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| UN Chief Antonio Guterres Image Credit: Google |
United Nations
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on Israel to “cease all
settlement activities” in occupied Palestinian territory.
He described Israeli
plans to advance the building of settlement as tantamount to “escalating
tensions” and “obstructing the path to lasting peace”.
Violent Clashes in Jenin Refugee Camp Prompt Criticism:
Five
Palestinians, including a 15-year-old boy, were killed, and over 90 others were
injured in intense clashes.
The clashes
erupted when Israeli forces conducted a raid on the Jenin refugee camp in the
occupied West Bank.
This incident
marks the fiercest confrontation in years, involving Palestinian fighters and
Israeli troops.
UN Chief Condemns Settlement Expansion as a Violation of International Law:
The UN
Secretary-General's spokesperson, Farhan Haq, reiterated that settlements are a
clear violation of international law.
Haq emphasized
that the expansion of these illegal settlements intensifies tensions, hampers
humanitarian efforts, and undermines the rights of the Palestinian people to “self-determination
and sovereignty”.
.@antonioguterres is deeply troubled by the Israeli Government’s decision to amend settlement planning procedures.
— UN Spokesperson (@UN_Spokesperson) June 20, 2023
He urges Israel to immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Full statement: https://t.co/2VEUluS7bf
Israel's Settlement Planning Amendments Raise Alarms:
Guterres
expressed deep concern over Israel's decision to expedite settlement planning
procedures.
This will pave
the way for the construction of new settlements in the occupied West Bank and
East Jerusalem.
The approval of
over 4,000 settlement housing units and the amendment of planning processes
have sparked international criticism as well.
Israel's Settlement Expansion Draws International Criticism:
The United
States, Israel's closest ally, expressed profound concern over the settlement
expansion plans and changes to the approval processes.
Palestinian
groups fear that this expansion could lead to full Israeli control over the
entire West Bank, deeming it a dangerous escalation.
Call for Action:
Khaled Elgindy,
a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, stressed that strong words from
the UN chief must be accompanied by concrete actions.
Key players like the United States and the
European Union should intervene into the matter.
“Without
meaningful consequences, such actions are likely to be ignored,” he said, by
emphasizing the necessity for tangible steps on the ground.
(Courtesy:
Al-Jazeera)
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