Statement Condemning the Exponential Rise in Settler Violence in the West Bank Against Unarmed Palestinian Civilians |
|
October 31st, 2023
Justice For All Canada expresses deep concern over the escalating settler violence in the West Bank against unarmed Palestinian civilians, following the Israeli attack on Gaza.
According to Israeli human rights advocacy group B’Tselem (published on Oct. 29), “Thirty human rights and civil society NGOs in Israel released a statement urging the international community to address unprecedented levels of state-backed settler violence in the West Bank.”[3]
U.S. President Joe Biden has also expressed alarm at the increase in settler violence. According to a report by the Times of Israel published on October 25, President Joe Biden stated, “I continue to be alarmed by extremist settlers attacking Palestinians in the West Bank,” adding that these attacks are “adding fuel to the fire.”[1]
Furthermore, there has been a disturbing rise in arbitrary detentions in the West Bank. Since October 7, Israel has arrested 4,000 labourers from Gaza and over 1,000 individuals in the occupied West Bank, as reported by Palestinian officials.[2]
While the world's attention remains focused on Gaza, settlers in the West Bank are taking advantage of the lack of public scrutiny and the prevailing atmosphere of hostility towards Palestinians. They are intensifying their violent campaign with the objective of forcibly displacing Palestinian communities.
According to Israeli human rights advocacy group B'Tselem, in the last three weeks, thirteen herding communities have already been uprooted, and many more face the imminent threat of displacement unless immediate action is taken.[3]
Justice For All Canada urgently calls upon the international community to address the state-backed surge of settler violence, which not only threatens Palestinian communities but also violates international law. Government-sponsored civilian killings by settlers are not only war crimes but also crimes against humanity and must be met with decisive action.
According to Israeli human rights advocacy group B'Tselem, Palestinian farmers, in particular, are vulnerable during the annual olive harvest season. Failing to harvest their olives means losing an entire year's income. Seventeen Palestinian farmers have been murdered by settlers in the West Bank since the onset of the current conflict.
Regrettably, the Israeli government's tacit support of these attacks and its failure to curtail the violence is deeply concerning. Some government ministers and officials openly endorse these acts of violence, and in numerous instances, the military is either present at the scenes or actively participating in the violence. Shockingly, there is an increasing number of documented cases where violent settlers wear military uniforms and wield government-issued weapons while attacking neighbouring Palestinian communities.
Given these alarming developments and the current political landscape, JFA Canada firmly believes that the only viable means to halt the ongoing forcible transfer in the West Bank is through direct and robust intervention by the international community, firmly upholding the principles of human rights to end the Israeli occupation.
It should be noted that, according to international law, the West Bank is considered an occupied territory, with Israel's presence there deemed illegal. The act of settling Israeli citizens in the West Bank is considered a war crime, not to mention granting licenses to settlers to commit violence against unarmed Gazans.
In addition to unconditionally supporting a ceasefire in Gaza, Justice For All Canada calls on the Canadian Government to condemn settler violence and collaborate with global institutions to end the occupation.
References
[1] Al Jazeera. (2023, October 21). Number of Palestinian prisoners in Israel doubles to 10,000 in two weeks.
[2] Times of Israel. (2023, October, 25). Biden: Settlers attacking Palestinians in places they're entitled to be, it must stop now.
[3] B'Tselem. (2023, October 29). Joint emergency call to the international community: Stop the forcible transfer in the West Bank.
Justice For All Canada expresses deep concern over the escalating settler violence in the West Bank against unarmed Palestinian civilians, following the Israeli attack on Gaza.
According to Israeli human rights advocacy group B’Tselem (published on Oct. 29), “Thirty human rights and civil society NGOs in Israel released a statement urging the international community to address unprecedented levels of state-backed settler violence in the West Bank.”[3]
U.S. President Joe Biden has also expressed alarm at the increase in settler violence. According to a report by the Times of Israel published on October 25, President Joe Biden stated, “I continue to be alarmed by extremist settlers attacking Palestinians in the West Bank,” adding that these attacks are “adding fuel to the fire.”[1]
Furthermore, there has been a disturbing rise in arbitrary detentions in the West Bank. Since October 7, Israel has arrested 4,000 labourers from Gaza and over 1,000 individuals in the occupied West Bank, as reported by Palestinian officials.[2]
While the world's attention remains focused on Gaza, settlers in the West Bank are taking advantage of the lack of public scrutiny and the prevailing atmosphere of hostility towards Palestinians. They are intensifying their violent campaign with the objective of forcibly displacing Palestinian communities.
According to Israeli human rights advocacy group B'Tselem, in the last three weeks, thirteen herding communities have already been uprooted, and many more face the imminent threat of displacement unless immediate action is taken.[3]
Justice For All Canada urgently calls upon the international community to address the state-backed surge of settler violence, which not only threatens Palestinian communities but also violates international law. Government-sponsored civilian killings by settlers are not only war crimes but also crimes against humanity and must be met with decisive action.
According to Israeli human rights advocacy group B'Tselem, Palestinian farmers, in particular, are vulnerable during the annual olive harvest season. Failing to harvest their olives means losing an entire year's income. Seventeen Palestinian farmers have been murdered by settlers in the West Bank since the onset of the current conflict.
Regrettably, the Israeli government's tacit support of these attacks and its failure to curtail the violence is deeply concerning. Some government ministers and officials openly endorse these acts of violence, and in numerous instances, the military is either present at the scenes or actively participating in the violence. Shockingly, there is an increasing number of documented cases where violent settlers wear military uniforms and wield government-issued weapons while attacking neighbouring Palestinian communities.
Given these alarming developments and the current political landscape, JFA Canada firmly believes that the only viable means to halt the ongoing forcible transfer in the West Bank is through direct and robust intervention by the international community, firmly upholding the principles of human rights to end the Israeli occupation.
It should be noted that, according to international law, the West Bank is considered an occupied territory, with Israel's presence there deemed illegal. The act of settling Israeli citizens in the West Bank is considered a war crime, not to mention granting licenses to settlers to commit violence against unarmed Gazans.
In addition to unconditionally supporting a ceasefire in Gaza, Justice For All Canada calls on the Canadian Government to condemn settler violence and collaborate with global institutions to end the occupation.
References
[1] Al Jazeera. (2023, October 21). Number of Palestinian prisoners in Israel doubles to 10,000 in two weeks.
[2] Times of Israel. (2023, October, 25). Biden: Settlers attacking Palestinians in places they're entitled to be, it must stop now.
[3] B'Tselem. (2023, October 29). Joint emergency call to the international community: Stop the forcible transfer in the West Bank.