Nablus, Palestinian territories – The United Nations has raised serious concerns over the recent escalation of violence in the West Bank, urging Israeli security forces to immediately cease supporting settler attacks on Palestinians in the region. This comes after two Palestinian men tragically lost their lives over the weekend near Nablus due to an attack by Israeli settlers, adding to the growing tension in the area.
According to Palestinian accounts, the incident was sparked by a clash when settlers encroached on Palestinian-owned land and assaulted residents. On the other hand, settlers claim that the violence began with an assault on a Jewish individual. The situation has been exacerbated by the killing of a 14-year-old boy from a settler family, further inflaming tensions in the already volatile region.
The violence on Monday resulted in the death of two Palestinians by Israeli forces or armed settlers, bringing the total number of fatalities to eight since Friday. Reports from Palestinian authorities indicate a surge in attacks by settlers across the West Bank, with disturbing accounts of Israeli security forces allegedly failing to intervene in some incidents.
Mayor Salah Bani Jaber of Aqraba witnessed the settler attack on Monday, where around 50 armed settlers reportedly targeted members of his community, resulting in casualties. The Palestine Red Crescent Society reported encountering obstacles from soldiers that hindered their emergency response efforts in the area, raising concerns about the lack of access to medical aid for the injured.
The UN’s human rights office condemned the recent wave of attacks on Palestinians by Israeli settlers, emphasizing the need for Israeli authorities to hold perpetrators accountable. The office called for an immediate end to settler violence, urging a transparent and impartial investigation into any criminal acts committed, including murder or other unlawful killings.
The West Bank, a region under Israeli occupation since 1967, has witnessed a surge in violence over the past year, with hundreds of Palestinians reported killed by Israeli forces or settlers during the Israel-Hamas conflict. The unsettling developments have prompted the US and the UK to impose sanctions on violent settlers involved in displacing Palestinian communities from their rightful land.