Berlin: The German Foreign Ministry on Monday condemned the Israeli government’s decision to recognize 13 so-called neighborhoods in the occupied West Bank as independent settlements. The ministry expressed its disapproval of the decision, emphasizing that such settlement policies violate international law and obstruct the possibility of achieving a two-state solution by hindering the establishment of a viable Palestinian state.
According to Qatar News Agency, the ministry also criticized the actions of the Israeli forces in the besieged Palestinian Gaza Strip. It strongly opposed the new body proposed by Israel aimed at facilitating the voluntary exodus of Palestinians from the Strip. The German Foreign Ministry urged the resumption of humanitarian aid access to Gaza, including essential services like water and electricity. It also stressed the importance of ensuring access to medical care in accordance with international humanitarian law.
The statement from the German Foreign Ministry follows the Israeli Security Cabinet’s approval of a proposal to separate 13 settlements in the West Bank, paving the way for their legalization.