Israeli army officials concerned over rising illegal settler violence in occupied West Bank

By Zein Khalil

JERUSALEM (AA) - Israeli military officials on Sunday expressed growing concerns over the escalating violence by illegal settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

According to the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation, unnamed army officials reported a sharp increase in violent activities by extremist illegal Jewish settlers, both in the number of participants and the brazen manner in which the attacks are being carried out.

The officials also noted a significant decrease in arrests by police, which they say has led to a perception among illegal settlers that they can act with impunity.

"There is a growing sense among settlers that anything is permissible since the law is not being enforced against them in the West Bank," the officials warned.

The Israeli police force is currently overseen by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has faced criticism from Israeli left-wing politicians for allegedly turning a blind eye to and even encouraging illegal settler violence.

The army officials pointed out that the security establishment has observed a deterioration in the situation over the past two years.

On Thursday evening, around 150 illegal settlers stormed the village of Jit in the Qalqilya province of northern occupied West Bank. The attackers killed one Palestinian and seriously injured another, setting fire to four homes and six vehicles owned by Palestinians, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry and the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation.

Eyewitnesses told Anadolu that the Israeli army provided protection to the illegal settlers during the attack on the village.

Tensions have been running high across the West Bank since Israel launched a deadly military offensive against the Gaza Strip that has killed nearly 40,100 people since Oct. 7, 2023, following a Hamas attack.

At least 632 Palestinians have since been killed and nearly 5,400 others injured by Israeli army fire in the occupied territory, according to the Health Ministry.

In a landmark advisory opinion on July 19, the International Court of Justice declared Israel's decades-long occupation of Palestinian land "illegal" and demanded the evacuation of all existing settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi

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