Guterres: Israeli Settlements Lack Legitimacy and Represent a Gross Violation of International Law

SadaNews - The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, affirmed that all Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem and its related infrastructure, lack any legal legitimacy and represent a gross violation of international law and all relevant United Nations resolutions.

Stefan Dujarric, the Secretary-General's spokesperson, stated during the daily press conference tonight that Guterres expressed his deep concern over the Israeli authorities granting "city" status to the Israeli settlement of "Givat Ze'ev" located in the occupied West Bank, emphasizing that this administrative classification does not change the legal status of the city under international law as part of the occupied Palestinian territory.

Dujarric noted that the Secretary-General reaffirms that Israeli settlements continue to pose a significant obstacle to achieving a two-state solution and establishing a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace, and that the Secretary-General continues to call on Israel to cease all colonial expansion activities and related measures, in line with relevant Security Council resolutions, referring to the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice on July 19, 2024.