Israeli settlements “have no legal legitimacy and constitute a flagrant violation of international law and UN resolutions,” said UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wensland.

This came during the monthly session of the UN Security Council to discuss the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian issue, which was devoted today, Wednesday, to presenting the Secretary-General’s 27th report on the implementation of Resolution 2334 on settlements, which the Council approved in 2016.

He called on the government of Israel to immediately stop all settlement activities, stressing that the absence of a meaningful peace process to end the Israeli occupation leads to a serious deterioration throughout the occupied Palestinian territory.

Wensland said, “The occupation authorities are still continuing to submit settlement projects and settlement construction operations, as they have submitted plans to build 6,300 housing units in Area C of the West Bank, including retroactively ‘legitimizing’, under Israeli law, three settlement outposts.” Near the “Eli” settlement. Approximately 3,580 housing units were “developed” in occupied East Jerusalem.”

He added: “The demolition and confiscation of Palestinian-owned buildings throughout the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, continued during the period covered by the report from June 15 to September 19 under the pretext of not obtaining building permits, which is almost impossible for people to obtain.” The Palestinians obtained it, as the Israeli authorities demolished, confiscated, or forced people to demolish 238 buildings, which led to the displacement of 183 people, including 46 women and 91 children. He pointed out that 32 of these buildings were funded by donors.

In his briefing, Wensland specifically referred to the incident in which the Sub Laban family was expelled from their home in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem, which they had lived in since the 1950s, and handed it over to settlers on July 11.

Wensland noted that Security Council Resolution No. 2334 (2016) calls for “immediate steps to be taken to prevent all acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terrorism, as well as all acts of provocation and destruction,” explaining, “Unfortunately, daily acts of violence continued, as people were killed.” 68 Palestinians, including 18 children, were killed by Israeli security forces during demonstrations, security operations, attacks or alleged attacks against Israelis, and other incidents.”

He said: “I remain deeply concerned about the continued expansion of Israeli settlements and outposts in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, with over 10,000 housing units provided in this reporting period alone. The settlements further entrench the occupation, inflaming Violence, obstructing Palestinians’ access to their lands and resources, and systematically eroding the ability of the Palestinian state to survive as part of the two-state solution.”

He reiterated that “the demolition and confiscation of Palestinian buildings, including internationally funded humanitarian projects, involves numerous human rights violations and raises concerns about the risk of forced transfer,” calling on “the Government of Israel to end this practice, in line with its international obligations, and allow Palestinian communities to build and meet their needs.” its development needs.