Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Mexico condemned the Israeli announcement to further expand settlement in the occupied West Bank on Friday, February 17, 2023.

In a joint statement, the Latin countries expressed concerns about Israel’s announcement last Sunday that it would normalize nine existing settlement outposts and advance plans for the construction of 10,000 new settlements.

“These unilateral measures constitute serious violations of international law and the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council,” the statement read.

Earlier on Monday, a joint statement by foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States condemned the Israeli announcement of further settlements in the occupied West Bank.

Under international law, settlement activities are illegal. Moreover, most states and international parties have long recognized that Israeli settlements are illegal under international law.

However, the Israeli far-right new government has settlement expansion at the top of its priorities. More settlement projects have been announced since the start of 2023.

Up to half a million Israeli settlers live currently in more than 200 settlements built on Palestinian land considered illegal under international law.