The European Union, on Thursday, urged Israel to reconsider its plan to expand settlements in the West Bank, labeling it an illegal move that threatens the two-state solution.
In a statement, the European Union condemned Israel’s decision to construct 3,426 new settlement units in the West Bank, pointing out that such actions are in direct conflict with ongoing efforts to reduce tensions in the region.
Furthermore, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced today that Sweden has initiated a meeting with representatives from the Israeli Foreign Ministry, several EU member states, and other countries to emphasize the urgent need to improve humanitarian aid access to the Gaza Strip.
The Prime Minister, in his official account on the “X” platform, stated: “The lives and health of children in Gaza must be protected.”
These remarks come amidst increasing international calls for improved aid access to the Strip, amid reports warning of famine and confirming child deaths due to malnutrition and dehydration.
Jagan Chapagain, President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, called on Wednesday for the immediate facilitation of humanitarian aid to Gaza without obstacles, expressing profound concern about the situation there.
On the “X” platform, Chapagain reiterated: “I urgently call again for the swift and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need and to alleviate this unbearable humanitarian suffering.”
Israel’s recent decision to expand settlements in the West Bank has drawn significant attention and controversy. This expansion involves plans for thousands of new housing units and grants far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich sweeping powers to expedite the construction of illegal settlements, bypassing established procedures that have been in place for nearly three decades.
The move, ratified by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hardline coalition government, marks a departure from the six-stage process traditionally overseen by the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), which allowed for international and domestic objections at any stage. This decision effectively places the entire settlement-building process under Smotrich’s control, raising concerns about an acceleration in the pace of settlement expansion.
