French Foreign Ministry on Thursday condemned firmly the proposed new Israeli settlements that doomed to further hamper efforts to resume talks and end the peace deadlock in the Middle East.

Following Israel's "illegal decision" to expand settlement building by new 2,610 homes, "France and its European partners in the U.N. Security Council ... expressed their deep concern and strong opposition," the ministry said.

In a statement, the Quai d'Orsay questioned Israeli government on its real "commitment in favor of the two-state solution" as the country's unprecedented stimulus settlement projects is a challenge that "further undermines the trust necessary for the resumption of negotiations."

The peace process between Israel and the Palestinians came to a halt in 2010 over growing criticism of Israel's expansion of its West Bank settlements.

France was the first European state to confirm it would vote for upgrading the Palestinians' status at the UN from "entity" to "non-member state", urging the two sides to resume talks and reach a deal that could pave the way for the creation of two states and guarantee peace in the conflict-torn region.