🔗 Share this article

The governments of Italy and Canada have expressed alarm regarding the handling of their nationals who were beaten and robbed by Jewish settlers in the Palestinian territories under occupation.

Particulars Surrounding the Brutal Assault

A group comprising three Italians and one Canadian were attacked early on Sunday morning in the village of Ein al-Duyuk, near the city of Jericho. They were serving to help protect the Palestinian population from intensifying settler violence.

“In the early morning of November 30th, 10 masked settlers, two carrying army-issued rifles, forced their way into the residence where we were sleeping after night-watch,” stated the Canadian volunteer.

All four were hospitalised and one, an Italian man, was still receiving care in the city of Ramallah on Monday for more serious wounds.

Escalating Violence in the Village

The pace and intensity of attacks in Ein al-Duyuk have risen dramatically over the last eight weeks. This coincides with the creation of an unauthorized settler encampment nearby and the arrival of young and aggressive settlers.

Activists say that violent incidents have become an almost daily occurrence. These incidents have involved settler mobs forcibly entering houses, assaulting residents, and stealing livestock and property.

Legal Status and Government Reactions

While all settlements on occupied territory are considered unlawful by the international community, irregular outposts are also against Israeli domestic statutes. Ein al-Duyuk is in Area A of the West Bank, a zone theoretically under the control of the Palestinian Authority.

The Canadian foreign ministry stated it “utterly rejects the acts of violence committed by extremist settlers and opposes any actions or talk about absorbing Palestinian land.”

Italy's top diplomat, Antonio Tajani, told reporters: “We have had enough of this hostility. This is not the way for anyone to make their claims.”

Lack of Intervention and Broader Context

Residents and advocates report there has been no meaningful police intervention to stop the attacks or dismantle the outpost. Leading members of the Israeli governing coalition are vocal backers of settlements in the territory.

United Nations data indicates that Israeli settlers and security forces have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians, including hundreds of minors, in the West Bank over the last 24 months.

Perspective from the Ground

The injured Canadian added that, notwithstanding the violence, she felt the presence of volunteers in Ein al-Duyuk had been meaningful.

“The villagers stood taller while we were present,” she said. “Kids were able to play outside. Families could sleep soundly. That alone made our presence justified.”

A Palestinian activist involved with groups that bring in international observers said the new outpost has brought in ideologically driven settlers who seem to belong to an organised group.