The United Nations human rights office has reported a sharp escalation in violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, driven by Israeli settlers and security forces.
Since January, 757 settler attacks on Palestinians or their properties have been recorded, marking a 13 percent increase from 2024.
This surge in violence, coupled with the systematic targeting of Gaza’s healthcare system and ongoing genocide in the besieged Strip, has intensified the humanitarian crisis across the occupied Palestinian territory.
At least 964 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank since October 7, 2023, which has claimed over 58,000 lives.
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) notes that 2,907 home demolitions have forcibly displaced thousands, with Israel’s “Iron Wall” operation in January alone displacing 30,000 Palestinians.
Israeli forces have been accused of using live ammunition against unarmed Palestinians, including those attempting to return to their homes in refugee camps like Jenin, Tulkarem, and Nur Shams.
The intensity of settler attacks has forced many Palestinians, such as those in Hebron’s Old City, to fortify their homes with barbed wire, yet residents like Areej Jabari report feeling unsafe.
“Barbed wire can’t protect from all the wire that settlers throw at us and from bullets and tear gas often fired by Israeli forces,” she said.
The OHCHR has criticized Israel for using unnecessary or disproportionate force, citing cases like the killing of two-year-old Laila al-Khatib, shot in the head in Jenin, and 61-year-old Walid Bdeir, killed while cycling near Nur Shams.
The UN has called for independent investigations and accountability, emphasizing Israel’s obligation as an occupying power to protect Palestinians.
Recent raids, such as those in Qalandia camp, have seen Israeli forces destroy Palestinian property and detain dozens.
The UN recorded 96 injuries from settler attacks in June, the highest monthly toll in over two decades.
Top church leaders and diplomats from over 20 countries have urged accountability for settlers following attacks in Taybeh.
The OHCHR warns that Israel’s actions, including land annexations and home demolitions, violate international law, exacerbating the plight of Palestinians amidst the ongoing genocide in Gaza.