In the occupied West Bank, a disturbing pattern of unchecked violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians has escalated over the past two years, with 21 fatal cases remaining unpunished. Human rights organization B’Tselem has labeled this as part of a broader campaign of ‘ethnic cleansing,’ exacerbated by a permissive military policy and the arming of thousands of settlers. Since October 2023, Israeli forces and settlers have killed over 1,004 Palestinians, including 217 minors, while in Gaza, the death toll has reached approximately 70,000, with 20,000 children among the victims. B’Tselem’s executive director, Yuli Novak, has decried the international community’s inaction, warning that the situation is deteriorating rapidly with no mechanisms in place to restrain Israel. Recent incidents include the killing of Abdul Raouf Ishtayeh near Nablus and Bara Khairy Ali Maali in Deir Jarir, highlighting the daily violence faced by Palestinians. Settler attacks, often documented on video, rarely lead to investigations, fostering a culture of impunity. Residents of Tulkarm describe living in constant fear, with increased checkpoints, violent raids, and economic hardships due to delayed tax revenues. Ameer Dawood of the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission warns that without accountability, the violence will intensify, further destabilizing the region. The international community’s failure to intervene has allowed this crisis to deepen, with dire humanitarian and political consequences.
