EU and UK demand Israel stop surge in West Bank settler violence since Iran war

1 hour agoDavid GrittenReutersThe Palestinian vice-president said the deadly attacks constitute "a major escalation of settler terrorism"The European Union and United Kingdom have demanded that Israel halt a surge in violence by Jewish settlers against Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank that has taken place since the start of the country's war with Iran.Six Palestinians have been killed during attacks by settlers across the West Bank over the past 11 days, according to the United Nations.The UK said it was appalled by the killings, while the EU said the level of settler violence was unacceptable. Both urged Israeli authorities take action to ensure accountability and prevent further attacks.The Israeli military condemned the violence and said it was working to bring those responsible to justice.Israel has built about 160 settlements housing 700,000 Jews since it occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem - land Palestinians want, along with Gaza, for a hoped-for future state - during the 1967 Middle East war. An estimated 3.3 million Palestinians live alongside them.The settlements are illegal under international law.On Sunday, three Palestinians were killed during a settler attack on the Palestinian village of Khirbet Abu Falah, north-east of Ramallah.Witnesses told the Reuters news agency that dozens of settlers raided the village before dawn that day. When residents confronted them, including by throwing stones, armed settlers arrived and opened fire, they said.The Palestinian health ministry said two residents - Thaer Hamayel, 24, and his cousin, Farea Hamayel, 57 - were both shot in the head and killed.A third resident, Mohammed Murra, 55, suffered a cardiac arrest and died in hospital after inhaling tear gas that was fired by Israeli security forces, according to medics.The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said security forces were dispatched to the area following a report of Palestinians being attacked by Israeli civilians near their homes, and that they acted to disperse those involved. It added that a criminal investigation had been opened.On Saturday, Amir Shanaran, a 28-year-old man, was shot dead by settlers and his brother, Khaled, 34, was seriously wounded on their land in Wadi al-Rakhim, near Susya in the South Hebron Hills, according to the Palestinian health ministry.The head of the nearby Tuwani village council told AFP news agency that settlers entered Palestinian homes in the area and attacked the Shanaran family.The IDF said soldiers and police were dispatched to the scene after reports of a violent confrontation between Israelis and Palestinians. Initial information indicated that a reserve soldier opened fire, it added, without identifying him as a settler.The previous Monday, settlers shot and killed two brothers - Mohammed Azem, 51, and Fahim Azem, 47 - during an attack on the village of Qaryut, which is located between Ramallah and Nablus, according to the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem.ReutersA Palestinian flag was planted at the site in an olive grove where Thaer Hamayel was killedAnother Israeli rights group, Yesh Din, said 109 separate incidents of settler violence, included shootings, physical assaults, property damage, and threats, had been reported in 62 Palestinian communities during the first 10 days of the war with Iran."These criminal and deadly attacks are carried out with the backing of the state and almost complete impunity, advancing Israel's objective of forcibly displacing Palestinians and annexing the West Bank," Yesh Din warned.The Palestinian Authority's Vice-President, Hussein al-Sheikh, said on Sunday that the attacks constituted "a major escalation of settler terrorism" and called on the international community to take "serious punitive measures" against the perpetrators.The commander of the IDF's Central Command, which is responsible for the West Bank, insisted it saw the incidents "with the utmost severity"."There will be zero tolerance for civilians who take the law into their own hands," Maj Gen Avi Bluth said. "We are working together with all security agencies to quickly reach those responsible and bring them to justice."He added: "Especially at a time when the IDF is striking our bitter enemies, Iran and Hezbollah, with a firm hand - we cannot allow reckless internal violence to undermine the rule of law and the security of the region."The British consulate-general in Jerusalem said in a statement that the UK urged the IDF to match its statements with "swift, thorough investigations and accountability for those responsible". "Settler violence which terrorises communities must be stopped," it added.The EU's spokesperson, meanwhile, warned that "impunity for such acts risks provoking further violence", and urged the Israeli government to "abide by its obligations under international law to protect the Palestinian population in the occupied territory".