UN Security Council Condemns Israeli Settlement Expansion and Annexation

The United Nations Security Council convened a series of sessions on June 29 and 30, 2026, to address the acceleration of Israeli settlement activities in occupied Palestinian territories. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres reported that military raids and settlement growth have caused the most severe displacement of Palestinians since 1967, while Deputy Special Coordinator Ramiz Alakbarov warned that these activities violate international law and threaten the viability of a sovereign Palestinian state.

During the sessions, France announced the imposition of sanctions on individuals linked to violent settlement activity and the restriction of settlement-produced goods. The Palestinian representative described Israeli annexation as an act of war, specifically highlighting the E1 area as an existential threat to a two-state solution. Pakistan urged the Council to ensure Israeli compliance with international law and requested the restoration of withheld Palestinian Authority funds.

Representatives from the United States emphasized that transitioning the current Gaza ceasefire into a lasting peace requires the disarmament of Hamas. Meanwhile, Greece pledged support for the Horizon Fund to assist in Gaza's reconstruction, citing the region's dire humanitarian conditions. The discussions highlighted a growing international divide over the methods to achieve regional stability, with many members asserting that an independent Palestinian state based on 1967 borders remains the only viable path to peace.