The Arab Group at the United Nations has called on the international community to take decisive action to halt Israel’s ongoing violations in the occupied Palestinian territories.
In a statement delivered by Saudi Arabia’s UN envoy Abdulaziz al-Wasel at a press conference at the Security Council on Thursday, the group rejected all Israeli measures aimed at changing the legal and historical status of the occupied Palestinian territories, including Jerusalem.
The group held Israel responsible for expanding settlements, undermining Palestinian rights and attempting to impose new realities on the ground.
It also rejected any Israeli plans or measures that could lead to the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, urging urgent international action to stop such policies.
The statement came as Israeli attacks on Gaza continued, with 12 Palestinians martyred on Thursday in strikes targeting residential apartments and civilians in Gaza City.
In the West Bank and Jerusalem, Israeli raids, arrests, settlement expansion and settler attacks have also intensified.
On Wednesday, Israel’s Higher Planning Council approved plans for 2,162 new settlement units in the occupied West Bank, including in settlements near Bethlehem, Nablus and al-Khalil.
Palestinians say the projects are part of Israel’s accelerated policy of land seizure and settlement expansion, while international law considers settlements in occupied territory illegal.
Source: The Palestinian Information Center
