New York, Sept. 29 (Petra) – The UN Security Council on Monday held a session on the Question of Palestine, during which members discussed the Secretary-General’s report on Resolution 2334 concerning the illegality of Israeli settlements.

Adopted in December 2016, Resolution 2334 calls on Israel to immediately and completely halt all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem.

Ramiz Alakbarov, Deputy UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, said Israeli settlement expansion continues to accelerate, alongside the spread of settlement outposts and moves by the Israeli Knesset aimed at annexing the West Bank.

He stressed that Israeli settlements are illegal, constituting a clear violation of international law and UN resolutions. He added that settlements "systematically reduce the space of the Palestinian state and further entrench Israel’s unlawful occupation." Alakbarov cited UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who warned that advancing plans for construction in the "E-1" area would be a disastrous development. If carried out, he said, it would effectively sever the northern West Bank from the south, undermining the contiguity of a sovereign Palestinian state, heightening the risk of forced displacement, and fueling tensions.

He also underlined the need for Israel to comply with its obligations under international law, referring to the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice on July 19, 2024, which concluded that Israel is obligated to immediately cease all new settlement activity, evacuate all settlers, and end its unlawful presence in the occupied Palestinian territory as soon as possible.

//Petra// AF