ISTANBUL

Türkiye on Wednesday condemned Israel’s illegal settlement expansion in the occupied Palestinian territories, calling it “completely unacceptable.”

"We strongly condemn the Israeli authorities' expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, while continuing their barbaric attacks against the civilian population in Gaza," Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry added it is "completely unacceptable" that Israel approved a plan to build approximately 1,800 settlements on 186 acres of land in East Jerusalem.

"The acts of terror and violence carried out by the Israeli security forces and settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are concrete indicators of Israel's strategy of attrition and intimidation against the Palestinian people and state."

It also said: "Israel’s expansionist mentality seriously undermines the prerequisite principles for permanent peace, and these actions are further violations of international law perpetrated by Israel."

Israel occupied East Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War (Six-Day War). It annexed the entire city in 1980, in a move never recognized by the international community.

Under international law, all Jewish settlements in the occupied territories are considered illegal.

Israel last week resumed its military offensive on the Gaza Strip after the end of a weeklong humanitarian pause with Hamas.

At least 16,248 Palestinians have been killed and more than 43,616 wounded in relentless air and ground attacks on the enclave since Oct. 7, following a cross-border attack by Hamas.

The Israeli death toll in the Hamas attack stood at 1,200, according to official figures.