ATHENS

Austria on Monday condemned Israel’s latest move to expand illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.

“Austria condemns Israel's designation of 13 outposts as new settlements in the West Bank, further undermining the prospects for a two-state solution,” Austria’s Foreign Ministry posted on X.

“We urge Israel to reverse this decision and end its illegal settlement policy, which violates international law,” it added.

On Sunday, Israel’s Security Cabinet approved a plan to separate 13 settlement outposts from neighboring communities in the occupied West Bank and legalize them.

Palestinian reports estimate that by the end of 2024, approximately 770,000 illegal Israeli settlers were living in 180 settlements and 256 outposts across the occupied territory.

The United Nations considers all Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories illegal under international law and warns that continued expansion threatens efforts for a two-state solution.

Tension has been running high across the occupied West Bank, where at least 937 Palestinians have been killed and over 7,000 injured in attacks by the Israeli army and illegal settlers since the start of the Gaza onslaught on Oct. 7, 2023, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

In July, the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s longstanding occupation of Palestinian territories illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.