EU and UK Call on Israel to Curb Rising Settler Violence Amid Regional Conflict
The European Union and the United Kingdom have issued a joint call for Israel to take immediate action against a sharp increase in settler violence in the occupied West Bank.
The surge in attacks has coincided with Israel’s ongoing military conflict with Iran, raising international concerns over stability in the territory.
According to United Nations data, six Palestinians have been killed in settler-led attacks over the last 11 days. The escalating friction has prompted a rare, stern rebuke from Western allies, with the UK expressing "apprehension" over the loss of life and the EU labeling the current level of violence "unacceptable."
Deadly Escalation in Palestinian Villages
The most recent fatalities occurred on Sunday in the village of Khirbet Abu Falah, located northeast of Ramallah. Witnesses reported that a pre-dawn raid by dozens of settlers led to a violent confrontation.
The Palestinian health ministry identified two victims, Thaer Hamayel (24) and his cousin Farea Hamayel (57), who were both killed by gunfire. A third man, 55-year-old Mohammed Murra, died from cardiac arrest after inhaling tear gas deployed during the unrest.
Other recent incidents include:
Wadi al-Rakhim: 28-year-old Amir Shanaran was fatally shot on Saturday during a confrontation near the South Hebron Hills.
Qaryut: Two brothers, Mohammed and Fahim Azem, were killed last Monday in an attack documented by the Israeli rights group B'Tselem.
Rights Groups Warn of "State-Backed" Impunity
The Israeli human rights organization Yesh Din reported 109 separate incidents of settler-related violence—including physical assaults and property damage—within the first 10 days of the war with Iran.
The group warned that these attacks are often carried out with "almost complete impunity," suggesting they serve a broader goal of displacing Palestinian communities.
Hussein al-Sheikh, Vice-President of the Palestinian Authority, characterized the raids as a "major escalation of settler terrorism" and urged the international community to impose sanctions on those responsible.
Israel’s Response
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have condemned the violence. Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, commander of the IDF’s Central Command, stated there would be "zero tolerance" for civilians taking the law into their own hands.
"We cannot allow reckless internal violence to undermine the rule of law," Bluth said, noting that such distractions hinder the military's focus on external threats from Iran and Hezbollah. The IDF confirmed that criminal investigations have been opened into several of the fatal shootings.
International Pressure
The British consulate-general in Jerusalem emphasized that statements of condemnation must be followed by "swift and thorough investigations." Similarly, the EU reminded the Israeli government of its legal obligations under international law to protect the civilian population within occupied territories.
Currently, approximately 700,000 Israelis live in 160 settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem. These settlements are considered illegal under international law, a position Israel disputes.
