UN rights chief slams Israel for drastically accelerating illegal settlements

The United Nation’s human rights top brass, Volker Turk, says the Israeli regime is expanding its illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories by unprecedented amounts, posing a significant threat to the viability of a future Palestinian state.

In a report to the Human Rights Council, the high commissioner noted on Friday that the expansion of Israeli settlements involved the transfer of settlers into occupied territories, which amounts to a war crime under international law. 

“Reports this week that Israel plans to build a further 3,476 settler homes in Maale Adumim, Efrat and Kedar fly in the face of international law,” Turk said in a statement that accompanied the 16-page report.

“The West Bank is already in crisis. Yet, settler violence and settlement-related violations have reached shocking new levels, and risk eliminating any practical possibility of establishing a viable Palestinian State,” he said.

Covering the period from November 1, 2022, to October 31, 2023, the report says that the size of existing Israeli settlements has expanded markedly, after about 24,300 housing units within existing Israeli settlements in the West Bank were advanced, marking the highest on record since monitoring began in 2017.

This included approximately 9,670 units in East al-Quds.

The findings of the report indicate that the current Israeli cabinet's policies are remarkably in line with the objectives of the Israeli settler movement.

Israel okays construction of 3,500 more settler units in West Bank

The new units will be added to a record number of more than 18,500 already approved by the cabinet of Benjamin Netanyahu.

These policies aim to extend long-term authority over the West Bank, including East al-Quds, and gradually annex this occupied region.

“They also run counter to the views of a broad range of States laid out during hearings just two weeks ago at the International Court of Justice,” the High Commissioner said, referring to the hearings examining the legal consequences of Israeli policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Since October 7, 592 people, including 282 children, have been displaced in the West Bank, including East al-Quds, after their homes were demolished due to the lack of Israeli-issued building permits, which are almost impossible to obtain.

According to the latest UN figures, there have been 603 settler attacks against Palestinians since October 7, and a total of 1,222 Palestinians from 19 herding communities have been displaced as a direct result of settler violence.

Furthermore, the UN human rights office has documented nine Palestinians killed by settlers using firearms, a further 396 have been killed by Israeli security forces, and two killed by either Israeli security forces or settlers, according to the report. 

“Israel’s actions against the Palestinian population must cease immediately,” Turk exclaimed.

“The only way forward is to find a viable political solution that finally ends the occupation, establishes an independent Palestinian state and guarantees the realization of the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people,” he further added.

The report has also recorded numerous incidents where settlers have been observed donning complete or partial Israeli military uniforms, wielding rifles, and engaging in acts of harassment and aggression towards Palestinians, since October 7, which has blurred the line between settler violence and military violence.

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