UN chief warns of settlement expansion, rising violence in West Bank

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned against recent Israeli measures in the occupied West Bank, including reports of accelerated legalization of agricultural settlement outposts and the establishment of new ones, expressing deep concern over their impact on prospects for peace and a two-state solution.
He stressed that all settlements, including outposts, lack any legal legitimacy and constitute a clear violation of international law, noting that they are a major obstacle to achieving a two-state solution and a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace.
In the same context, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) expressed deep concern over the recent surge in violence across the West Bank.
It reported that at least eight Palestinians, including a child, have been killed since Thursday, while homes, mosques, trees, and agricultural facilities have been set on fire. The office noted that the latest wave of violence has forced at least ten Palestinian families to flee their homes.
OCHA affirmed that humanitarian actors continue to call for urgent protection of civilians, strict adherence to international humanitarian and human rights law, and accountability for those responsible for violations.