The United Nations remains deeply disturbed by the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which continues to worsen the situation in the Middle East, UN Assistant Secretary-General on the situation for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Mohamed Khaled Khiari said on Wednesday.
"I remain deeply alarmed by the relentless Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, that is fueling tensions, impeding access by Palestinians to their land and threatening the viability of a future independent, democratic, contiguous and sovereign Palestinian State," Khiari said in the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Palestine.
The UN official has also reiterated the UN stance that all Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including in East Jerusalem, have ‘no legal validity.’
On October 7, 2023, Israel was subjected to an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. In addition, Hamas fighters infiltrated the border areas, opened fire on the military and civilians and took hostages. Israeli authorities say that about 1,200 people were killed during the raid. In response, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords in the Gaza Strip and announced a complete blockade of the enclave. The death toll from the 14-month-long war between Israel and Hamas has topped 45,000, with nearly 107,000 Palestinians injured, according to Gaza health authorities.