Over 80 UN members condemn Israeli acts to expand 'unlawful presence' in occupied West Bank

​​​​​​​By Merve Aydogan

HAMILTON, Canada (AA) - More than 80 UN member states and several organizations on Tuesday condemned "unilateral" Israeli decisions aimed at expanding Israel's "unlawful presence" in the occupied West Bank.

Delivering a statement at a news conference at UN headquarters in New York, Palestine's UN envoy Riyad Mansour said, "I have the honor to deliver the following statement on behalf of 80 States and a number of organizations on the latest Israeli decisions regarding the occupied West Bank."

"We strongly condemn unilateral Israeli decisions and measures aimed at expanding Israel's unlawful presence in the West Bank. Such decisions are contrary to Israel's obligations under international law and must be immediately reversed,” he said, underlining "our strong opposition to any form of annexation."

The group reiterated its rejection of "all measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character and status of the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem."

"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 said.

The countries also reaffirmed their commitment, reflected in the New York Declaration, "to take concrete measures, in accordance with international law," and in line with relevant UN resolutions and the July 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which declared Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

The statement stressed that a "just and lasting peace," based on relevant UN resolutions, the Madrid terms of reference, the principle of land for peace and the Arab Peace Initiative "remains the only path to ensure security and stability in the region."

Israel has intensified military operations in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since launching its war on the Gaza Strip on Oct. 8, 2023. The operations have included killings, arrests, displacement and settlement expansion, according to Palestinian officials, who say the measures aim to impose new realities on the ground.

At least 1,114 Palestinians have since been killed, 11,500 wounded and 22,000 arrested in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, according to official Palestinian data.

On Sunday, the Israeli government approved a proposal to register large areas in the West Bank as “state property,” for the first time since Tel Aviv occupied the territory in 1967.

Palestinians warn that Israel’s actions pave the way for a formal annexation of the occupied West Bank, which they say would end prospects for a Palestinian state envisioned in United Nations resolutions.