In a written statement issued on Friday, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, called on Israel to promptly halt the violence unfolding in the occupied West Bank. Turk emphasized the urgent necessity for Israel to realign its policies and actions in the region with international human rights standards, particularly emphasizing the imperative of safeguarding and respecting the right to life.
“To put an end to this violence, the occupation must cease,” Turk stated unequivocally. He underlined that all parties with political power must recognize this reality and take immediate steps to bring about its realization.
Turk cautioned that the recent surge of violence in the occupied West Bank possesses the potential to escalate further, fueled by inflammatory political rhetoric and an increase in the utilization of advanced military weaponry by Israel. He emphasized that the killings and violence witnessed in recent days, coupled with the provocative rhetoric, only serve to exacerbate the deepening divide between Israelis and Palestinians.
According to the UN statement, the Israeli security forces conducted a series of airstrikes on the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least seven Palestinians, including a young boy and girl. Furthermore, 91 Palestinians and seven Israeli soldiers were injured in the attack.
In a separate incident on Wednesday, settlers, protected by Israeli forces, carried out a brutal assault on the Palestinian village of Turmus Ayya in the central West Bank. The attack claimed the life of one Palestinian and left dozens injured, while also causing extensive damage by burning 30 houses, 60 cars, and numerous olive trees.
Tensions have been running high throughout the occupied West Bank in recent months due to repeated Israeli incursions into Palestinian towns. The Health Ministry reports that since the beginning of the year, Israeli forces have been responsible for the deaths of nearly 180 Palestinians, while at least 25 Israelis have lost their lives in separate attacks during the same period.
Estimates indicate that approximately 700,000 settlers reside in 164 settlements and 116 outposts within the occupied West Bank. According to international law, all Jewish settlements in the occupied territories are deemed illegal. The situation in the region remains a pressing concern, demanding immediate attention and action to uphold human rights and foster a path towards peace and stability.
