UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned Israeli settlement activity in occupied territories, saying it undermines hopes for a viable Palestinian state. In a report on the implementation of Resolution 2334, Guterres warned that the recent suffering in Gaza is alarming and indicates the situation is at the brink of war, reiterating the call for an independent and transparent investigation into reasons behind the killing of dozens and injuring thousands of Palestinian civilians near the border fence with Israel. He stressed that unilateral steps taken by any party seeking to alter the status of Jerusalem constitutes an obstacle to peace. More so, the UN chief is in the process of preparing oral reports to the United Nations Security Council on the implementation of Resolution 2334. The resolution was adopted on December 23, 2016. It concerns the Israeli settlements in “Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem.” The resolution states that Israels settlement activity constitutes a “flagrant violation” of international law and has “no legal validity.” It demands that Israel stop such activity and fulfill its obligations as an occupying power under the Fourth Geneva Convention. Israeli settlement activity continues unabated, said the Secretary-General in his first written report, a copy of which was obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat, stressing that it undermines the hopes and prospects for a viable Palestinian state. Guterres added that Israels decision on May 30 to grant permits to build some 3,500 housing units in the occupied West Bank, the largest settlement expansion since June 2017, creates more obstacles for a negotiable two-state solution. He reiterated that all settlement activity in occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, constitutes a flagrant violation of international law, as defined in Resolution 2334, and must cease immediately and completely. Guterres added that the decision of the Israeli Supreme Court of May 24 to allow the demolition of almost all the buildings in Khan al-Ahmar, where a Bedouin community is rooted, puts the community at great risk, expressing concerns that the decision represents a major precedent and a threat to other nomadic pastoral communities all over Area C of the occupied West Bank.  Area C constitutes about 61 percent of the West Bank territory. Guterres called on the Israeli government to cease plans for going forward with the comprehensive demolition and transfer of the inhabitants of Khan al-Ahmar, reminding all parties that such acts inside the occupied territories could constitute a serious violation of international humanitarian law. Noting that the current period witnessed tremendous suffering for the people of Gaza and the most serious escalation since the 2014 Hamas-Israel conflict, Guterres said the situation is a warning to everyone about the gravity of the situation tip-toeing on the brink of war. He also expressed shock towards the number of deaths and injuries sustained by Palestinian victims as a result of the use of live fire by Israeli forces since the beginning of protests along the border fence with Gaza on March 30, explaining that Israel has the responsibility to exercise maximum restraint in the use of force and not resort to lethal force, unless the situation represents imminent life-threatening danger of death or injury.