Global Outcry: 14 Nations Slam Israel's West Bank Settlement Expansion

• Fourteen nations, including France, UK, and Canada, condemned Israel's approval of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank.
• The joint statement, issued by the French foreign ministry, opposed "any form of annexation and to the expansion of settlement policies."
• The approval increases West Bank settlements by nearly 50% during the current government's tenure, from 141 to 210, according to Peace Now.
• Settlements are widely considered illegal under international law and undermine efforts for a Palestinian state.
• Separately, PM Netanyahu vowed retaliation after an Israeli officer was injured by a blast in Gaza, while Hamas denied responsibility.

Why It Matters: 14 nations denounce Israel's new West Bank settlements, highlighting international law violations.