A group of 14 countries— Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Iceland, Ireland, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, the UK, and Japan—issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s approval of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, warning the move violates international law and threatens regional stability, according to Anadolu.
The statement warned that approval of more and more settlements would undermine the Comprehensive Plan for Gaza and damage prospects for long-term peace and security. The signatories reiterated their opposition to annexation and settlement expansion.