A general view shows the Israeli settlement of Efrat in the occupied West Bank. Reuters

Volker Turk told the UN Human Rights Council that establishing and continuing to expand settlements amounted to the transfer by Israel of its own civilian population into occupied territories, which "amount to a war crime" under international law.

Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories have expanded by a record amount and risk eliminating any practical possibly of a Palestinian state, the UN human rights chief said.

The US Biden administration said last month the settlements were "inconsistent" with international law after Israel announced new housing plans in the occupied West Bank.

"Settler violence and settlement-related violations have reached shocking new levels, and risk eliminating any practical possibility of establishing a viable Palestinian State," Turk said in a statement that accompanied the 16-page report.

The report, based on the UN's own monitoring as well as other sources, documented 24,300 new Israeli housing units in the occupied West Bank during a one-year period through to end-October 2023, which it said was the highest on record since monitoring began in 2017.

It also said there had been a dramatic increase in the intensity, severity and regularity of both Israeli settler and state violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, particularly since the Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct. 7.

Israel claims a biblical birthright to the land where settlers are expanding. Its military says it is conducting counter-terrorism operations in the West Bank and is targeting suspected militants.

Agencies