UN 'extremely alarmed' by deteriorating human rights situation in occupied West Bank

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - The UN on Friday said that it is "extremely alarmed" by the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in the occupied West Bank, where dozens have been killed, with rising cases of violence by Israeli settlers and arbitrary arrests of Palestinians.

"Since Oct. 7, our office has received reports that 69 Palestinians, including at least 15 children and one woman, have been killed by Israeli security forces in the occupied West Bank. Yesterday, 14 Palestinians were reportedly killed, most of them in a drone strike," UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani told a press conference in Geneva.

Underlining that settler violence "has also further increased," Shamdasani said six Palestinians have been killed by armed Israeli settlers, and a number of Palestinian communities have been forced from their land.

The number of arbitrary arrests of West Bank Palestinians and Arab Israelis in Israel, including Palestinian activists and workers formerly employed in Israel, has risen, along with reports of ill-treatment and lack of due process, she added.

She urged: "This must cease."

Shamdasani stressed that over the last two weeks – since Israel began reprisals over a cross-border raid from Gaza by Hamas on Oct. 7 – "many Palestinians in the West Bank have been denied freedom of movement, including being prevented from reaching hospitals to receive life-saving care.”

"Restrictions on freedom of movement must be necessary and proportionate to achieve a legitimate aim," she added.

The conflict in Gaza, under Israeli bombardment and blockade since Oct. 7, began when 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. It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, along with stepping up raids and arrests in the occupied West Bank.

Since Oct. 7, around 870 Palestinians have been detained by the Israeli army in the West Bank, according to Amani Sarahneh, a spokeswoman for the Palestinian Prisoners Society.

At least 3,785 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza, while the figure stands at more than 1,400 people in Israel.