According to a UN spokeswoman, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres asked Israel to halt and reverse settlement activity in the occupied West Bank, which he called a troubling decision.

The Secretary-General reiterates that the settlements are a flagrant breach of international law, said UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq. They represent a significant barrier to peace and a workable two-state solution. He made the point that the growth of these unlawful settlements is a significant source of unrest and violence and raises the demand for humanitarian aid.

Israel made adjustments to how it handled the settlement issue that allowed it to increase its pace in an unprecedented level, and the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations all stated earlier that they opposed these changes and viewed them as procedures that halt the peace process.