Tensions are rising in the West Bank, where Palestinians have been killed in clashes with both Israeli forces and settlers after Israel announced a “total siege” of Gaza in response to the October 7 terrorist attacks carried out by the Islamic terrorist group Hamas.
The West Bank is the Palestinian territory west of the Jordan River, adjacent to Israel and Jordan, and its residents hope the territory will be part of a future Palestinian state.
Since Israel took control and occupied the West Bank in 1967 following the Six-Day War, it has been settled by Israeli civilians, often under military protection.
Most of the world considers these settlements illegal under international law. But despite this, successive Israeli governments have promised to support them.
Israel views the West Bank as “disputed territory” and claims its settlement policy is legal. This year, following the election of the most right-wing and extremist government in Israel’s history, under the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, violence between settlers and Palestinians in the West Bank has increased.
As of mid-September this year, the United Nations had reported 798 settler-related incidents in the occupied territory, resulting in 216 Palestinian injuries. In the same period, Israeli forces killed 179 Palestinians in the West Bank.
The Israel Defense Forces claim that most are suspected terrorists or people who violently engage with their troops during attacks, but they do not offer evidence in every case for this claim.
Settlers have long been accused of carrying out acts of violence against Palestinians. In addition to murders, these attacks included incidents of physical assault, property damage, and harassment.
Hani Odeh, mayor of a small village in the territory called Qusra, insisted that his goal is to expel Palestinians from their homes and, ultimately, the occupied West Bank.
See images of the conflict between Israel and Hamas
Source: CNN Brasil
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