UN Secretary-General Denounces Escalating Israeli Settler Violence and Record Settlement Expansion in West Bank

UN Chief Expresses Grave Concern Over West Bank Situation

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a strong condemnation of the escalating violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians and their property in the occupied West Bank. Speaking on multiple occasions in late 2025, including before the UN Security Council and the Human Rights Council, Guterres highlighted a disturbing rise in incidents and a significant expansion of Israeli settlement activities, which he stated are in clear violation of international law.

Record Surge in Violence and Settlement Growth

The Secretary-General's denouncement comes amidst alarming reports detailing a sharp increase in both settler violence and settlement construction. According to UN humanitarian data, 2025 has witnessed an unprecedented surge in settler attacks, with 1,680 incidents documented as of December 11, averaging approximately five attacks per day across more than 270 communities. These attacks have resulted in injuries to 1,110 Palestinians and widespread destruction of property, including homes, infrastructure, and agricultural lands, particularly during the olive harvest season.

Concurrently, 2025 has seen the largest growth in Israeli settlement plans since UN monitoring began in 2017. Reports indicate that plans for nearly 47,390 housing units were advanced, approved, or tendered during the year, a substantial increase compared to 26,170 in 2024. This relentless expansion, Guterres warned, 'continues to fuel tensions, impede access by Palestinians to their land and threaten the viability of a fully independent, democratic, contiguous and sovereign Palestinian State.'

Settlements Deemed Illegal Under International Law

Guterres unequivocally stated that 'All settlements are illegal and invalid, representing a clear violation of international law.' This position is consistent with long-standing international consensus. The International Court of Justice (ICJ), in its advisory opinions, including one in July 2024, reaffirmed the illegality of Israeli settlements and called on Israel to cease all new settlement activities and evacuate settlers from the occupied territories. Furthermore, UN Security Council Resolution 2334 (2016) explicitly states that Israel's settlement enterprise has 'no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law.'

The UN chief emphasized that 'International law – including international humanitarian law and international human rights law -- must be upheld across the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.' He also highlighted that Israel, as the occupying power, has a duty to protect Palestinian civilians and ensure accountability for those responsible for attacks.

Calls for Accountability and a Two-State Solution

The Secretary-General's statements underscore the urgent need for accountability and an end to impunity. He stressed that the current crisis is 'born of human decisions' and 'can be resolved through human choices – if there is the political will to act.' Guterres reiterated his call for an 'irreversible path to a two-state solution,' emphasizing that the 'endless cycle of violence must be broken' and the 'perverse and prolonged suffering' inflicted on the Palestinian people must end.

The international community, including the E5 group of European members of the UN Security Council (Denmark, France, Greece, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom), has echoed these concerns, condemning the record wave of settler violence and warning that Israeli policies are destabilizing the region and undermining peace prospects.