Since Israel's conflict with Hamas began after the October 7 attack, the West Bank has experienced a surge in violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians, with at least nine fatalities, three times the 2022 figure. The US proposed visa restrictions on settlers undermining peace, responding to Palestinian displacement concerns. France labeled settler violence a "policy of terror." UN data shows daily settler attacks doubled post-Hamas assault. The 2023 Gaza war resulted in over 17,000 Palestinian casualties. The West Bank, under Israeli occupation since 1967, faces intensified aggression, with 7,800 detentions in two months. About 266 Palestinians died, 3,365 injured. Amid global conflicts, defense spending exceeds $2 trillion, prompting scrutiny of US military aid to Israel given its actions in Gaza. The question remains: how will the US respond diplomatically while providing military aid?
Key Points
1. Following Israel's declaration of war on Hamas after the October 7 attack, violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank has significantly increased.
2. At least nine Palestinians in the West Bank have been killed by Israeli settlers since the October 7 attack, marking a threefold increase from 2022. Attacks on Palestinian villages and farmers have become more frequent.
3. The U.S. has proposed visa restrictions on Israeli settlers involved in actions undermining peace, security, and stability in the West Bank, addressing concerns over attacks that have displaced Palestinians.
4. Settler violence is seen by Palestinians as part of a broader effort by Israel to force them off their land, with the controversial 2018 nation-state law promoting Jewish settlement efforts.
5. France has condemned the violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, describing it as a "policy of terror" aimed at displacing Palestinians.
6. UN figures indicate that daily settler attacks have more than doubled since the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7 and the subsequent assault on Gaza.
7. The Gaza war, triggered by Hamas' surprise attack on southern Israel, resulted in over 16,200 deaths and the displacement of more than 1.5 million people, according to Palestinian officials.
8. In the two months of the Israel-Hamas conflict, Israeli airstrikes and ground attacks have killed at least 17,000 Palestinians and injured over 43,000 in Gaza.
9. The year 2023 has been exceptionally violent for the residents of the West Bank, with over 120 Palestinians killed in just three weeks since Hamas' attack on Israel.
10. Israel's increased aggression in the West Bank amid the Gaza war has led to a surge in arrests, with approximately 7,800 people detained in the past two months, including 2,873 under administrative detention without charge or trial.
(With Agency Inputs)
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