UN Rapporteur Says Israeli Occupation Must End, Not Just E1 Settlement Plan
UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine Francesca Albanese has said that the issue is not limited to Israel’s controversial E1 settlement plan, arguing that the wider Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories must end.
In a statement, Albanese referred to the International Court of Justice’s 2024 advisory opinion, saying it made clear that the occupation itself, rather than only individual settlement projects, must come to an end. She also urged countries to reconsider economic ties with Israel and impose meaningful pressure.
Albanese accused Israeli forces and settlers of continuing violence in the occupied West Bank, including attacks affecting Palestinian access to water. She also said that Israeli attacks in Gaza were continuing despite the ceasefire.
According to figures cited in the report, more than 1,200 Palestinians, including hundreds of children, have been killed since the ceasefire. Gaza’s Health Ministry later put the reported death toll from ceasefire violations at at least 1,283, with more than 4,200 people injured.
Her comments followed criticism from several European countries and Canada over Israel’s decision to move forward with construction tenders linked to the E1 settlement project.
The E1 area, east of Jerusalem, covers about 12 square kilometres and is intended to connect the settlement of Maale Adumim with Jerusalem. Palestinian rights groups and critics warn that development there could divide the West Bank and make the creation of a viable Palestinian state more difficult.
Albanese described the situation as decades of occupation and called for stronger international action, arguing that continued inaction has allowed settlement expansion and violence to persist.
