they marked a "serious escalation".

We condemn announcement by Israeli PM that he intends to annex illegal settlements & Jordan Valley in occupied West Bank. This is a serious escalation that undermines all peace efforts. It’ll lead to more violence & conflict. LAS condemned announcement in emergency session — Ayman Safadi (@AymanHsafadi) September 10, 2019

The United Nations said that "any Israeli decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction, administration, in the occupied West Bank is without any international legal effect".

The Jordan Valley would make up the eastern perimeter of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip so its annexation would likely end hopes of establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

Here's the map of the territory of the Jordan Valley, in the West Bank, that Netanyahu vowed to annex if he wins next week's election (blue: will be annexed to Israel; orange: will remain under Palestinian control) pic.twitter.com/xMcsPeDLpt — Raphael Ahren (@RaphaelAhren) September 10, 2019

Around 65,000 Palestinians live within the region, along with 11,000 Israeli settlers, according to Israeli human rights group B'Tselem.

Mr Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital city early in his presidency prompted Palestine to end relations with the United States.

President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner said in May that he hoped Israel would take a hard look at President Trump's Middle East plans before proceeding to annex West Bank settlements.

Image: Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking re-election as Israel's prime minister

In June, America's ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, said in an interview that "under certain circumstances" Israel had the "right to retain some, but unlikely all, of the West Bank".

Next week's Israeli election comes after April's failed to produce a clear winner, with Mr Netanyahu unable to form a governing coalition.