Guterres condemned Israel's plans to expand settlements in the West Bank
UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned Israel’s plans to accelerate settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank. In a statement released on Monday, he emphasized that Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory “have no legal validity” and constitute a “flagrant violation” of international law.
Guterres stated that the settlements remain a major obstacle to the realization of the two-state solution, as well as to achieving a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace between Israelis and Palestinians. His statement came amid escalating violence in the West Bank and the Israeli government’s plans to accelerate the legalization of outposts and the establishment of new ones.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that the government would “accelerate the legalization of agricultural outposts and the establishment of new ones” in the West Bank. Outposts are small settlements that are usually established without government permission, making them illegal under Israeli law as well.
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According to Al Jazeera English, at least eight Palestinians, including a child, and two Israelis have been killed since Thursday. Palestinian civilian infrastructure, public spaces, and agricultural facilities have been set on fire or damaged; at least 10 Palestinian families have been displaced.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that Israeli forces have also tightened restrictions on the movement of Palestinians in the area, cutting off thousands of people from emergency medical care and their means of livelihood. Since the beginning of the year, the organization has documented more than 1,330 incidents involving settlers that resulted in casualties or property damage. As of Saturday, Israeli forces or settlers had killed 77 Palestinians, including 18 children; during the same period, Palestinians killed three Israelis.
All Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are illegal under international law. This position was reaffirmed by a 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, which ruled that Israel’s continued occupation of Palestinian territory is illegal.
