The UN Security Council has strongly condemned Israel’s ongoing illegal settlement expansion in the Occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, urging immediate action to halt the violence and tensions escalating in the region.
Khaled Khiari, UN Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, called out Israel’s relentless settlement activity, stating that it undermines the potential for an independent Palestinian state. He emphasised the unjustifiable collective punishment of Palestinians, pointing to the Israeli bombardment of Gaza, civilian casualties, and widespread destruction of neighborhoods.
“I reiterate that all Israeli settlements in the Occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, have no legal validity and are in flagrant violation of international law and UN resolutions,” Khiari said, stressing the urgency of addressing the situation to avoid further destabilisation.
James Kariuki, the UK’s deputy representative, highlighted the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, citing alarming rates of child malnutrition and the highest number of child amputations globally. He urged Israel to halt settlement expansion, hold settlers accountable for violent acts, and cease the forcible displacement of Gazans.
Switzerland’s envoy, Pascale Baeriswyl, condemned the use of starvation as a method of warfare, calling it a war crime under international law. She also demanded an immediate ceasefire and condemned Israeli officials’ plans to expand settlements in Palestinian territories.
Russian envoy Vassily Nebenzia criticised the US for using its veto power to block ceasefire resolutions, accusing it of allowing Israeli military operations to continue. He voiced concern about Israel’s alleged plans to change Gaza’s demographics.
China’s deputy envoy, Geng Shuang, urged the Security Council to take stronger actions to end the conflict and called for the lifting of the Gaza blockade and the restoration of humanitarian access.
US envoy Linda Thomas-Greenfield expressed concern over Israel’s actions in the West Bank, which she argued undermine the Palestinian Authority and the prospects for a two-state solution. She called for a halt to settlement expansion, the legalisation of outposts, and for Israel to take immediate action to prevent violence and hold perpetrators accountable.
