UN calls 'Israeli' settler violence in West Bank a war crime
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- The UN says settler attacks backed by occupying forces are forcibly displacing Palestinians across the West Bank.
- The violations may amount to war crimes and could rise to crimes against humanity.
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said settler attacks supported by 'Israeli' forces are leading to the forced displacement of Palestinians from large areas of Area C, parts of Area B, and the Jordan Valley in the West Bank, actions that constitute war crimes and may amount to crimes against humanity.
Read more: Final displacement of Palestinians in West Bank underway, 'Israeli' media reports
Daily attacks, entire communities uprooted
In a statement, the UN office said the attacks have become almost daily. Since October seven, 2023, they have resulted in the forcible displacement of six entire Palestinian communities in the northern Jordan Valley, comprising 112 families.
Across the West Bank, the same pattern of violence has led to the displacement of 4,037 Palestinians during the same period, according to the UN.
Soldiers accused of complicity
The UN office said 'Israeli' soldiers routinely fail to protect Palestinians and often operate alongside 'Israeli' settlers during attacks. It added that soldiers have detained or expelled international activists who provide a protective presence on the ground.
Escalation since Gaza war
The West Bank has seen rising tensions since the start of the genocidal war on the Gaza Strip. During this period, ‘Israel’ has intensified military operations across the territory, resulting in hundreds of Palestinian martyrs and wounded, alongside the arrest of thousands.
The UN warned that continued impunity for settler violence risks accelerating ethnic cleansing in key areas of the West Bank, particularly the Jordan Valley.
