NEW YORK, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), UN Secretary-General António Guterres has reaffirmed that all Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including Occupied Jerusalem and their associated infrastructure, are illegal under international law and constitute a flagrant violation of international law and relevant UN resolutions.
Speaking at the daily UN press briefing, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said Guterres expressed deep concern over the Israeli authorities’ decision to grant the settlement of Givat Ze’ev in the occupied West Bank official city status.
Dujarric stressed that the administrative designation does not alter the settlement’s legal status under international law, as it remains part of the occupied Palestinian territory.
He added that the secretary-general continues to view Israeli settlements as a major obstacle to achieving a two-state solution and a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace.
Guterres renewed his call on Israel to halt all settlement expansion and related activities in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
Dujarric noted that the secretary-general’s position is also based on the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion issued on July 19, 2024, concerning Israel’s presence in the occupied Palestinian territory.
