Kathmandu— Israel’s plans to construct a major new settlement in the occupied West Bank have drawn widespread condemnation from several countries including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada and Norway. The ‘E1’ plan involves opening construction tenders for over 1,200 housing units and is considered illegal under international law, threatening the territorial contiguity of Palestinian territories. Issued on Thursday, a joint statement warned of “legal and reputational consequences” for those involved in the project, while Egypt and Malaysia also voiced strong objections to the expansion.

Joint International Condemnation

A coalition of European nations and Canada released a joint statement on Thursday condemning Israel’s decision to move forward with construction tenders for over 1,200 housing units under the E1 settlement project. The group characterized the plans as “unacceptable” and a violation of Palestinian territorial contiguity, urging Israel to retract them immediately and cease all expansion of settlements in the West Bank. They further warned that the development would not only impede progress towards peace but also damage Israel’s international standing.

Regional Rejection of Settlement Expansion

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry echoed these concerns, issuing a statement expressing “complete rejection of attempts to entrench the status quo through illegal settlement expansion.” They called upon the international community to take decisive action to halt these violations. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also condemned the plans on social media, stating they “gravely undermine the prospect of a contiguous Palestinian homeland” and that Israel had abandoned “even the pretence of seeking peace or respecting the will of the international community.

UN Concerns and Rising Violence

The United Nations has also voiced its condemnation, with spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stating the secretary-general was “deeply alarmed by the reports of new illegal Israeli settlement outposts.” The E1 project, planned to include at least 3,400 units across roughly 12 square kilometers, would bisect the West Bank and sever its connection to East Jerusalem—a city Palestinians envision as the capital of their future state. This expansion comes amid rising violence in the region and increasing concerns over the displacement of Palestinian communities.

Settler Activity and Political Context

Israeli settlements are considered illegal under international law, but development has accelerated since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza in October 2023. Hardline Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich hailed the E1 plan last August as “historic,” boasting that “The Palestinian state is being erased from the table not with slogans but with actions.” Human Rights Watch reports dozens of Palestinian communities are at risk of erasure, and UN research indicates more Palestinians were forcibly displaced in the first four months of 2026 than in all of 2025. Analysts suggest this surge in settlement activity may be linked to Israel’s upcoming elections in October.

The international community continues to call for a halt to settlement expansion and a renewed commitment to peaceful negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, though the current trajectory suggests further entrenchment of the existing situation.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.