Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories have expanded by a record amount, the UN human rights chief has said.
Volker Turk said the expansion risks eliminating any practical possibly of a Palestinian state.
He described the move as a war crime, saying it amounted to the transfer by Israel of its own population.
“Settler violence and settlement-related violations have reached shocking new levels, and risk eliminating any practical possibility of establishing a viable Palestinian state,” Mr Turk said in a statement.
His report, based on the UN’s own monitoring as well as other sources, documented 24,300 new Israeli housing units in the occupied West Bank during the year to October 2023.
It said this was the highest on record since monitoring began in 2017.
Last month, the US said the settlements were “inconsistent” with international law after Israel announced new housing plans in the occupied West Bank.
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