More than 80 countries at the United Nations on Tuesday condemned Israel's adoption of new measures aimed at "expanding its illegal presence" in the occupied West Bank. According to a statement issued by the 85 countries, including France, China, Saudi Arabia, and Russia, in addition to several organizations such as the European Union and the League of Arab States, Israel’s move “contradicts Israel’s obligations under international law” and may “lead to a change in demographics.”

Published on: 02/18/2026 - 07:34 Last updated: 02/18/2026 - 10:22

To view this content from YouTube, it is necessary to allow the collection of viewing rates and YouTube ads.

It appears that an application in your Internet browser is preventing the video player from loading. In order to view this content, you must cancel its use.

In response to Israel's adoption of new measures aimed at "expanding its illegal presence" in the occupied West Bank, 85 countries at the United Nations denounced the move in a joint statement on Tuesday, expressing their fear that the annexation of Palestinian lands might lead to "a change in the demographic composition."

A week after Israel approved measures to facilitate the purchase of land by settlers, the Israeli government decided on Sunday to accelerate the process of registering lands in the West Bank, which has been occupied by the Hebrew state since 1967.

Read also: The Israeli security cabinet approves controversial measures to tighten control over the West Bank

The 85 member states of the United Nations, including France, China, Saudi Arabia, and Russia, in addition to many organizations such as the European Union and the League of Arab States, condemned "unilateral Israeli decisions and actions aimed at expanding the illegal Israeli presence in the West Bank."

She added in the statement issued in New York that "these decisions contradict Israel's obligations under international law and must be withdrawn immediately, while expressing categorical opposition to any form of annexation."

These countries also affirmed their "strong opposition to any form of annexation."

She continued, "We reaffirm our rejection of all measures aimed at changing the demographic composition, character and legal status of the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem."

It warned that "these policies constitute a violation of international law, undermine ongoing efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region, and threaten the chances of reaching a peace agreement that ends the conflict."

On Monday, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on Israel to “immediately reverse” its new measures, which “not only destabilize, but are also, as the International Court of Justice has confirmed, illegal.”

Settlement activities have continued under all Israeli governments since 1967, but their pace has accelerated significantly under the current government of Benjamin Netanyahu, which is considered one of the most right-wing governments in the history of Israel, especially since the start of the Gaza War on October 7, 2023.

Aside from East Jerusalem, which Israel occupied and annexed, more than 500,000 Israelis now live among about three million Palestinians in the West Bank, in settlements that the United Nations considers illegal under international law.

France 24/AFP

Keywords related to the article

The content you want to browse is no longer in service or is currently unavailable.