Settler attacks on herding communities in West Bank on the rise: UN
The UN Human Rights Office says Israel is facilitating an environment characterised by fear, forcing Palestinian communities from their homes and land.
“Settlers, acting with the protection and support of Israeli security forces, are escalating violent attacks on herding communities in the South Hebron Hills, Jordan Valley, and East Jerusalem that have been encircled by settlements and outposts,” the office said in a statement.
In incidents monitored by UN Human Rights Office, settlers attacked women and children in or near their homes, set fire to and vandalised property, stolen livestock, and destroyed infrastructure to prevent access to water.
“Alongside demolitions carried out by the Israeli civil administration, such attacks are forcing Palestinians to leave their lands. This, in turn, aids consolidation and expansion of Israeli settlements and outposts in the areas,” it said.
“Such attacks fit within long-standing trends of organised violence against Palestinians committed with impunity and with the backing of Israel forces but reflect an increase in intensity and overt state support since October 7.”
Israeli forces raid towns in Ramallah area
Here’s the latest from the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem:
- Israeli troops raided the town of Birzeit and village of Umm al-Safa, located north and west of Ramallah, respectively.
- Israeli settlers chopped down olive trees in the village of Kafr Nima, west of Ramallah in the central West Bank.
- Israeli settlers raided the village of Burqa, east of Ramallah, and torched a resident’s car.
- A staff member of the Islamic Waqf that runs the affairs of the Al-Aqsa Mosque was beaten by Israeli forces at the compound in occupied East Jerusalem. The man was taken to hospital, Wafa news agency reported.
- Israeli settlers confiscated Palestinian land in the village of Husan, west of Bethlehem, and began construction of a road.
A 2 state solution won't be easy to accomplish and illegal settlements have only increased since this snapshot and sharply accelerated since October 7th.
