Foreign Minister informs the diplomatic corps about the escalation of settler terrorism in the West Bank

SadaNews - Today, Tuesday, Foreign Minister and Expatriates, Farsin Agabkian Shaheen, held an extensive briefing for the diplomatic corps accredited to the State of Palestine, during which she reviewed the escalation of settler terrorism in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

The minister affirmed that the occupying authorities are exploiting the international community's preoccupation with regional crises to intensify their settlement policies and accelerate the creeping annexation process, through the expansion of settlements and the enactment of legislative and administrative measures aimed at entrenching permanent control over Palestinian land, undermining the two-state solution, and threatening the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.

She explained that settler terrorism is witnessing unprecedented escalation, marked by organized daily attacks targeting Palestinians and their properties, including killings, physical assaults, the burning of homes and vehicles, sabotage of agricultural land, and seizure of resources, all under the direct protection of the occupying army.

Minister Shaheen also stressed the continued violations against holy sites, particularly the closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque since the beginning of the war, and the prevention of worshippers from performing their rituals during the month of Ramadan, in clear violation of the freedom of worship.

The briefing included live testimonies presented by the head of the Abu Flah village council, Ayman Hamayel, the mayor of Izun, Ahmad Anaya, and the head of the Maghayer village council, Amin Abu Aliya, who showcased the reality of the field escalation in their villages. They affirmed that killings have become part of daily assaults, where citizens are subjected to direct gunfire from settlers, in many cases under the protection or presence of occupying forces, resulting in martyrs and injuries without accountability.

They also referred to the policy of repeatedly and totally closing iron gates and village entrances, which turns Palestinian gatherings into isolated areas and fully restricts the movement of the population.

They added that these measures are accompanied by repeated incursions into the villages, the burning of homes and vehicles, land seizure, and the establishment of new settlement outposts, which deepens the suffering of the citizens and threatens their existence on their lands.

In conclusion, the minister called on the international community to bear its legal and moral responsibilities and take practical steps to stop these violations and provide protection for the Palestinian people, ensuring respect for international law and international legitimacy resolutions.