Nablus, Palestinian territories – The United Nations has expressed deep concern over the increasing violence in the West Bank following the deaths of two Palestinian men at the hands of Israeli settlers in a village south of Nablus. The UN’s human rights office called on Israeli security forces to immediately cease supporting settler attacks on Palestinians in the occupied territory.
Tensions have been on the rise in the West Bank, with clashes occurring as settlers enter Palestinian-owned land and assault residents. The recent violence, which resulted in the deaths of two Palestinians, comes on the heels of the killing of a 14-year-old boy from a settler family over the weekend.
Reports indicate that Israeli security forces or armed settlers have been involved in the deaths of eight Palestinians since Friday, sparking outrage among Palestinian authorities. Eyewitnesses and video footage suggest that the Israeli security forces were present at some of the incidents but did not intervene to stop the violence.
One of the witnesses to Monday’s settler attack, Salah Bani Jaber, the mayor of Aqraba, described the scene as about 50 armed settlers attacking members of his community, resulting in the death of two Palestinian youths and injuries to others. The Palestine Red Crescent Society reported that its ambulances were blocked from reaching the wounded by Israeli soldiers.
In a statement, the UN’s human rights office condemned the recent wave of settler attacks on Palestinians, calling for an immediate end to Israeli security forces’ support for such violence. The office emphasized the need for those responsible to be held accountable through a transparent and impartial judicial process.
The West Bank, occupied by Israel since 1967, has seen a surge in violence, with at least 468 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces or settlers since the eruption of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza in October. The situation has led the US and UK to impose sanctions on violent settlers involved in displacing Palestinian communities from their land.
In February, the UK imposed sanctions on four Israeli nationals for their involvement in violent attacks against Palestinians. The UK Foreign Secretary emphasized the need for Israel to take stronger action to curb settler violence and protect Palestinian rights. The Foreign Office noted a significant increase in settler violence in the West Bank over the past year.