UN demands Israel reverse settlement policies following 53 new West Bank approvals

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has formally warned the General Assembly that Israeli settlement expansion and forced displacements are fundamentally altering the legal and demographic reality of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Settlement Expansion and Land Confiscation A new UN report, released on Wednesday, 7 October, details administrative actions and measures taken by Israeli authorities between June 2025 and May 2026. During this period, the Israeli government approved 53 new settlements in the West Bank. The report also documented the establishment of 102 new outposts, bringing the total number of outposts to 375. According to UN data, plans were advanced or approved for approximately 24,580 housing units across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Secretary-General Guterres stated that these policies raise "growing concerns about the de facto annexation" of the territory. The UN chief emphasized that the continued confiscation of land and expansion of settlements undermine the territorial integrity of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the Palestinian people's right to self-determination. Displacement and Infrastructure Destruction The reporting period saw the displacement of 5,715 Palestinians. UN records show that since 7 October 2023, approximately 48,000 Palestinians have been forcibly displaced in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The report further documented the demolition, seizure, or evacuation of 1,171 structures. These…