The Spanish government strongly condemned on Friday the Israeli occupation authorities' approval of establishing 22 new settlements in the West Bank.

In an official statement, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that "settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law, undermine the viability of the two-state solution, and pose a threat to peace."

The statement expressed the Spanish government's deep concern over escalating military operations in the West Bank, including attacks on refugee camps in Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams, along with civilian demolitions, increasing settler violence, and the forced displacement of thousands of Palestinians - all constituting violations of international humanitarian law.

It stressed that regional peace requires establishing a sovereign Palestinian state comprising Gaza and the West Bank with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Media reports indicated that the so-called "mini-ministerial cabinet" (Cabinet) approved on Thursday the establishment of 22 new West Bank settlements and the conversion of outposts into formal settlements. This expansionist move comes ahead of Saudi Arabia and France co-chairing a UN conference next June aimed at advancing the two-state solution and establishing an independent Palestinian state.