Over 80 countries condemn Israel’s ‘unlawful’ settlement expansions in West Bank

More than 80 countries, along with several international organizations, have condemned Israel’s decision to expand illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank as “unlawful” and in violation of international law.

At a press conference at the UN headquarters in New York, Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, read a joint statement supported by countries from across Europe, West Asia, Africa, Asia, and Latin America, as well as the European Union, the League of Arab States, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Mansour emphasized that the recent Israeli decisions, which include expanding settlements and authorizing land purchases by Israeli settlers, are “contrary to Israel’s obligations under international law” and called for their immediate reversal.

He also reaffirmed the international community’s “strong opposition to any form of annexation,” warning that such steps undermine peace efforts and jeopardize the so-called two-state solution.

Israel approves land registration in West Bank’s Area C, raising Palestinian annexation fears

For the first time since 1967, the Israeli regime has approved opening a land registration process across the occupied West Bank.

The joint statement condemned Israel’s recent attempts to tighten its control over the occupied West Bank, particularly through the registration of land in Area C as so-called “state property,” which represents a de facto annexation of Palestinian land. 

“Such measures violate international law, undermine the ongoing efforts for peace and stability in the region, run counter to the comprehensive plan, and jeopardize the prospect of reaching a peace agreement ending the conflict,” the statement read.

The group of nations further highlighted that these actions contradict the findings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories illegal in its 2024 advisory opinion and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East al-Quds. 

They also reiterated their opposition to any actions that seek to alter the demographic composition, character, or status of Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, expressing support for the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and pledging to take “concrete measures” to counter the illegal settlement policy.

The condemnation comes amid escalating violence in the West Bank, including East al-Quds, which has seen a sharp increase in military operations, killings, and arrests since the beginning of the Gaza genocide in October 2023.

By the end of 2025, Palestinian authorities estimated over 1,102 Palestinians killed and 9,034 wounded in the West Bank amid intensified military operations and settler attacks. 

Israel approves de facto annexation of West Bank; Hamas calls move ‘null and void’

The resolution, pushed by the regime’s far-right ministers, would open the land registration process in the West Bank for the first time in almost 60 years.

Israel’s recent approval to register large areas of the West Bank as so-called “state property” marks the first such move since the territory was occupied in 1967, leading Palestinian authorities and resistance groups to warn that this could pave the way for a formal annexation of the area.

Registration of land in the occupied territories establishes permanent ownership, effectively consolidating Israeli control over the Palestinian lands.

The West Bank is among the areas that Palestinians seek for a future independent state, along with Gaza and occupied East al-Quds. Much of the West Bank is now under direct Israeli military control, with extremely limited Palestinian self-rule in some areas, governed by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority.

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