A senior United Nations official has raised serious concerns over the escalating violence in the occupied West Bank, particularly condemning attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians.
Ramiz Alakbarov, the UN deputy special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, addressed the Security Council on Tuesday, describing a sharp increase in civilian casualties, displacement, and damage to property across the region.
Violence Intensifies Since October 2023
Violence in the West Bank has surged since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Israeli settler attacks on Palestinian villages, homes, places of worship, and infrastructure have become frequent, with near-daily incidents reported.
- Last Friday, deadly clashes in the village of Tell resulted in four Palestinian and two Israeli fatalities.
- Following the clashes, Israeli military forces conducted raids in Nablus and surrounding towns, arresting dozens of Palestinians in what was described as a "counter-terrorism" operation.
- On Sunday night, Palestinian officials reported that Israeli settlers set fire to two mosques in the West Bank.
Calls for Immediate Action
Alakbarov urged the Israeli government to implement immediate and effective measures to curb settler violence, protect Palestinian communities, and hold perpetrators accountable. He also condemned attacks by Palestinians targeting Israelis, calling on all parties to reject violence unequivocally.
The UN official warned that the rapidly deteriorating situation threatens to exacerbate already severe conditions throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, with a broader escalation likely unless urgent steps are taken to reverse the trend.
