Fourteen international locations, together with Italy, condemn new settlements within the West Bank | EUROtoday

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Fourteen international locations, together with Italy, France, Britain, Canada and Japan, have condemned Israel’s current approval of latest settlements within the West Bank. “We, the 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,” in keeping with a joint assertion launched by the French Foreign Ministry. “We recall our clear opposition to any form of annexation and the expansion of settlement policies,” the assertion learn.

These actions – provides the joint assertion, reported in a observe from the Farnesina – «danger compromising the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan for Gaza, within the context of efforts to advance in the direction of section 2and undermine the prospects for long-term peace and safety throughout the area.” “We reiterate our clear opposition to any form of annexation and the expansion of settlement policies, including the approval of the E1 settlement and thousands of new housing units,” reads the statement, in which the countries urge “Israel to reverse this decision, as well as the expansion of settlements, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334.” “We are steadfast in our support for the Palestinians’ right to self-determination. We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, based on the two-State solutionaccording to the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, in which two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace and security, within secure and recognized borders. We reaffirm that there is no alternative to a negotiated two-state solution,” the statement concludes.

Hamas and Ankara

In Ankara, the Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan meets representatives of the political office of Hamas to discuss theceasefire agreement in Gaza and progress towards the second phase. According to a Turkish ministry source, the movement claims to have met the requirements of the first phase, but accuses Israeli “steady assaults” of preventing the implementation of the next phase. In the same conversation, Hamas states that the humanitarian aid arriving in the Strip is not sufficient and indicates specific needs: medicines, accommodation equipment and fuel.

Hamas: «No positive signals» on international strength

From Gaza City, Hamas’ interpretation hardens further. The spokesperson Basem Naim says he sees “no constructive indicators” towards the creation of an international stabilization force for Gazaforeseen in the second phase of the Trump plan, and accuses Tel Aviv of postponing its implementation because it would involve the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces, the opening of the crossings and the start of reconstruction. In an interview with the Palestinian newspaper Filastín, close to the group, Naim claims that the “occupation” continues to violate the provisions of the first phase, compromising any progresswhile Hamas would continue to fulfill its obligations “regardless of critical violations”. The explicit request is for the United States to give guarantees and put pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu and his government.

Israel: «Hamas violates the truce and refuses to disarm»

On the Israeli side, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office released a statement that condemns Hamas for “persevering with violations” of the ceasefire and “President Trump’s 20-point plan”. The central point, for Israel, is the “public refusal to disarm”, defined as a “steady and flagrant” violation. In the identical observe the detonation of a bomb that might have injured an IDF officerindicated as affirmation of the group’s intentions and violations.