A number of countries have denounced the rise of Israeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank.
The criticism came from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, the European Union, Finland, France, Ireland, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Britain.
In a joint statement published by the British government, the countries said, “This rise in extremist settler violence committed against Palestinians is unacceptable.”
The countries demanded that proactive steps be taken now to ensure the effective and immediate protection of Palestinian communities.
They asserted that Israel’s failure to protect Palestinians and prosecute extremist settlers has led to an environment of near complete impunity in which settler violence has reached unprecedented levels.
It was noted in the statement that since the start of October, settlers have committed more than 343 violent attacks – killing eight Palestinian civilians, injuring more than 83, and forcing 1,026 Palestinians from their homes.
Also on Friday, a UN report detailed that more than 1,500 illegal housing permits have been issued in the occupied West Bank
The report, written by Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres and addressed to the UN Security Council, was about the devastating impact of the war in Gaza and the increasing level of violence across the occupied West Bank.
A news agency, haven received an advance copy of a UN report, disclosed some of its contents of the 15-page report.
The report noted that the magnitude of the military campaign and “the scope of death and destruction in Gaza has been unprecedented and unbearable to witness.”
Guterres stated that he “is horrified” that Israeli air strikes have hit protected people, including journalists, healthcare workers and humanitarian personnel, as well as civilian infrastructure including hospitals and UN facilities.
Israel continues its illegal settlement-building in the occupied West Bank, with the report citing 1,500 cases where Israeli authorities have illegally approved housing permits on Palestinian land from September through December of this year.
The report outlined the utter death and destruction that is taking place in Gaza.
The UN chief concluded by asking, once again, for an immediate ceasefire.
Israeli Raid Persist In West Bank
Even though Israeli forces have ended their most extensive raid yet in the occupied West Bank’s Jenin city and refugee camp, which left in its wake 11 Palestinians dead and hundreds arrested, their raids continued elsewhere in the occupied territory.
Five Palestinians were reportedly injured overnight in the town of Silat al-Harithiya, just west of Jenin amid Israeli raids.
Separate raids were also carried out in the following areas: in the town of Yatta, south of Hebron, an Israeli raid resulted in injury to one person and the arrest of two others. Another man was also injured within Hebron city when Israeli forces fired live ammunition.
In the town of Nahalin, west of Bethlehem, Israeli forces fired bullets, stun grenades and tear gas at Palestinian residents.
In the village of Urif, south of Nablus, Israeli forces arrested three Palestinians.
In the town of Ya’bad, Israeli forces set up barriers, stopping vehicles and interrogating passengers and residents.
In Kafirat, the military also set up a checkpoint at the entrance to the village; and in Jericho, soldiers interrogated the village chief of Fasayil.
Moreover, the Israeli military stated that it carried out an attack in the border area between Gaza and Egypt.
Army spokesperson Avichay Adraee said on X that the strike targeted Hamas military infrastructure that the group had placed near the border.
He accused Hamas of smuggling weapons through the Rafah border, the only crossing where a limited amount of aid is allowed to enter the besieged Gaza Strip.
