UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday expressed alarm over reports of new illegal Israeli settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank and called on Israel to cease further actions in this regard.
"He's particularly concerned about the developments related to this E1 settlement, which would effectively sever the connection between the northern and the southern West Bank," Stephane Dujarric, the UN chief's spokesperson, told a daily press briefing Wednesday.
"As such, it would have severe consequences for the territorial integrity of the occupied Palestinian territory and present an existential threat to the two-state solution," Dujarric said.
Guterres calls on Israel to refrain from taking any further steps in this regard and to act in accordance with relevant UN resolutions in line with the International Court of Justice advisory opinion of July 19, 2024, Dujarric said.
In its advisory opinion, the court found that Israel's continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory was unlawful. The court declared that Israel was required to end that presence "as rapidly as possible," immediately cease all new settlement activity, evacuate all settlers, and make reparation for the damage caused by its acts. ■
