UN: Israeli Settler Violence in West Bank Hits Record High

The United Nations (UN) has reported that violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank has reached a record high. According to the latest data, an average of six attacks occur each day, resulting in casualties and property damage for Palestinian residents.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, revealed that the number of settler attacks this year has surpassed 1,000 incidents. The data refers to a report from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

“In the past week alone, settler attacks have left more than 30 Palestinians injured and caused extensive damage to property, central infrastructure, and livelihoods,” Dujarric stated at UN Headquarters on Thursday (11/6) local time.

Dujarric stressed that the current rate of attacks is the highest since the UN began keeping records. The escalation has not only caused physical harm but has also triggered massive waves of displacement.

Currently, more than half a million Israelis live in settlements in the West Bank, excluding East Jerusalem which has been annexed by Israel. These settlements are considered illegal by the UN under international law. In the same territory, approximately three million Palestinians live under Israeli occupation since 1967.

Violence in the West Bank has escalated sharply since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, triggered by the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023. The deteriorating security situation is raising international concerns about a deepening humanitarian crisis in the occupied territory.