UN warns of rise in settler violence in West Bank parallel with Israeli war against Gaza Strip

The UN humanitarian affairs office (OCHA) warned Wednesday about a significant increase in attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since Oct. 7.

"Israeli settler violence has increased significantly, from an already high average of three incidents per day in 2023 to seven a day now," it said in a statement.

"More than 820 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank have been displaced amid settler violence and increased movement restrictions" since Oct, 7 when Palestine resistance group, Hamas, launched a surprise attack against Israel, it said.

The office reported "171 settler attacks against Palestinians, resulting in 26 different casualty incidents, damage to 115 Palestinian properties, and some 30 reported incidents of both property damage and casualties" since the start of an Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip. "Cases of harassment, trespass and intimidation are not included in the reporting, although they too increase the pressure on Palestinians to leave their land."

Many of the latter incidents were followed by confrontations between Israeli forces and Palestinians.

Eight Palestinians were directly killed by settlers as of the end of October, according to the statement.

"In almost half the cases, Israeli security forces accompanied or actively supported" attackers.

OCHA reported active use of weapons by settlers.

"More than one in every three settler-related incidents, since October 7, involved settlers using firearms to threaten Palestinians, including by opening fire."

The Israeli army has widened its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, which has been under relentless airstrikes since the surprise offensive by Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.

More than 10,300 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 8,796 Palestinians and more than 1,538 Israelis.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected growing calls for a cease-fire, saying it would be a "surrender" to Hamas and "that will not happen."