France Joins 13 Other Countries in Condemning Israel's Expansion of West Bank Settlements

On December 24, 2025, fourteen countries, including France, the UK, Canada, and Japan, jointly condemned Israel's recent approval of 19 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. The approval comes amid heightened settlement activity following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, and is justified by Israeli authorities as a security measure to prevent a 'terrorist Palestinian state.'

The foreign ministries of the involved countries released a joint statement underscoring that the expansion violates international law, particularly in contravention of UN Security Council Resolution 2334. They warned that such actions threaten ongoing peace efforts related to Gaza and undermine prospects for lasting peace and security in the region.

The statement reaffirmed the international coalition’s commitment to Palestinian self-determination and a two-state solution envisioning peaceful coexistence between Israel and an independent Palestine within recognized borders. France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its opposition to any annexation policies or colonization efforts.

The Palestinian Authority strongly criticized the plan, labeling it a continuation of apartheid and colonization that erodes Palestinian rights and regional stability. Currently, over 500,000 Israelis reside in settlements regarded as illegal by the United Nations within a West Bank population of approximately three million Palestinians. A recent UN report highlighted the record growth of Israeli settlements since 2017, with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressing concern about escalating violence involving settlers and Israeli security forces.

This coordinated international condemnation underscores global concern that the expansion of settlements jeopardizes peace prospects and exacerbates an already volatile situation in the region. The countries involved have urged Israel to reverse its decision and halt further settlement expansion immediately.