Ask Onix
EU and UK demand action as settler attacks escalate
The European Union and United Kingdom have called on Israel to halt a sharp rise in violent attacks by Jewish settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, which have left six dead since Israel's conflict with Iran began.
Six Palestinians killed in 11 days
The United Nations reports that six Palestinians have died in settler-related violence across the West Bank over the past 11 days. Both the UK and EU condemned the killings, with the UK describing them as "appalling" and the EU labeling the violence "unacceptable." Both urged Israeli authorities to hold perpetrators accountable and prevent further bloodshed.
Recent attacks detail deadly confrontations
On Sunday, three Palestinians were fatally shot during a pre-dawn raid by settlers on the village of Khirbet Abu Falah, northeast of Ramallah. Witnesses told Reuters that armed settlers opened fire after residents confronted the attackers, who had thrown stones. The Palestinian health ministry identified the victims as Thaer Hamayel, 24, and his cousin Farea Hamayel, 57, both shot in the head. A third man, Mohammed Murra, 55, died from cardiac arrest after inhaling tear gas fired by Israeli forces.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that troops were deployed to disperse the conflict and have launched a criminal investigation into the incident.
Settler violence spreads across West Bank
The day before, settlers shot and killed Amir Shanaran, 28, and critically wounded his brother Khaled, 34, on their land in Wadi al-Rakhim near Susya. Local officials reported that settlers had entered Palestinian homes in the area before attacking the Shanaran family. The IDF confirmed that soldiers responded to reports of violence but noted that initial findings suggested a reserve soldier had fired the shots, without confirming the shooter's identity as a settler.
Earlier in the week, two brothers-Mohammed Azem, 51, and Fahim Azem, 47-were fatally shot during a settler attack on the village of Qaryut, located between Ramallah and Nablus. The Israeli human rights group B'Tselem documented the killings.
Rights groups warn of systemic impunity
Yesh Din, another Israeli rights organization, reported 109 separate incidents of settler violence-including shootings, assaults, property destruction, and threats-across 62 Palestinian communities in the first 10 days of Israel's war with Iran. The group accused Israeli authorities of enabling the attacks through "almost complete impunity," claiming they serve Israel's goal of forcibly displacing Palestinians and annexing the West Bank.
"These criminal and deadly attacks are carried out with the backing of the state and almost complete impunity, advancing Israel's objective of forcibly displacing Palestinians and annexing the West Bank."
Yesh Din
International pressure mounts for accountability
Palestinian Authority Vice-President Hussein al-Sheikh condemned the violence as "a major escalation of settler terrorism" and called on the global community to impose "serious punitive measures" on those responsible.
Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, commander of the IDF's Central Command overseeing the West Bank, stated that the military views the incidents "with the utmost severity" and pledged zero tolerance for civilians taking the law into their own hands. "We are working with all security agencies to swiftly apprehend those responsible," he said, while emphasizing that internal violence undermines regional security amid Israel's broader military operations against Iran and Hezbollah.
The British consulate in Jerusalem urged the IDF to back its statements with "swift, thorough investigations and accountability," warning that settler violence "must be stopped." The EU echoed these concerns, stating that impunity risks fueling further violence and called on Israel to uphold its obligations under international law to protect Palestinians in occupied territories.
Settlements remain flashpoint in conflict
Israel has constructed approximately 160 settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since occupying the territories during the 1967 Middle East war. These settlements, home to around 700,000 Jewish residents, are considered illegal under international law. An estimated 3.3 million Palestinians live alongside settlers in the region, which Palestinians seek as part of a future independent state alongside Gaza.
