UK denounces Israel’s approval of new illegal settlements in West Bank
Reacting to Israel’s cabinet approval of 19 new settlements, the UK’s Middle East minister said the step directly contravenes legal and diplomatic norms.
"The UK condemns the Israeli government’s approval of 19 new settlements in Palestine. These are illegal under international law," Hamish Falconer wrote on the US social media company X’s platform.
His statement followed confirmation that Israel’s cabinet had endorsed the establishment of the new settlements, pushing the total number approved in recent years to 69, as stated by Israeli officials.
Falconer cautioned that the expansion could seriously damage diplomatic initiatives aimed at resolving the conflict.
"This risks undermining the 20 Point Plan and prospects for the long-term peace and security that only a two-state solution can deliver," Falconer warned, referencing a US-backed roadmap intended to bring an end to the Gaza war.
Meanwhile, violence in the occupied West Bank has continued to escalate. According to Palestinian figures, Israeli forces and settlers have killed at least 1,102 Palestinians across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since October 2023. Nearly 11,000 people have been injured, and approximately 21,000 others have been detained during the same period.
As stated by reports, the legal status of Israel’s presence in the occupied territories was addressed in a significant ruling last July, when the International Court of Justice determined that the occupation is unlawful and called for the removal of all settlements from the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
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