UNSC Condemns Zionist Settlement Expansion, Warns of Escalating Violations in Palestine
The United Nations Security Council convened its regular session Tuesday under the agenda item “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question,” amid growing international concern over the continued aggression against the Palestinian people and the expansion of illegal settlements by the zionist entity.
During the session, Ramiz Alakbarov briefed members on the Secretary-General’s report regarding the implementation of Resolution 2334, stressing that settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Al-Quds, remains at alarmingly high levels. The resolution clearly affirms that such settlements have “no legal validity” and constitute a flagrant violation of international law, as well as a major obstacle to achieving a just and lasting peace.
According to the report, between December 2025 and March 2026, the zionist entity approved more than 6,000 new housing units across the occupied West Bank and East Al-Quds. Alakbarov also highlighted the systematic demolition and seizure of Palestinian homes, noting the near-impossibility for Palestinians to obtain building permits under occupation policies designed to alter the demographic reality on the ground.
The UN official further exposed the continued forced displacement of Palestinians, particularly in occupied East Al-Quds, alongside escalating violence by zionist colonists operating under the protection of zionist forces. During the reporting period, at least 32 Palestinians, including seven children, were killed in raids and attacks, reflecting what many observers describe as a pattern of collective punishment and repression.
Daily assaults by colonists have intensified across the West Bank, often carried out in the presence of zionist forces, resulting in casualties, destruction of property, and further displacement of Palestinian families. The situation in Gaza remains equally dire, with the ceasefire described as extremely fragile amid ongoing aerial bombardments, shelling, and gunfire targeting civilian areas.
For his part, Nikolay Mladenov stressed the urgent need to keep the Rafah crossing open, ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid, and provide shelter for displaced civilians. He reiterated calls for the withdrawal of zionist forces and underscored the Palestinian people’s legitimate right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state.
International voices echoed strong condemnation of the ongoing violations. Asim Iftikhar Ahmad denounced the organized violence of colonists and called for an immediate halt to settlement expansion. Fu Cong warned that continued aggression in Gaza and settlement expansion undermine the foundations of the two-State solution, urging respect for international humanitarian law and an end to restrictions on aid delivery.
Meanwhile, James Kariuki described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as unacceptable, condemning restrictions on aid and the actions of colonists, which he said amount to terrorism that must be stopped. Representatives from France and Denmark also voiced concern over the accelerating pace of settlement expansion, the worsening humanitarian crisis, and the obstruction of international relief efforts.
Speakers stressed that the Palestinian cause cannot be sidelined and warned that continued violations by the zionist entity risk destroying any remaining prospects for peace. They called on the international community to act decisively to end the occupation, halt settlement activities, and ensure the realization of the Palestinian people’s inalienable rights, foremost among them the establishment of an independent state with East Al-Quds as its capital.
