""We, States of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom condemn the approval by the Israeli security cabinet of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank," said a joint statement released by the French foreign ministry. "We recall our clear opposition to any form of annexation and to the expansion of settlement policies," it added."
"In their statement, the countries stressed such unilateral actions "violate international law" and risk undermining a fragile ceasefire in Gaza as mediators push for the implementation of the second phase of the truce. The countries urged Israel "to reverse this decision, as well as the expansion of settlements". They also reaffirmed their "unwavering commitment to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution... where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side-by-side in peace and security"."
Fourteen countries — Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom — condemned Israel's approval of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank. The countries recalled opposition to annexation and settlement expansion, stressed such unilateral actions violate international law and warned they risk undermining a fragile ceasefire in Gaza. Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich greenlit the settlements, framing the move as aimed at preventing a Palestinian state. The countries urged Israel to reverse the decision and reaffirmed commitment to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on a two-state solution. Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967; excluding east Jerusalem, over 500,000 Israelis and about three million Palestinians live there, and the United Nations reported settlement expansion reached its highest level since at least 2017.
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