Fourteen countries, including France, Britain, and Germany, condemned on Wednesday Israel's recent approval of new settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Earlier this week, Israel's security cabinet approved 19 more settlements, bringing the number granted permission in the past three years to around 70.
"We, States of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom condemn the approval by the Israeli security cabinet of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank," said a joint statement released by the French foreign ministry.
"We recall our clear opposition to any form of annexation and to the expansion of settlement policies," it added.
The countries stressed such unilateral actions "violate international law" and risk undermining a fragile ceasefire in Gaza as mediators push for the implementation of the second phase of the truce. They urged Israel "to reverse this decision, as well as the expansion of settlements".
They also reaffirmed their "unwavering comm
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