United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, warned of the alarming increase in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories and the Syrian Golan Heights.
According to a report highlighted by the UN Media Center on Thursday, covering the period from June 1, 2023, to May 31, 2024, the Security Council affirmed that Israel’s settlement policy poses a significant obstacle to achieving a two-state solution. The report also noted that the International Court of Justice has declared that Israel must immediately cease all new settlement activities.
The Secretary-General’s report also revealed a significant rise in settler violence against Palestinians, “often supported by Israeli security forces,” and noted that this escalating violence has exacerbated human rights violations faced by Palestinians, affecting their security, freedom of movement, and fundamental rights.
The report also pointed out that the systematic demolition of Palestinian homes has led to the displacement of many families, creating a coercive environment that forces individuals to abandon their homes. It described the current Israeli government as increasingly aligned with the settler movement, facilitating the annexation of the West Bank to Israel.
Guterres stated in his report that recent changes in administration have led to civilian officials overseeing settlement activities, enhancing Israeli control and fueling allegations of illegal annexation, which the International Court of Justice has deemed contrary to international law.
The report mentioned that transferring authority over the demolition of illegal structures in the settlements to the Finance Minister, who also holds an additional post in the Ministry of Defense, has led to a sharp decline in law enforcement actions against settlers.
Guterres affirmed that the creation and ongoing expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories and the occupied Syrian Golan constitute the transfer of Israeli civilians into occupied lands, a practice prohibited under international humanitarian law as confirmed by the International Court of Justice.
The Secretary-General condemned the systematic demolition of Palestinian homes, noting that such actions are based on discriminatory laws and policies, leading to forced evictions that exacerbate the coercive environment and disproportionately affect women and girls.
The UN Secretary-General called on Israel to halt and reverse all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions. He also urged Israel to stop all demolition and forced eviction of Palestinians and cease activities contributing to a coercive environment or the risk of forced transfer.
