The United Nations on Wednesday warned that violence by Israeli settlers and moves towards territorial annexation in the occupied West Bank are continuing to worsen, two years after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an advisory opinion stating that Israel’s decades-long occupation of Palestinian territories was unlawful. The UN Human Rights Office said attacks by Israeli settlers and the establishment of new outposts in the West Bank have reached record levels, urging countries to take action to help end the occupation and address the deteriorating security situation.
“We are alarmed by the Israeli government’s announcement to further increase the number of settlements and outposts, and open calls by Israeli leaders for revenge and collective punishment against Palestinian communities, accompanied by threats to turn the West Bank into another Gaza,” UN human rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said in a statement. The warning comes amid growing international concern over developments in the West Bank, where tensions have escalated due to increased settler violence, settlement expansion, and clashes involving Israeli forces and Palestinian communities. The UN said the situation has created an increasingly difficult environment for civilians living in the territory.
In July 2024, the ICJ, the United Nations’ highest court, issued a non-binding advisory opinion that concluded Israel’s continued occupation of Palestinian territories was contrary to international law. The court said Israel’s presence in the occupied territories raised serious legal concerns and called for steps to address the situation. The advisory opinion covered Israel’s control over territories captured during the 1967 Middle East war, including the West Bank and East Jerusalem. While the ruling was not legally binding, it carried significant political and diplomatic weight and intensified global discussions over the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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The UN Human Rights Office said recent developments, including plans to expand settlements and establish additional outposts, were contributing to further instability. The organisation has repeatedly stated that Israeli settlements in occupied territories violate international law, a position rejected by Israel. Israeli authorities have disputed international criticism of their settlement policies and have argued that security concerns and historical ties must be considered in discussions over the West Bank. Israel has also rejected accusations that its actions amount to unlawful occupation or annexation. The latest UN statement comes against the backdrop of the wider conflict in the region following the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza.
The conflict has intensified tensions across the region, including in the West Bank. Human rights organisations have repeatedly called for protection of civilians, accountability for violence, and adherence to international humanitarian law. The UN has urged all parties to avoid actions that could further escalate tensions and reduce prospects for a political resolution. The situation in the West Bank remains one of the most sensitive issues in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As settlement activity and violence continue to draw international attention, diplomatic pressure is increasing on governments to address the humanitarian and legal concerns surrounding the territory.
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