Settler violence in West bank to inflame tensions, warns Australia on Palestine

By Anadolu staff

Australia on Tuesday expressed concern over growing attacks by Jewish settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, observing that it would further stoke tensions in the face of the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Canberra also urged Tel Aviv to hold responsible for the ongoing violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank "accountable."

"Australia is deeply concerned by reports of ongoing settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, Such violence threatens to only inflame tensions and those responsible must be held accountable," Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a post on X.

Her call comes day after she urged Israel to “listen” when its friends ask it to protect innocent lives in Gaza and warned that the world “will not accept continuing civilian deaths.

Israeli settler attacks against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank have spiked since Oct. 7.

The surge in attacks — sometimes under the protection of soldiers — against Palestinian people and their property has coincided with Israel's devastating bombardment and blockade of the Gaza Strip, which began earlier this month when the Palestinian group Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea, and air.

Settlers have since then launched 280 attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank, killing seven so far, according to the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, affiliated with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

The methods employed by settlers in these attacks varied, from firing live ammunition, to beatings, uprooting trees, stoning vehicles, blocking roads, and attacking homes, families, and farmers.

At least 124 Palestinians have been killed and 1,680 others detained by the Israeli army since Oct. 7, according to Palestinian figures.

The Israeli army has widened its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, which has been under relentless airstrikes since the surprise offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.

More than 9,800 people have been killed in the Gaza conflict, including 8,306 Palestinians and more than 1,538 Israelis.