UN urges Netanyahu to stop settler attacks in West Bank
ISRAELI security forces “must immediately end their active participation in and support for settler attacks on Palestinians”, the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights demanded yesterday.
It follows a wave of assaults on Palestinian towns and villages in the West Bank triggered by the death of a 14-year-old Israeli boy in what authorities say was a militant attack.
The Palestinian Health Ministry says seven people have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers since they began on Friday and another 75 have been wounded.
Israeli authorities have urged people not to resort to vigilante attacks as tensions soar. But rights groups have long accused Israeli forces of routinely ignoring settler attacks or even taking part in them.
Tensions in the region have ramped up since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7.
World leaders are urging Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to retaliate after Iran launched hundreds of drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles on Saturday. It was in response to a suspected Israeli strike in Syria which killed two Revolutionary Guard generals in an Iranian consular building.
An Iranian official said his country will respond within “seconds” if Israel seeks to retaliate for its attack. Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani warned Israel will face a “resolute and hard response” if it takes further action. Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock headed to Israel yesterday to help de-escalate the tension and express Germany’s support for Israel. She called on all sides to prevent the conflict from spreading across the region and for new sanctions against Iran. Ms Baerbock added: “I will assure our Israeli partners of Germany’s full solidarity.
“And we will discuss how a further escalation can be prevented. What matters now is to put a stop to Iran without encouraging escalation.”
Referring to Iran’s attack, the German minister said: “Of course, this now also has further consequences”.
Ms Baerbock also said she would use her Tel Aviv visit to again demand that more humanitarian aid be let into Gaza. She also expressed alarm at events in the West Bank, saying: “I condemn the violent death of an Israeli boy in the strongest terms. I also condemn the attacks by extremist settlers in the West Bank.”
But there is no let-up in Israel’s onslaught in Gaza as Israeli military announced it will call up two new reserve divisions for operations.
It is strengthening numbers ahead of a ground assault on the southern city of Rafah where there are more than 1.4 million Palestinian refugees.
Leaflets have also been air dropped ahead of targeting Deir al-Balah in central Gaza. Meanwhile, Israeli protesters yesterday blocked Jordanian aid lorries at the Kerem Shalom border.