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.

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.