Britain has strongly condemned the Israeli government’s decision to approve plans for the construction of 19 new illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, warning that the move further entrenches occupation and gravely undermines prospects for peace.

In a statement posted on X, British Minister of State for the Middle East Hamish Falconer said the United Kingdom “condemns the Israeli government’s plan to establish 19 new settlements in Palestine,” stressing that such settlements are illegal under international law.

Falconer underscored that the expansion of Israeli colonies in occupied Palestinian territory poses a direct threat to regional stability and sabotages efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace. He noted that the decision also risks derailing any meaningful peace plan related to Gaza, where Palestinians continue to endure devastating humanitarian conditions.

“The expansion of settlements undermines hopes for lasting peace and security,” Falconer said, adding that a viable resolution to the conflict can only be achieved through a two-state solution based on international law.

Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are widely regarded as illegal under international law, a position reaffirmed by the United Nations and the vast majority of the international community. Despite repeated global condemnation, Israel has continued to expand and legalize settlements, a policy Palestinians and human rights organizations describe as a central pillar of land confiscation, displacement, and apartheid.

Britain’s condemnation comes amid growing international concern over Israel’s actions in the occupied territories, as well as escalating violence and deepening humanitarian crises across Palestine. Observers warn that continued settlement expansion further erodes the possibility of establishing a sovereign Palestinian state and entrenches a reality of permanent occupation. (ILKHA)