OCHA: 1,330 Attacks by Settlers in the West Bank Since the Beginning of This Year

SadaNews - The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced the documentation of over 1,330 incidents involving Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank since the beginning of 2026, resulting in casualties and damage to Palestinian property.

This came in a statement issued by the UN office, which expressed its deep concern over the escalation of violence across the West Bank in recent days.

The office clarified that since last Thursday, at least 8 Palestinians have been killed, including a child, and that homes, mosques, trees, and agricultural facilities have been set on fire or vandalized, with some completely destroyed. Furthermore, at least 10 Palestinian families have been forced to flee due to the recent wave of violence.

Palestinian, Israeli, and international human rights organizations report that Israeli soldiers turn a blind eye to settler attacks, and some even participate in them.

The UN office pointed out that Israeli forces have tightened restrictions on the movement of Palestinians and their access to various areas in the West Bank, preventing thousands of people from accessing essential services, including emergency medical care and sources of livelihood.

The OCHA office noted that from the beginning of this year until last Saturday, 77 Palestinians, including 18 children, have been killed by Israeli forces or Israeli settlers.

The office confirmed that humanitarian actors continue to call for urgent protection for civilians and to ensure strict adherence to international humanitarian law and international human rights law, emphasizing the importance of holding accountable those responsible for violations.

These attacks by Israel lay the groundwork for officially declaring the annexation of the West Bank, which undermines the possibility of establishing a sovereign state of Palestine as stipulated in relevant United Nations resolutions.