UNRWA chief says new Israeli West Bank measures strike another blow to international law

The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees has condemned Israel's latest moves in the occupied West Bank as “a new blow against international law.” Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA, stated the measures pave the way for accelerated settlement expansion and further undermine prospects for a viable Palestinian future.

A Recipe for Control and Despair

In a post on the social media platform X late Tuesday, Lazzarini warned that the decisions “amount to a recipe for increased control, hopelessness and violence.” He emphasized that the steps set dangerous precedents with potential ripple effects beyond the region, asserting they erode the foundations of international law.

Measures to Strengthen Israeli Control

Lazzarini’s remarks followed Sunday’s approval by Israel’s Security Cabinet of measures aimed at altering the legal and administrative framework in the occupied territory. According to Israeli media reports, the decisions include repealing a longstanding ban on the sale of Palestinian land to private Israeli individuals, unsealing land ownership records, and transferring building permit authority in a Hebron-area settlement bloc from Palestinian to Israeli administrative control.

Context of Escalating Tensions

The move occurs amid escalating Israeli settlement activity and heightened military operations in the West Bank since the outbreak of war in Gaza in October 2023. Palestinians and much of the international community view such policies as steps toward formal annexation, which is considered illegal under international law.