UN Warns of Rising Israeli Settlements, Violence

The past three months have seen a rise in Israeli settlement activity in the occupied West Bank, alongside annexation threats and mounting violence there and in the besieged Gaza Strip, the Security Council was told on Monday.

Ramiz Alakbarov, UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, briefed members on the Secretary-General’s quarterly report on the implementation of Council resolution 2334 (2016).

The resolution calls on Israel to “immediately and completely cease all settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem”, among other measures.

“Settlement activity has, nevertheless, accelerated,” he told ambassadors.

The report covers the period from 18 June to 19 September. During this time, Israeli authorities advanced or approved some 20,810 housing units in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

On 2 July, 15 Israeli ministers and the speaker of the Knesset, or parliament, signed a petition calling for Israel to annex the occupied West Bank. Three weeks later, the Knesset adopted a non-binding motion calling for the “application of Israeli sovereignty” across all settlements there.

Demolitions and seizures of Palestinian-owned structures also increased while evictions continued.

“Citing the lack of Israeli-issued building permits, which are almost impossible for Palestinians to obtain, Israeli authorities demolished, seized or forced people to demolish 455 structures,” he said.

Thirty of these structures were donor-funded and, overall, 420 people were displaced, mostly women and children.

Resolution 2334 also calls for “immediate steps to prevent all acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terror, as well as all acts of provocation and destruction.”

Mr. Alakbarov addressed the situation in Gaza, where Israeli military operations intensified, resulting in high numbers of casualties, mass displacement and widespread destruction.

At least 7,579 Palestinians were killed and around 37,201 injured, according to local health authorities. He noted that “1,911 were reportedly killed while attempting to collect aid, including in the vicinity of militarized distribution sites.”

Meanwhile, 37 Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers were killed in hostilities, while 48 hostages remain in the custody of Palestinian armed groups, 25 of whom are believed dead. Thirty UN staff were also killed during the reporting period.

Hamas and other militants continued to fire rockets indiscriminately toward Israel. Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad also released four videos showing hostages in an emaciated state.

“Meanwhile, violence in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, continued at an alarming rate,” he said.

In total, 46 Palestinians were killed during Israeli security force operations, armed exchanges, airstrikes, settler attacks, demonstrations and other incidents, while 890 were wounded — including from tear gas inhalation, live ammunition, and attacks by Israeli settlers and civilians.

Armed Palestinians killed seven Israelis, according to Israeli sources. Another 62 civilians and 14 security personnel were injured by Palestinians in shootings, stabbings and ramming attacks.

Israeli security forces also continued large-scale operations in northern West Bank cities and refugee camps, particularly in Tulkarm and Jenin, alongside actions in other areas.

Children were among those killed, including a 13-year-old Palestinian shot dead on 25 June during a search operation west of Jenin. Four other teenage boys were killed in separate incidents.

Mr. Alakbarov concluded by stressing the Secretary-General’s position that “Israeli settlements have no legal validity and constitute a flagrant violation of international law and UN resolutions. They are systematically shrinking the territory of the Palestinian State and further entrenching Israel’s unlawful occupation.”

He warned that the advancement of a plan to build some 3,400 housing units in the E1 area “is a calamitous development”.

“If implemented, it would effectively sever the connection between the northern and southern West Bank, further undermining the contiguity of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state, increasing the risk of forced displacement, and fueling tensions,” he said.