The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, expressed his strong condemnation of the continued expansion of Israeli settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territories. Guterres affirmed in his latest report that the accelerating pace of settlement construction represents a blatant violation of international law and a challenge to the will of the international community striving for peace.
The UN official warned that current policies open the door to a large-scale wave of forced displacement, which could be the largest witnessed by the Palestinian people since the 1967 setback. He indicated that the pressures exerted on Palestinian communities aim to permanently change the demographic and geographic reality in the West Bank.
The quarterly UN report highlighted the seriousness of the settlement project known as 'E1', describing it as an existential threat to the future of the Palestinian state. The report clarified that the implementation of this plan would lead to the division of the West Bank into two separate blocs, making the establishment of a geographically contiguous Palestinian state practically impossible.
The international organization also observed a significant increase in the displacement of Bedouin and Arab communities as a result of escalating systematic settler attacks. UN sources confirmed that these attacks, coupled with home demolitions and severe restrictions on movement, have created an expelling environment for Palestinians from their historical lands.
Guterres strongly criticized the role played by Israeli security forces, noting that settler attacks often occur under their protection or with their direct support. He stressed that the absence of legal accountability and prosecution for perpetrators encourages the continuation of violations and increases the state of tension and unrest in the region.
On the international level, five European member states of the Security Council, namely France, the United Kingdom, Greece, Latvia, and Denmark, moved to issue a joint statement expressing grave concern. These countries demanded that the Israeli government immediately cease all settlement activities and adhere to signed international agreements.
In the same context, the French Ambassador to the United Nations, Jérôme Bonafont, called on the Israeli authorities to exercise their powers to ensure the protection of Palestinian civilians. Bonafont emphasized the need for transparent and impartial investigations into all allegations related to violations by Israeli forces and settler violence to ensure justice.
These policies give the green light to the largest wave of forced displacement Palestinians have experienced in decades.
שתף את דעתך
Guterres warns of largest wave of Palestinian displacement since 1967 due to settlements