Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian websites: Initial reports of a tough security incident the occupation army is facing in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip
Israeli media: The Israeli army detected a missile launch from Yemen
Al Mayadeen's correspondent from Revolution Square in Tehran: Processions from Bahrain, Iraq, and other Arab nations are in attendance
Iranians gather at Tehran’s Revolution Square for the funeral of martyrs of Israeli aggression
Maduro: I call on the Jews to stop the war madness practiced by the Zionist regime led by Netanyahu
Maduro: Every day, 100 people are killed in Palestine, and the West is watching and is complicit
Iran's representative to the United Nations, in a letter to Guterres and the Security Council: The threat of America and the Zionist entity to assassinate the Supreme Leader is state terrorism.
Washington to the Security Council: The goal was to destroy Iran's uranium enrichment capacity and prevent the threat of Tehran obtaining and using a nuclear weapon
Lebanese Health Ministry: 1 woman martyred, 11 wounded in Israeli strike on residential apartment in Nabatieh, South Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Four civilians injured in Israeli strike that targeted house in Nabatieh al-Fawqa, South Lebanon.

UN rights chief, France, Spain condemn Israeli settlement expansion

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 9 Mar 2024 15:23
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

France and Spain join the UN's condemnations of the Israeli occupation's illegal settlement expansion in the West Bank.

  • x
  • New housing projects are seen in the West Bank Israeli settlement of 'Givat Ze'ev', June 18, 2023 (AP)
    New illegal settlement projects are seen in the occupied West Bank Israeli settlement of "Givat Ze'ev", June 18, 2023. (AP)

The expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories is tantamount to a "war crime" and poses a severe threat to the prospects of a viable Palestinian state, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, said Friday.

The UN rights chief expressed deep concern over the rapid increase in illegal Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, especially in light of the unfolding Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.

According to Turk, the creation and expansion of settlements by the Israeli regime constitute the transfer of its civilian population into occupied territories, a move that qualifies as a war crime with potential individual criminal responsibility for those involved. 

Israeli Minister Orit Strook revealed Wednesday that the Israeli occupation government has initiated construction plans for nearly 3,500 settler housing units in the occupied West Bank.

Strook, Smotrich's ally, posted on X today, "Nearly 3,500 settlement units [...] We promised -- we are delivering... Together we will continue to advance the settlements," Strook added.

The reported Israeli plans to construct 3,476 settler housing units in the West Bank settlements of "Ma'ale Adumim", "Efrat", and "Kedar" were strongly condemned by Turk. He emphasized that these plans directly violate international law and jeopardize efforts to achieve a "two-state solution", acting as a significant obstacle to peace.

France also strongly denounced the Israeli decision, calling it "unacceptable, illegal, and irresponsible," while urging for an immediate reversal, especially taking into consideration the tense situation in the occupied West Bank in light of the war on Gaza.

Related News

Trump predicts Gaza ceasefire within a week

97 killed in Gaza, including aid seekers, in Israeli attacks

France underlined that the expansion of settlements into Palestinian territories must cease, calling it a unilateral action that undermines the prospect of a "two-state" solution.

Spain joined the condemnations in a similar statement. Madrid said it "strongly condemns" the planned settlement expansion that "undermine efforts to achieve a two-state solution and are an obstacle to peace."

Uprooting Palestinians through all means

Turk confirmed in an earlier report that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories have increased by a record amount and they risk eliminating any practical possibility of a Palestinian state. 

He said that the growth of Israeli settlements amounted to "Israel's" transfer of its own population, which he said constituted a war crime, which echoes the Biden administration's statement last month that the settlements were "inconsistent" with international law after the occupation announced new building plans.

The UN rights chief compiled a 16-page report demonstrating the plans for 24,300 new Israeli housing units in the occupied West Bank from one year through to the end of October 2023, which was the highest record since UN monitoring began in 2017.

According to the report, a sharp increase in the intensity, severity, and regularity of both Israeli settler and state violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank has been evident, especially since October 7.
 
Since October 7, over 400 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli occupation forces or by settlers, it noted.

Back in January, an Israeli organization reported that an analysis of Israeli police investigations into violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank reveals that between 2005 and September 2023, approximately 94% of scrutinized investigations were concluded without an indictment, with only three percent resulting in a conviction.

More than 80% of the examined investigations were closed because the police either couldn't "identify the perpetrators" or failed to gather the "necessary evidence" for prosecution.

  • United Nations
  • France
  • Spain
  • Israel
  • Palestine
  • West Bank
  • Israeli Settlements

Most Read

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a protest following the US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Iran declares victory as ceasefire forces Israeli retreat

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Iran launches strikes on Israeli targets, despite alleged ceasefire

Iran victorious as ceasefire with 'Israel' takes effect

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iranian worshippers carry their country's flags in a protest to condemn Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, after the Friday prayers ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP)

Iran warns of NPT withdrawal, Strait of Hormuz closure after US attack

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli occupation soldiers search for settlers amid the rubble of buildings destroyed by an Iranian missile strike in Bat Yam, central occupied Palestine, on Sunday, June 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran missile strike flattens Bat Yam, displaces 2,000 settlers

Palestinian fighters from the Islamic Jihad militant group riding on a truck with weaponry on display take part in an anti-Israel parade marking the 36th anniversary of the movement's founding, in Gaza City, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023 (AP)
Politics

Palestinian Resistance attacks Israeli forces in Khan Younis, Jabalia

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stands waiting to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for the talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, June 23, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran suspends IAEA cooperation, Araghchi blames Grossi for attacks

The commander of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit, Brigadier General Mohammad Said Izadi (Illustrated by Mahdi Rtail for Al Mayadeen English)
Politics

Who was Mohammad Said Izadi, head of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit?

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS