The Spanish government on May 30th condemned Israel’s recent approval of 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, Middle East Eye reported.
In a statement, Spain’s Foreign Ministry said the settlements “are illegal under international law, undermine the viability of the two-state solution, and are a threat to peace.”
Madrid also expressed “deepest dismay” at the escalation of Israeli military operations in the West Bank, specifically around the Jenin, Tulkarem, and Nur Shams refugee camps.
According to Anadolu Agency, on May 30th, Spain’s statement also condemned the demolition of Palestinian homes, rising settler violence, and the forced uproot of thousands of Palestinians.
Middle East Eye via Wafa news agency reported on May 1st, that settlers accompanied by Israeli military personnel attacked Palestinians from the west of Asira al-Qibliya, according to the leader of the village council.
Meanwhile, the UN humanitarian agency took to X to say: “Aid groups are stepping in, but we must not let the West Bank become another Gaza.”
According to its monthly update, the Israeli conflict displaced 44,285 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank during January and February – with 38,710 of them being displaced due to military activity.
Reaffirming its position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Spain emphasised the necessity of a political resolution based on the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
“Peace in the region requires the realization of a sovereign Palestinian state, comprising Gaza and the West Bank, with East Jerusalem as its capital,” Madrid said.
On May 28th, Israel confirmed the formation of 22 new settlements in the West Bank, according to Al-Monitor via AFP.
The international community, including the United Nations, considers Israeli settlements illegal under international law. The UN has repeatedly warned that ongoing settlement expansion threatens the viability of the two-state solution, a framework widely regarded as essential to resolving the long-standing conflict.
In July 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land is illegal and called for the evacuation of all existing settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, The New Arab and agencies reported
The ICJ’s ruling was met with outrage from Israeli officials, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responding that “the Jewish nation cannot be an occupier in its own land”.
Middle East Eye, Anadolu Agency, Al-Monitor via AFP, The New Arab
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