EU and UK demand Israel stop surge in West Bank settler violence since Iran war. 17 hours ago. David Gritten. Reuters. 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.. Israeli soldiers shot a Palestinian boy and stood around as he bled to death, video shows. Family of Palestinian-American man killed in West Bank demand accountability. Palestinian Authority in dire straits as Israel’s hold on West Bank deepens. 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 previo
