Egypt slams Israeli approval of 22 new West Bank settlements
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Cairo condemns the Israeli move to build more illegal settlements as a provocation and violation of international law, citing UN resolutions and the Geneva Convention.
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Israeli soldiers check the identification cards of residents of the now evacuated Palestinian refugee camp of Tulkarm before the destruction of their homes in the occupied West Bank city of Tulkarm, Thursday, May 29, 2025 (AP)
Egypt has strongly condemned the Israeli occupation's decision to approve the construction of 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, describing it as a provocative act and a flagrant violation of international law and Palestinian rights.
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Thursday, denouncing the move as a blatant breach of international legitimacy, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334.
In its statement, Cairo emphasized that the international community, which seeks a just and lasting peace, categorically rejects such unilateral actions. Egypt warned that the expansion of settlements poses a direct threat to the viability of the two-state solution.
The ministry reaffirmed Egypt’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people's inalienable right to establish an independent state along the June 4, 1967, lines, with eastern al-Quds as its capital, a demand that enjoys wide international legitimacy and is non-negotiable.
The statement further underscored that the Israeli settlements have no legal basis and are a grave breach of international law. It cited the Geneva Conventions’ prohibition on an occupying power transferring parts of its civilian population into the territories it occupies. Egypt reiterated that these settlements are a primary obstacle to achieving the two-state solution and reaching a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace.
'Israel' defies international law
The Israeli Security Cabinet has secretly approved the establishment of 22 illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, Israeli media reported on Friday.
According to Ynet, the Cabinet “secretly approved two weeks ago the establishment of 22 settlements in Judea and Samaria."
The decision, which was reportedly made two weeks ago, includes plans to re-establish the illegal settlements of Homesh and Sa-Nur, both dismantled during the 2005 unilateral “disengagement plan” from the Gaza Strip. The settlements are to be built in the region "Israel" refers to as “Judea and Samaria,” a biblical designation for the West Bank rejected by international bodies.
The initiative was jointly submitted by Security Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, according to the report.
The re-establishment of Homesh and Sa-Nur represents a symbolic and strategic move by the Israeli government. Both sites were previously evacuated under a disengagement policy that saw "Israel" withdraw settlers from Gaza while retaining control over its airspace, maritime access, and borders.
The return to these sites is widely viewed as a reversal of that policy and a further step in expanding illegal West Bank settlements.
Read next: ICC weighing arrest warrants for Israeli ministers over West Bank: WSJ
Palestinian Authority condemns escalation
The Palestinian presidency strongly condemned the approval, calling it “a dangerous escalation that drags the region into a cycle of violence and instability.”
Presidential spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh said the decision “represents a serious escalation and a challenge to international legitimacy and international law.”
He added, “The Israeli government's secret approval to establish 22 new settlements in the West Bank, including East al-Quds,” defies legal norms and the international consensus.
