UN chief tells Israel to halt West Bank expansion, end Gaza assault

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has demanded that Israel scrap its decision to expand settlements in the occupied West Bank, warning the plan violates international law.

The proposal, approved this week by an Israeli Defence Ministry body, would slice through the West Bank and sever it from East Jerusalem. Guterres called the project “illegal” and urged Israel to reverse course.

Speaking in Japan, where he is attending the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, the UN chief also appealed for an immediate truce in Gaza. His remarks came as Israel began the first stage of a military push into Gaza City.

“It is vital to reach immediately a ceasefire in Gaza,” Guterres said, stressing it was needed “to avoid the death and destruction that a military operation against Gaza City would inevitably cause.”