The US is “increasingly concerned” by violence perpetrated in opposition to Palestinians within the occupied West Bank that has led to not less than two deaths following the homicide of a 14 year-old Israeli boy, the US State Department mentioned Monday.
Spokesperson Matthew Miller mentioned the Biden administration is “increasingly concerned by the violence against Palestinian civilians and their property that ensued in the West Bank after” the disappearance of Binyamin Achimair, whose physique was discovered close to an unlawful Israeli settler outpost within the occupied territory on Saturday.
He additionally condemned Achimair’s homicide, and prolonged condolences to his household and associates.
Violence in opposition to Palestinian residents that ensued in wake of Achimair’s demise has resulted “in dozens of injuries, property damage, and the killing of two Palestinians, 25-year-old Jihad Abu Aliya and 17-year-old Omar Ahmad Abdulghani Hamed,” mentioned Miller.
“We strongly condemn these murders, and our thoughts are with their loved ones. The violence must stop. Civilians are never legitimate targets. We call on the authorities to take measures to protect all communities from harm, and we urge Israel and the Palestinian Authority to do everything possible to de-escalate tensions,” he added.
Hundreds of armed settlers from unlawful Israeli settlements and outposts repeatedly attacked Palestinian cities and villages in Ramallah and Nablus over the weekend. One assault resulted within the torching of two houses within the northern West Bank, displacing 66 residents.
An enormous assault Friday on the village of al-Mughayyir, east of Ramallah within the central West Bank, resulted within the killing of a younger man and harm of dozens of Palestinians. It left 40 houses and dozens of automobiles being torched.
Video that circulated on social media Sunday confirmed Israeli troopers collaborating with settlers to orchestrate assaults on Palestinian automobiles within the village of Deir Dibwan, which can also be east of Ramallah.
The footage appeared to indicate two unlawful settlers coming into a automotive storage, the place they put a flammable liquid on a automotive, and set it ablaze whereas a gaggle of Israeli troopers have been guarding them outdoors.
Tensions have been working excessive throughout the West Bank since Israel launched a army offensive in opposition to the Gaza Strip after a cross-border assault led by Hamas on Oct. 7 that killed roughly 1,200 folks.
While settlers from unlawful settlements and outposts have elevated their assaults in opposition to Palestinians within the West Bank, the Israeli army has escalated its personal operations, killing not less than 463 Palestinians, injuring 4,750 and detaining greater than 8,000 others, in accordance with Palestinian sources.
Source: www.anews.com.tr