The United Kingdom has joined a coalition of 11 nations at the United Nations in Geneva to issue a joint statement warning that the viability of a two-state solution in the Middle East is being systematically undermined.
The statement, delivered on 22 September 2026 during the 63rd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council, declared Israeli settlements illegal under international law and a “serious obstacle” to lasting peace. The intervention was supported by a specific grouping comprising the UK, Canada, France, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden.
Kumar Iyer CMG, the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, delivered the remarks at the Palais des Nations. The coalition confirmed it is actively considering, or has already implemented, various restrictions targeting individuals and entities that facilitate, support, or profit from settlement activity.
Broad Human Rights Concerns
The joint statement was part of the “Item 4” General Debate, a procedural stage of the Human Rights Council reserved for situations that require the Council’s urgent attention. While the 11-nation coalition focused on the Middle East, the UK used its individual capacity during the session to highlight further global human rights priorities.
British representatives reiterated calls for the repeal of the National Security Law in Hong Kong and the immediate release of the publisher and activist Jimmy Lai. The UK also drew attention to the situation in Iran, reporting that at least 30 protesters have been executed by the state since January 2026.
The 63rd session of the Human Rights Council began on 7 September and is scheduled to conclude on 7 October 2026. During this month-long period, member states are expected to vote on a series of resolutions regarding international legal compliance and the monitoring of conflict zones.
Diplomatic sources indicate that the current session is particularly focused on the procedural context of international law, with the UK and its European and North American partners seeking to maintain pressure on various regimes regarding the treatment of political detainees and the conduct of territorial disputes.
