UN says ‘wave’ of Israeli settler violence in West Bank coincides with Gaza ceasefire
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Palestine has expressed alarm at the “wave of renewed violence” by Israeli settlers and armed forces in the occupied West Bank.
“The UN Human Rights Office is alarmed by a wave of renewed violence perpetrated by settlers and Israeli security forces in the Occupied West Bank, coinciding with the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement,” it said in a statement.
The OHCHR also said the violence was accompanied by reinforced restrictions on Palestinians’ freedom of movement, including the closure of checkpoints and installation of new gates, resulting in entire communities being locked in.
Highlighting multiple recent settler attacks on Palestinian villages as well as Monday’s raid in several West Bank towns by Israeli forces, which killed a Palestinian teenager, the OHCHR also said it was concerned about Israel’s plans to expand and increase operations in the Palestinian territory.
Israeli rights group shares video of settler attacks in occupied West Bank
As we have been reporting, there has been a wave of Israeli settler attacks across the occupied West Bank resulting in Palestinians injured and their property destroyed.
Yesh Din, which monitors human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory, has shared video clips showing Palestinian-owned vehicles and a building in flames from earlier attacks overnight on Monday.
According to the group:
- Settlers set two Palestinian homes on fire and torched at least four vehicles in Sinjil village, located northeast of Ramallah.
- In Ein Siniya village, settlers attacked and set fire to homes, north of Ramallah.
- Settlers attacked and damaged Palestinian-owned property in Turmus Aya, northeast of Ramallah.
- Settlers hurled stones at vehicles on Route 60, near al-Lubban Asharqiya, south of Nablus.
At least 20 Palestinians arrested in West Bank: Prisoners’ groups
The Israeli forces have arrested at least 20 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since yesterday evening until this morning, according to the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS).
A journalist from Hebron and a woman from Ramallah were among those arrested across the governorates of Hebron, Qalqilya, Ramallah, and Nablus, the joint statement said.
Israeli forces have raided the town of Beit Furik, east of the Nablus city, in the occupied West Bank, according to the Wafa news agency. So far, Israeli authorities have stormed at least 15 homes in the town and rounded up 13 people, according to the agency.
They have also ramped up security at checkpoints leading into Nablus, causing significant traffic jams, it said.
New wave of arrests near West Bank’s Hebron, Tulkarem
Israeli forces have rounded up more Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, arresting a total of 18 people in the towns of Idhna, near Hebron, and Shuweika, near Tulkarem, according to the Wafa news agency.
Five of those arrested in Idhna, which the Israeli forces began storming yesterday, are brothers from the same family, Wafa reported.
Israeli military vehicles have also raided the West Bank towns of Allar and Sidon, said Wafa.
As we’ve been reporting, Israel’s military has ramped up arrests and movement restrictions in the occupied West Bank since the Gaza ceasefire came into effect, while Israeli settlers have waged attacks in several Palestinian towns.
Israeli military armoured vehicles carry out a raid near Tulkarem
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