India on Wednesday joined the list of 100 United Nations (UN) member countries that have condemned Israel’s expansion in the West Bank region, according to an official statement seen by Mint. Although India was absent from the original group of 85 signatories, it later joined the expanded coalition of 100 countries.
The Palestinian Mission to the United Nations shared a joint statement on its social media platforms. The joint statement was also supported by three international blocs, the League of Arab States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the European Union.
The statement read: “We strongly condemn unilateral Israeli decisions and measures aimed at expanding Israel’s illegal presence in the West Bank. Such decisions are contrary to Israel’s obligations under international law and must be immediately reversed. In this regard, we emphasize our strong opposition to any form of annexation.”
Member countries that have signed the declaration include Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, France, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Greece, Egypt, Dominican Republic, Salonika Republic, Egypt Guyana, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Republic of Korea, Qatar, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Qatar, Republic of the Philippines, O Federated Republic of Korea, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Gambia, Türkiye, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vietnam, Yeubaba, Vietnam, Vanuat, Vanuat
According to a report by The Wire, Israel has expanded construction in the occupied West Bank in recent months and eased bureaucratic procedures to strengthen its control over the area. On February 15, the government took a new decision to start a land regulation process that could allow it to take control of large parts of the territory.
According to an AP report, the decision paves the way for the restart of a “land title settlement” process in the West Bank region that has been suspended since the 1967 Middle East war. Under the process, once Israel starts registering land in a particular area, anyone claiming ownership must provide documents to prove their rights to it.
Israel kills two in Gaza, blocks thousands from medical exit
Al Jazeera reported on Wednesday (local time) that Israeli fire resulted in the deaths of two Palestinians in separate incidents in the Gaza Strip. This comes after the Israeli government continues to block thousands of people from seeking medical help through the partially open Rafah crossing.
According to the latest figures from the Palestinian Ministry of Health, over 600 Palestinians have been killed and more than 1,600 injured since the “truce” that Israel allegedly violates daily came into effect in mid-October.