A UN report reveals significant expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, breaching international law and raising concerns over possible annexation. UN High Commissioner Volker Turk denounces these activities as war crimes and calls for international action. With 700,000 settlers amid a Palestinian population of 2.7 million, the situation remains tense and complex due to ongoing counter-terrorism activities.
A recent UN report indicates that Israel has significantly expanded settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, from November 2023 to October 2024. This expansion breaches international law, with Israeli NGOs reporting tens of thousands of new housing units in both new and existing settlements. The urgency of these findings is heightened by concerns over potential annexation as US policy under President Donald Trump evolves.
UN High Commissioner Volker Turk described the settlement activities as a potential war crime, stating, “The transfer by Israel of parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies amounts to a war crime.” He urged immediate action from the international community to cease all settlement activities and protect the Palestinian population from violence by Israeli security forces and settlers.
Currently, about 700,000 Israeli settlers live among 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, territories captured by Israel in the 1967 war. Most nations consider these settlements illegal under international law. The Israeli military defends its presence in the West Bank by asserting that it conducts counter-terrorism operations targeting militants in the region.
Additionally, the report criticizes the government’s efforts to provide services in these settlements, claiming it perpetuates patterns of discrimination and violence against Palestinians. Such actions create systematic oppression and further exacerbate tensions in the region.
The UN report highlights extensive Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank, underlining its contradictions with international law. High Commissioner Volker Turk’s statements emphasize the serious implications of these actions, labeling them potential war crimes. The situation remains critical with tensions intensified by the growing settler population in Palestinian territories and ongoing counter-terrorism operations claimed by Israel.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
