The U.N. human rights office issued a report on Friday, declaring that the growth and expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem constitute a war crime.
Covering the period from Nov. 1, 2022, to Oct. 31, 2023, the report highlights a significant increase in the advancement of housing units within existing settlements in the West Bank, totaling around 24,300 units — the highest recorded in a year since monitoring began in 2017. It also condemns the recent surge in construction of new settlement homes.
U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk expressed deep concern over the escalating settler violence and settlement-related violations, warning that such actions jeopardize the feasibility of establishing a viable Palestinian state. Presenting the report to the Human Rights Council, Türk emphasized the urgency of addressing the crisis unfolding in the West Bank.
Referring to reports of Israel’s plans to construct nearly 3,500 settler homes in three areas, Türk condemned these actions as a blatant violation of international law.
“The creation and expansion of settlements involve the transfer of Israel’s population into occupied territories, constituting a war crime under international law,” Türk’s office stated, underscoring the gravity of the situation in the region.
