UK 'strongly' condemns Israeli seizure of 800 hectares of land in occupied Palestinian territory

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - Britain joined other European countries Wednesday in condemning the Israeli seizure of 800 hectares (1,976 acres) of land in the Jordan Valley in the occupied West Bank.

"The size of the area designated for seizure is the largest since the Oslo Accords, agreed over 30 years ago," a Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement.

Saying that 2024 marks an "unacceptable peak" in land seizures, the UK called on the Israeli government to halt this seizure and all others immediately.

"Our policy is clear: settlements are illegal under international law and only make it harder to progress to achieving peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians," the statement added.

The Israeli government reportedly seized 800 hectares in the Jordan Valley region of the occupied West Bank, claiming it as "state land," according to a report on Israel's state television channel, KAN.

It was reported that the seized land could be used for the construction of illegal Jewish settlements.