In a significant diplomatic move, the Group of Seven (G7) nations—comprising the world’s most advanced industrialized democracies—have issued a forceful condemnation of Israel’s recent authorization of 19 new settlement units within the occupied West Bank. The joint statement, released on Wednesday, characterized these unilateral actions as clear violations of international law that potentially escalate regional instability.
The United States notably abstained from endorsing the collective declaration, which garnered additional support from several European countries including Belgium, Denmark, Iceland, Ireland, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, and Spain. The signatories emphatically reiterated their opposition to territorial annexation and settlement expansion policies, specifically referencing the controversial E1 settlement project and thousands of planned housing units.
The diplomatic communication further emphasized that such measures undermine the implementation of President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace proposal for Gaza. While Washington has reportedly expressed private frustrations regarding Israel’s actions—particularly given previous assurances against West Bank annexation—Secretary of State Marco Rubio deferred questions about settlement expansion and settler violence against Palestinians to the US embassy in Jerusalem.
The recent approval of settlements was orchestrated by Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who openly acknowledges that these measures intend to obstruct the formation of a Palestinian state. This development coincides with concerning cartographic analyses by The New York Times illustrating how Israeli settlements are progressively consuming West Bank territory, drawing comparisons to South Africa’s apartheid-era bantustan system.
All signatory nations except Japan have formally recognized the State of Palestine at various points throughout this year, reinforcing their commitment to a negotiated two-state solution as the only viable path toward lasting peace in the region.