Israel continued its occupation policy in Palestinian territories and approved a new illegal settlement plan in East Jerusalem. The Jerusalem Municipality Planning and Construction Committee gave the green light to a project foreseeing the construction of 450 homes in the Umm Laysun area.
Israeli human rights organization Ir Amim emphasized that this decision is not an ordinary urban planning step but a clear political choice to expand illegal settlements. The organization reported that the main purpose of the project is to change the demographic structure of the region.
Approximately 800 Palestinian families live in Umm Laysun, and about 2,000 Israelis are planned to be settled on the illegally seized lands. This move represents a new phase of Israel's illegal settlement activities in occupied East Jerusalem.
Israel's Security Cabinet had previously approved a plan for the construction of 13 new illegal settlements in occupied East Jerusalem on July 2.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), in its advisory opinion dated July 19, 2024, confirmed that Israel is in the position of an occupying power in the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem and the West Bank. The court recommended that third states refrain from supporting the Israeli occupation.