UN Human Rights Human Rights Volker Türk said that Israel’s accelerated settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory is equivalent to war crimes.
Turik’s office said it documented a widespread Israeli violation of Israel’s international law in a report released on Tuesday.
Although the finalization of such crimes is in the court, the International Criminal Court in The Hague is currently investigating possible war crimes committed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian militants leaders.
The Israeli government often dismissed findings from the UN Human Rights Office and the Human Rights Council, accusing the two Geneva-based institutions of bias against Israel.
Settlement expansion and surge in Palestine displacement
“Israel’s transfer of some of its own civilians to occupied territory is equivalent to a crime of war,” Turke said.
His office details a surge in settlement activity between the West Bank and East Jerusalem from 1 November 2023 to 31 October 2024.
In East Jerusalem alone, preliminary steps were taken to build 20,000 new housing units. During the Six Days War in 1967, Israel captured and annexed East Jerusalem. Annexation is not recognized under international law.
In addition, plans for more than 10,300 new housing units in existing West Bank settlements have been unveiled. The report noted that during the reporting period, 49 new settlers outposts were established, more than they have been established in the past 12 months.
